Lifestyle

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LIFESTYLE 2/27/25 5:59pm

Q&A: Fashion designer discusses building his shoe empire

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Stuart Weitzman is a renowned footwear designer who has built a reputation for designing shoes that balance both comfort and elegance. His brand has been worn by celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Angelina Jolie, Tate McRae, Beyoncé and more. Weitzman visited Elon University on Feb. 26 to talk to students and share his passion for designing and navigating the changing fashion industry. "You can't do it alone. And whenever I found someone to help me do it, I always sought the absolute best, most experienced, most talented. I didn't care if it cost twice as much," Weitzman said.

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LIFESTYLE 3/1/25 4:05pm

Elon Winterguard club fosters community, creative expression

By Kate Gray

A group of six students assembled at 7 p.m. Feb. 27 in Alumni Gym, chatting and catching up while pop music played on a portable speaker. Soon, among rows of empty chairs and tossed-aside backpacks, they were spinning flags and practicing choreography. This sport is winterguard, an indoor version of colorguard featuring dance and manipulation of flags, prop rifles and sabers. The winterguard club started at Elon in the 2023-24 school year but really took off this year, according to president and sophomore Leah Funchess.

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LIFESTYLE 3/6/25 8:37am

Elon Spring Dance Concert brings light out of the void to McCrary Theatre

By Megan Walsh

Emanation — emerging out of the void, being a bright light in darkness, having hope and internal reincarnation. These are all definitions of emanation and what the choreographers are exploring for Elon University’s Spring Dance Concert. Elon’s Spring Dance Concert entitled “Emanation” will feature a diverse group of dance styles and choreographers all centered around the various definitions of emanation. The show will run in McCrary Theatre with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. March 7 and 8 and matinees at 2 p.m. March 8 and 9.

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LIFESTYLE 2/27/25 9:16am

Elon University Carnaval celebration features live music, dancing, cultural food

By Kate Gray

With live steel pan music, mask decorating and a buffet of Caribbean and Latin American food, the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education and El Centro kicked off Elon’s third annual Carnaval celebration on Feb. 26 in McKinnon Hall.  Elon’s Carnaval began with a Brazilian student who graduated last year, according to MJ Larrazabal, assistant director of the CREDE. As the event grows in popularity, it has expanded to include more Latin American countries and showcase African and Indigenous influences.

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LIFESTYLE 2/25/25 10:43pm

Historic photos of Elon put on display in town annex

By Fiona McAllister

The Town of Elon hosted a showing of historic photos from places around Elon — like Elon University. People were encouraged to stop by and write down anything they knew about each photo’s backstory. The photos were enlarged in order for people to see the photos clearly. Artificial intelligence was used to enhance physical features on those in the photographs. Jill Weston, the downtown development director for the town of Elon said the photos went through a very thorough process, until finally ending up back in North Carolina.

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LIFESTYLE 2/24/25 2:40pm

Elon University Truitt Center hosts Ripple Conference, fosters interfaith connection

By Ruby Burckle

With an estimated 150 attendees hailing from over 10 universities, the Ripple Conference, held from Feb. 21 to 23, showcased the importance of interfaith dialogue on college campuses. The Ripple Conference is the largest student-led interfaith conference in the Southeast. This year, the conference’s theme was “The Art of Interfaith” and explored how art can bridge the gap between people of different faiths. On Feb. 21, the first day of the conference, participants gathered in the Richard McBride Gathering Space to hear from keynote speaker Rodger Kamenetz, a poet and author.

