Town of Elon Mayor Emily Sharpe joined Elon University students in McKinnon Hall on Oct. 23 for a town hall discussion hosted by the Student Government Association. Alongside Burlington City Manager Craig Honeycutt and Alamance Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Reagan Gural, Sharpe addressed questions and concerns from students — with the event aiming to strengthen the connection between the university and the local community.
The discussion also provided a platform for students to engage with local leaders and explore ways to collaborate on community issues.
“It's important to be involved with the students because they are our residents,” Sharpe told Elon News Network. “So while I refer to them as our temporary residents, they are still here — hopefully for the full four years to get the full experience of being a member of the community.”
The discussion covered a range of topics, including the lack of a sidewalk near Arts West, noise ordinance issues and resolutions and how the town and the university can better support each other moving forward.
“There's so much potential for us to drive change with our school system. There's been a lot of news about our local schools and any way that we can bring more attention to that is tremendous,” Sharpe said. “To answer questions about the Town of Elon and how we govern is important because you're not going to know every single thing. A lot of times you don't know a law until you come to encounter it.”
Sharpe explained her role as the elected head of Elon’s government, clarifying that Elon is a separate town from the neighboring city of Burlington. She encouraged students to attend local events like the annual tree lighting and downtown concerts, emphasizing the energy their participation brings to the community.
Sharpe also addressed concerns about Greek organizations renting homes in residential neighborhoods, urging students to be respectful neighbors. She stressed the importance of the town embracing its identity as a college town, noting that Elon University is central to the community’s character.
“The university and the town are really in a good place when it comes to our relationship and I think we can just continue to go up,” Sharpe said. “We have ongoing committees that we're engaged with between the town and the university.”
Student body president Taylor Cote shared that hosting the event was a collaborative effort, noting her outreach to guest speakers and expressing satisfaction with the turnout of about 30 people.
Cote also addressed student concerns about safety, particularly regarding sidewalks and lighting around town and campus.
Freshman class president Jonathan Mushi expressed his appreciation for the honesty and openness displayed by the guest speakers during the town hall. He noted that their candor, including moments of vulnerability, exceeded his expectations. Instead of delivering typical political responses, the speakers provided genuine answers that contributed to bridging the gap between students and local leaders, Mushi said.
“Just trying to broaden your network and build more helping hands,” Mushi said. “One thing I've learned since being elected freshman class president is that honestly, it takes a village in a community.”