Ryan Kupperman

Ryan Kupperman is Managing Editor of ElonNewsNetwork.com for the 2023-24 school year. Kupperman is currently a journalism major and criminal justice studies minor at Elon. As a junior, he is clocking roughly 8 years as a student journalist. With a focus on in-depth news, Kupperman is also interested in pursuing media law. Check out his portfolio to see some of his best work.

Recent Articles

NEWS 9/13/23 8:06pm

UNC lockdowns spark further concern at Elon University

By Ryan Kupperman

For the second time in roughly two weeks, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill went on lockdown because of reports of an armed and dangerous individual. On Sept. 13, the Alert Carolina system at UNC Chapel Hill reported an individual with a weapon on campus. UNC police later reported the incident to have happened at Alpine Bagel Cafe in the UNC student union just before 1 p.m. Elon University faculty members and UNC students reflected on the recent lockdown regarding an armed and dangerous individual on UNC's campus, as well as advocated for increased policy, legislation and protocol. 

NEWS 8/15/23 4:08pm

Severe thunderstorm warning in effect for Elon, Burlington

By Sarah T. Moore and Ryan Kupperman

Elon Alert sent out a severe thunderstorm warning on Aug. 15. The warning advised community members to seek shelter and monitor local weather. According to the National Weather Service, the storm could produce up to 80 MPH wind gusts and ping pong ball sized hail. The severe thunderstorm watch is in effect until 9 p.m Tuesday night. Despite this, NOAA predicts clear skies by Wednesday and continuing through Sunday — in time for Elon University's move-in weekend which officially begins Friday, Aug. 18. 

NEWS 8/14/23 7:15pm

Exclusive interview with Elon University president

By Naomi Washington and Ryan Kupperman

Elon News Network sat down with Elon University President Connie Book for an exclusive interview before the start of the 2023-24 academic year. Book discussed plans for campus-wide expansion, as well as impacts on the admission process after The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against affirmative action earlier this summer. Book also said Elon's continued expansion is grounds for the trend of tuition increases over the last few years, and will likely continue into the following school year.

NEWS 7/11/23 8:54am

Elon University sophomore remembered as ‘sincere’, ‘feet on the ground’ kind of person by friends and family

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University sophomore Jason Titunik died in a car crash July 6 at the age of 19. His friends and family described and will remember him as a sincere, funny and compassionate person. Titunik is from Sarasota, Florida and his funeral will be held in New Jersey July 11. A memorial will be held on campus at the start of the school year, though further details are to come. Titunik was a history and political science major and enjoyed music, nature and fashion.

NEWS 7/7/23 3:17pm

Elon University sophomore killed after car crash in Salisbury, Connecticut

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University sophomore Jason Titunik was killed after a car crash in Salisbury, Connecticut the evening of July 6. Titunik was a passenger in a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Robert Steinmetz, when state police reported that Steinmetz lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole on the shoulder of Route 44. The incident occured at the intersection of Canaan and Twin Lakes Road while the two were traveling east. Titunik was transported to Sharon Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but was later pronounced dead.

SPORTS 7/6/23 11:22am

Elon University selects new athletic director

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University selected Jennifer Strawley as its new athletic director after former director Dave Blank stepped down at the end of the 2022-23 academic year. Strawley will come to Elon as the former deputy director of athletics at University of Miami and is set to begin her role Aug. 1. Strawley has over 20 years of experience in athletics administration and has been involved in various committees and positions for both the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Atlantic Coast Conference throughout her career.

LIFESTYLE 7/3/23 9:38pm

How to stay safe this 4th of July

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University Police Sgt. Richard Hooks offered tips and resources for staying safe this 4th of July. According to Hooks, July 4th is the second-most-deadly holiday period of the year — just behind New Year’s — due to impaired driving and fireworks cause over 11,500 injuries and almost 20,000 fires across the country each year. 

NEWS 6/30/23 11:36am

Supreme Court rules against student loan forgiveness

By Ryan Kupperman

The Supreme Court ruled against President Joe Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. The proposal, introduced in August 2022, would waive up to $430 billion in student debt for over 40 million Americans nationwide by forgiving up to $20,000 per person in student debt. The federal government put student loan repayment on pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now set to resume in September. This decision comes just one day after the court ruled to end affirmative action.

