Hurricane Florence Coverage

HealthEU introduces specialized rooms for students to de-stress

Elon’s HealthEU program has opened two new spaces on campus for students to take a break from their daily stress: The Serenity Suite in Ellington Center and the Mind Body Connection room in Koury Center. Anita Hodnett, Elon director of counseling services, said the new spaces have been built to encourage students to practice mindfulness. The spaces feature a number of tools designed to help students de-stress and provide an environment to learn new self care techniques. The rooms come from funding provided by an endowment from Andrew G. Bennett ’08, which previously funded “Safe Rides,” a service that was suspended in 2019.

Sophomore brings Music For Dementia to Elon

Her hands were the only thing in frame, dancing across the keys as she played a complex, classical piece on the piano. She hadn’t played in 20 years, and though there was no songbook on the music stand, she remembered the piece clearly. Sophomore Aidan Fishkind received a video of their 90-year-old aunt with dementia playing the piano from her live-in caretaker. Fishkind, who was involved in Music For Dementia in their high school, brought the organization to Elon — officially creating its first out-of-state chapter in spring 2024.

Classroom to polls: Elon offers election events across campus

As the November election approaches, student organization Elon Votes and professors are leading seminars, organizing voter registration drives and other educational events. Dillan Bono-Lunn, professor of political science and faculty fellow of civic engagement, said creating an environment of mutual trust and respect is vital for faculty when teaching during election season. Bono-Lunn also said she believes faculty including election content in class can be important for student success, and hosted an event Aug. 19 for faculty about how to include election content in upcoming classes properly.

Jewish community mourns loss of hostages in Gaza

Elon’s Jewish community gathered at Speaker’s Corner to mourn the lives of six hostages whose bodies were found in an underground tunnel in Gaza. The six victims were among the 200 people taken by militants into Gaza on Oct. 7. Elon Chabad’s Rabbi Mendy Minkowitz said he is heartbroken over the loss of these lives and the events that have occurred in the last 11 months. Junior Sam Khavinson, Chabad’s co-president, said he wanted Jewish students to have a moment where they could grieve together.

First-Generation student initiatives empower students at Elon

The First-Generation Society was established in 2021 as a student-driven organization to support, build community with and advocate for first-generation students on campus. Starting this semester, the First-Generation Society will have an office on the first floor of the Moseley student center in room 105E. Senior Ja’Mya McKoy is the organization’s president, but said she didn’t always understand the way her first-generation identity impacted her college experience. As a first-generation mentor, McKoy said she noticed first-generation students at other colleges don’t always have the community and advocacy resources that Elon does.

Student Issues Forum aims to provide safe space for discussion at Elon University

One of the reasons Ella Kucera, vice president of communications for Elon’s student government, said SGA is prioritizing election events and campus climate this semester is to help make sure all students feel safe. This Thursday, Sept. 5 as one of the first election events in the school year, SGA is cosponsoring a student issues forum with Elon News Network. This event, and others in the series, were planned by an Elon ad hoc committee co-chaired by Naeemah Clark, associate provost for inclusive excellence, and Jon Dooley, vice president for student life.

Elon BSU cookout welcomes students back to campus

Energy and music filled Phi Beta Commons on Aug. 31 as Elon’s Black Student Union kicked off the school year with its annual cookout. According to junior and BSU President Maleah Proctor, events like the cookout help strengthen community connections and closeness for Black students on campus. BSU Athletic Liaison Haleigh said being a part of BSU empowers students to advocate for themselves — especially for students of color at a predominantly white institution. BSU will host a vision board event on Wednesday, Sep. 4 in Moseley 215.

Teach for Alamance Graduate Program welcomes newest class

As Elon students return to class, six recent Elon graduates prepare to lead classrooms of their own — here in the Alamance-Burlington School System. Class of 2024 graduates Julia Kearney, Meghan Malone and Malaina Carter are among the six recent Elon graduates in the newest class of the Teach for Alamance program who join the collection of Elon alumni teaching in Alamance County. Beginning with the graduating class of 2023, Teach for Alamance is offered to Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education graduates who hope to enroll in Elon’s Master of Education in Innovation program. 

Best of 2025

Elon’s GLC fosters community through new student welcome

Freshman Alexandria Bell is one of over 140 members of the class of 2028 who is part of the LGBTQ+ community. Bell said while looking at colleges and universities, it was important to her to attend a school that was welcoming to LGBTQ+ students. On Aug. 30, Bell attended the Gender and LGBTQIA+ Center’s new student welcome event in McKinnon Hall. GLC Director Luis Garay said the annual New Student Welcome event allows the center to connect with students and share how the GLC is able to support them through different resources and programming.