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LIFESTYLE 2/23/25 4:12pm

Piedmont Shakespeare Company brings free professional theatre to Triad

By Megan Walsh

This summer, the Piedmont Shakespeare Company will open its inaugural season performing Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” across six locations in the Piedmont-Triad area. The company was created by Elon professors David McGraw, serving as executive director of the company, and Kim Shively, serving as a co-artistic director, alongside University of North Carolina School of the Arts professor Carl Forsman. It aims to bring free Shakespeare to people all over the Piedmont Triad region. On Feb. 15, the company announced auditions will be held on March 2 at Elon and March 9 at UNC School of the Arts.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 8:31pm

’Health and Healing’ promotes health through intentional eating, cooking

By Monika Jurevicius

Elon community members sat around El Centro’s kitchen island for the Black History Month “Health and Healing” event Feb. 17. The Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education hosted the event with Elon Counseling Services to open the space to promote intentional eating habits with balanced meals. CREDE student coordinators facilitated the event by making “hidden” veggie mac and cheese, quinoa popcorn chicken and chocolate zucchini bread, while having discussions about health and wellbeing on campus. This was the CREDE’s fourth event in their Black History Month Calendar.

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LIFESTYLE 2/18/25 1:34pm

Rising rent prices force Persnickety Books to relocate

By Abigail Hines

Persnickety Books is leaving downtown Burlington and moving into a new location due to an increase in rent cost, according to co-owner of Persnickety Books Ian Baltutis. Persnickety Books will be temporarily closing at the end of this week and plans to reopen by the beginning of March. Baltutis purchased Persnickety Books in 2019 from its former owners. The new store, located at 703 E Davis St., is “comparable” in size to the space they’re in now but has a much different layout. Baltutis said he’s excited to see how Persnickety will change with the new space. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/15/25 2:45pm

Late Night Elon hosts Stuffed with Love event to close out Valentine's Day

By Alannah Klingsporn

Students packed Moseley Center on Feb.14 as Late Night Elon celebrated Valentine's Day with "Stuffed with Love." Briston Witt, a coordinator of Student Involvement who organizes Late Night Elon events, said the event was meant to bring people together for the holiday."As cliche as it sounds, I do think all we need is love. I think when you get back to the core of that, that is what is most important," Witt said. "I just wanted to create a space where students can come and celebrate that."

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LIFESTYLE 2/14/25 5:27pm

Elon University Truitt Center to host Ripple Conference, engage attendees through interfaith work

By Trista Panagakos

Elon University will be hosting the Ripple Conference, an annual interfaith and spirituality conference that includes people from across the country to meet in small breakout groups, hear from a keynote speaker and panel, and work on an art and service project. The conference will be held from Feb. 21 to 23, is the largest interfaith conference in the southeast and this will be its tenth year. This year the theme of the conference is the art of interfaith. This theme will explore the ways art is used by faith and religious communities and how that unifies the different spiritual communities.

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LIFESTYLE 2/10/25 9:31pm

Elon art exhibition highlights gender identity, representation

By Abigail Hobbs

Melissa Wilkinson introduced her art exhibition “Queens and Monsters” on Feb. 10 at Gallery 406 in Arts West. About 50 spectators watched as Wilkinson described her inspiration for the exhibit, which features celebrities, roller skates and classic ’80s motifs. The exhibition looks at gendered gaze, noting how the surveyors are typically masculine and the surveyed is feminine. Wilkinson said she wanted to change the dichotomy in this work. The exhibition will be displayed in Gallery 406 in Arts West until March 13.

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LIFESTYLE 2/9/25 2:56pm

Tiny Shelf hosts student performers to celebrate Black History Month

By Monika Jurevicius

Belk Library turned into a stage to celebrate Black musicians with student performers on Feb. 7 at its Tiny Shelf concert series. This was the second event in the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education’s Black History Month calendar, following the Black History Month Kickoff. Four groups were featured during the event, along with the CREDE testing audience members on Grammy Trivia focusing on Black musicians during transitions. The Tiny Shelf concert, inspired by NPR's Tiny Desk series, was hosted by Elon’s campus radio WSOE and the CREDE.