NEWS 6/5/23 10:42pm

Elon Black Alumni Network prioritizes its community following social media troll

By Ryan Kupperman and Avery Sloan

Elon's Black Alumni Network prioritizes its community and highlights its support for Black alumni after a social media troll account titled “Elon White Alumni” mimicked EBAN's presence and mission to unite and represent the interests of Black alumni by empowering, connecting and celebrating Elon’s Black community.  The account contains posts dedicated to “celebrating white excellence at Elon University” and “triggering and trolling” other users who are upset by the rhetoric promoted on the page. In the account description, it contains the hashtags “WeAreEwan” and “parody.”

NEWS 5/19/23 11:39am

Elon University’s class of 2023 rises from the ashes

By Ryan Kupperman

The class of 2023 was honored at Elon's 133rd commencement ceremony May 19 in Schar Center. The day was split into two ceremonies — one for the College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education, and the other for the School of Business and School of Communications. Senior class president Lily Kays deemed graduating students "the class of the Phoenix." Keynote speaker Ashton Newhall ’98 encouraged graduates to bring the aspects that make Elon unique, such as its culture of passion and engagement, to the outside world. 

NEWS 5/18/23 8:15pm

Elon University’s seventh annual Donning of the Kente ceremony cherishes African roots, heritage

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University’s seventh annual Donning of the Kente ceremony cherishes graduating students' African roots and heritage. Each graduate received a stole made of kente cloth imported from West Africa, which was presented to them by family, a mentor or friend of their choosing. The event consisted of a dance of celebration, an invocation from the Rev. and Dean of Multifaith Engagement Kirstin Boswell and a welcoming from Elon Black Alumni Network President Akilah Weaver into the EBAN community.

NEWS 5/18/23 1:49pm

Elon University selects School of Communications dean

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University has selected Kenn Gaither as its next School of Communications dean. Gaither will begin the role June 1 after serving as the interim dean since August. He has also been at Elon for nearly two decades in the communications department. Gaither said he plans to lead through his four C's: communication, collaboration, culture and community.

NEWS 5/10/23 4:49pm

Family of anatomical ‘silent teacher’ attends Elon University’s Human Donor Memorial

By Ryan Kupperman

For the first time ever, family members of a human donor in Elon University’s Undergraduate Human Anatomy Laboratory attended the Human Donor Memorial held at the end of each semester. Guest speaker and Chaplain Emeritus Richard McBride also submitted his consent papers during the event, solidifying the donation of his body to Elon's Anatomical Gift Program after death. Students and faculty got to hear about the life of one of their donors from their family members at the memorial, as well as see and hear about why McBride decided to donate his body.

NEWS 4/18/23 1:31pm

Elon University commemorates Holocaust Remembrance Day with Reading of the Names

By Ryan Kupperman

Over 27 volunteers will stand at the front steps of Moseley Student Center from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. to read the names of those who perished during the Holocaust.Organized by Hillel, Jewish Life, Jewish Studies and the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, Elon carried its two decade tradition of honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day. Each year, the volunteers only read just a fraction of the names, honoring the lives lost. Interim Assistant Director of Jewish Life Christy Brooks said this has been an Elon tradition for almost two decades, but it has always been a Jewish tradition. 

NEWS 4/7/23 1:48pm

Elon University requires health insurance information before class registration

By Ryan Kupperman

Students who have not yet opted out or enrolled in Elon's new Student Blue health insurance plan will be prevented from registering for their fall 2023 classes until they have completed the health agreement form. This form acknowledges that students should either upload their current information or be automatically enrolled in Student Blue. Flags will begin going up on OnTrack accounts and students have until tuition bills are sent July 1 to waive out or pay the insurance bill cost.

More Articles by Ryan Kupperman »

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Latest

NEWS 09/25/2023 2:02pm
Writers Guild of America reaches preliminary deal in historic strike

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. 

NEWS 09/25/2023 7:54am
Student Health Services at Elon University unable to provide allergy shots

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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