Elon University football falls to Duke, offense fails to find rhythm

Despite the gaping difference between the two programs — Duke was in a Power Four conference in Football Bowl Subdivision football and Elon in the Football Championship Subdivision — the Phoenix came into the game with a fighting chance. They faced a Blue Devils squad that reeked of inexperience due to a brand new head coach and quarterback debuting against Elon. Yet, Elon couldn't pick up momentum on offense and lost 26-3. The phoenix will now look to face North Carolina Central on the road at 6 p.m. on Sept. 7.

EcoVillage opens 6 days later than scheduled

Sophomore Kai Baker said he signed up to live in the EcoVillage Living Learning Community this year as an environmental and sustainability studies major excited to live with like-minded people. Baker did not plan to be living out of a suitcase in Danieley for the first week of classes while the EcoVillage houses are still being finished. The houses were supposed to be done by the beginning of the 2024-25 school year, with students originally moving in Aug. 10, Baker said. The 11 students registered to move into EcoVillage homes are temporarily living in different places on campus.

Elon launches AI alumni network program, ElonGPT

When asked what services they want from their alma mater, Elon alumni overwhelmingly said they don’t need anything — but want to give back to current students. Kendra Haskins, senior director of Alumni Engagement, said Elon is launching a new AI program Sept. 16 to help students connect to Elon alumni. The Student Professional Development Center in partnership with Alumni Engagement is using a platform called Protopia, which is made for AI alumni engagement. The company is headquartered in Raleigh but works with schools internationally.

Elon University cross-country team embraces change as season approaches

After five straight years of dominance, the Elon cross-country team faces a new challenge this year. Following five CAA championships by the women and sustained success by the men, the team now has an uncertain future under new leadership. After seven years at Elon, head coach Kevin Jermyn resigned and became Duke University’s head coach. Former Eastern Michigan University head cross-country coach Mark Rinker was hired in the offseason and has big shoes to fill. Rinker acknowledges there is already an expectation of success, but he said he hopes to bring his personality and technique to the table.

Elon Dance Team prepares for nationals after two, second place finishes

Elon University’s dance team is continuing to raise expectations before the season, said Coach Elly Dirks described the team’s growth mindset as a valuable component throughout each performance. Senior dancer Sarah Whiting agreed with Dirks and said the team’s aspirations continue to rise with their recent success. She attributed this toward the talent around the roster. Elon’s dance team has enjoyed a successful three year period thus far. In 2022, they won first place in the hip hop category at nationals and followed that up with two consecutive second place finishes in 2023 and 2024. Three members, including Whiting, remain from the 2022 team.

Elon University football looks to take another step in 2024

There is plenty of optimism surrounding Elon University’s football team heading into the 2024 season. Despite not making the 2023 Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs, they finished with a 6-5 season which included a 6-2 record in conference play. While they are ranked sixth out of 16 teams in the Colonial Atlantic Conference in a preseason poll conducted by all of the league’s head coaches, head coach Tony Trisciani believes Elon is more than capable of exceeding those rankings. As for the previous season, Trisciani said Elon is aiming to take the next step after missing the playoffs by one game.

Elon University football quarterback grows from adversity

Matthew Downing, the starting quarterback for Elon University’s football team, said going into his seventh year has created a lot of doubt from others, but he remains steadfast in his decision to keep coming back to football. Downing’s seven year college football journey is not normal by any means. College football quarterbacks typically only get four years of eligibility. But Downing was plagued by a lack of playing time, injuries and playing through COVID-19. All three roadblocks provided a path for the NCAA to grant Downing more years of eligibility as his college career went on.

Elon volleyball comes into season with new mindset, experience

A reinvigorated Elon University women’s volleyball team will be stepping onto the court this season — hoping for a better result than last season. The team, led by head coach Mary Tendler, ended last season with a 5-22 record. With six new additions to the program last year, inexperience was one of many pitfalls the team faced throughout the season. The players’ inexperience in the tough environment of college athletics was clear with the team going 0-11 at away games. However, Tendler doesn’t think that will be as much of a problem since those freshmen will now have the experience needed to find success.

Elon University men’s soccer looks to finish the job, win conference

After losing in the Coastal Athletic Association Championship two times in the last three years and falling short in a penalty shootout in the CAA Tournament semifinals last year, the Elon University men’s soccer team is entering the 2024 season with a sense of determination. Head coach Marc Reeves said the team is aiming to finally win the CAA Tournament for the first time and get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Reeves said considering the small margins of college soccer, the team needs to maximize the strength of the players they’ve got and set them up to be successful.

Defender Katie Lowe hopes to end collegiate career on high note

Graduate student defender Katie Lowe had an opportunity to return to Elon University’s women’s soccer team for a fifth year after being granted another year of eligibility with COVID-19, and now Lowe wants to take advantage of the chance to suit up one more time. In her senior season, Lowe was named team captain and recently selected to her third Preseason All-CAA honorable mention team. However, Lowe said she feels like there’s still unfinished business. She cited last year’s 3-9 record as one reason why she’s coming back.