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LIFESTYLE 2/8/25 1:27pm

Local businesses play cupid’s helper for Valentine’s Day shoppers

By Megan Walsh

The bright petals of flowers and the sweet smells of fresh-baked desserts — just two common Valentine’s Day gifts that local businesses in Elon and Burlington are ready to serve up. As Valentine’s Day approaches, both Roxie’s Florist in Burlington and Cakes, etc. by Cindy in Elon are preparing for an increase in orders and purchases. Roxie’s Florist is already taking orders for students who are looking to purchase bouquets, and Cakes, etc. by Cindy will begin putting out Valentine’s treats and selling treat boxes this week.

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LIFESTYLE 2/8/25 10:38am

Asian-Pacific Student Association, Chinese Club, Truitt Center host the 9th annual Lunar New Year festival

By Kate Gray

Elon’s Asian-Pacific Student Association and Chinese Club kicked off the Lunar New Year on Feb. 7 with song and dance performances, a buffet of traditional food and snacks, and activities such as origami and calligraphy. The Lunar New Year is historically a time for renewal, reflection and connection with others. The holiday marks the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar and is observed in many Asian countries. For some, APSA events like Lunar New Year are a way to connect to their heritage and bond with fellow Elon students.

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LIFESTYLE 2/7/25 4:24pm

“Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” creates, fosters connection

By Megan Walsh

The lights go down, the room fills with the sound of the accordion as the stage begins to lighten and the melodic voices of the cast join in, telling the story of “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.” The show, based on a section of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” is Elon University’s winter musical, which is set to be performed Feb. 7 through Feb. 9 in McCrary Theatre. Featuring only one line of spoken dialogue, the show is almost completely portrayed through song.

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LIFESTYLE 2/6/25 3:40pm

Huemanity of People showcases inclusive excellence through storytelling

By Lilly Molina

The Huemanity of People is a storytelling project sponsored by the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Education. Its goal is to showcase the wide range of diversity that makes up Elon, according to Randy Williams, vice president of inclusive excellence and education. The project started with a blank wall. Williams said when the division of inclusive excellence and education emerged out of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were many empty walls within the second floor of the Powell Building where their offices are located.

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LIFESTYLE 2/6/25 9:12am

Elon encourages students to celebrate Black History Month at campus-wide events

By Trista Panagakos

As Black History Month begins, Elon’s Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education has planned nine events for students to celebrate and educate themselves about the month and their identity. The Black History Month celebrations will end Feb. 28 with the Black Solidarity Conference. Other events include a Black Table Talk about legacy on Feb. 12 and a Health and Hustle event meant to teach students how to eat healthy on a budget while also maintaining their mental health. The CREDE is bringing a Carnaval celebration to Elon, with steel pan performers Feb. 26. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/5/25 8:38pm

Ora Teahouse brings handcrafted, ethically-sourced tea to North Carolina cafes

By Liya Rike

Ora Teahouse, launched in 2020, offers handcrafted tea blends and sustainably sourced products from countries like Japan, China and India. Customers can order online for shipping or find its products in select North Carolina stores through local partnerships. With a background in baking, Trista Sanford, founder of Ora Teahouse, uses her skills in flavor profiles to create teas that engage with all senses. For Sanford, tea isn’t just a beverage; it’s a means of connection, care and empowerment. Despite its success, running Ora Teahouse hasn’t been without challenges. Sanford described funding as a common hurdle for small Black-owned businesses.

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LIFESTYLE 2/3/25 10:07pm

Black History Month Kickoff honors Black innovation, influence, legacy

By Monika Jurevicius

Black History Month kicked off at Elon University on Feb. 3 with a celebration of this year’s theme, “This Is How We Do It: Honoring Blackness Through Influence, Innovation, and Legacy.” The Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity Education organized the event, placing emphasis on Black individuals that have been at the forefront of shaping culture and leading in fields of innovation, creativity and social progress. Assistant Director of the CREDE Abdul-Malik Harrison began the event by explaining that the selected theme was an example of how “Black and brown people unite together to make something out of nothing.” 

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