Lifestyle

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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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LIFESTYLE 2/2/25 8:30pm

Department of Performing Arts brings Eden to Elon in Paradise Lost

By Evan Cooper

Elon’s Department of Performing Arts concluded its production of “Paradise Lost,” adapted from John Milton’s epic poem by playwright Erin Shields, on Feb. 2. This was the department’s fifth performance of the school year and the second stage play of the 2024-2025 season, after “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” The production was directed by professor of theatre Susanne Shawyer, with senior Grace Minton as assistant director. Minton said Shawyer’s direction is reflected in the show’s minimalist set, costumes and scene composition. 

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LIFESTYLE 2/2/25 1:37pm

Elon Music Department hosts the first Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition

By Kate Gray

The inaugural Joseph Bologne International Piano Competition was hosted by the Elon University Department of Music on Feb. 1 in Yeager Recital Hall. The competition honors 18th century composer, violinist and conductor Joseph Bologne, known for being one of the first artists of African descent to follow European classical style. Twelve high school students competed, with first place winner Benjamin Luo from Raleigh, North Carolina earning $1000. The event was inspired by the discovery of a lost manuscript in the French National Library by professor of music Douglas Jurs and Eden Brown ʼ07.

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LIFESTYLE 1/29/25 10:17pm

Photo gallery: Elon sorority bid day 2025

By Elon News Network

Loy Center was filled with enthusiasm as potential new sorority members "ran home" for bid day on Jan. 29. Bid day is the final day of Panhellenic recruitment when potential new members, or PNMs, are formerly invited to join a specific sorority chapter. Panhellenic recruitment started on Sunday, Jan. 26 when PNMs visited each sorority individually, and ended with bid day on Wednesday, Jan. 29.

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LIFESTYLE 1/17/25 1:09pm

Elon University’s production of ‘Paradise Lost’ navigates free will

By Sarah T. Moore

Elon University’s winter play, “Paradise Lost,” explores the story of Adam and Eve from Satan’s perspective.  The play is an adaptation of John Milton’s 1667 poem of the same name yet still remains “remarkably relevant,” according to freshman Carter Sindelar who plays Adam. With its theme of free will and interpretations of the characters, Sindelar said he hopes the production gets audience members to be intentional about their actions.

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LIFESTYLE 1/15/25 7:59am

Best Of 2025

By Elon News Network

Based on surveys of students, faculty, staff, and local residents, Best Of 2025 highlights the best food, local businesses, sports and more in the area, providing a curated guide to community favorites.

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LIFESTYLE 12/30/24 9:37am

A man and his coffee: Burlington family business born from love

By Nia Bedard

Jim Young fell in love with coffee when he was 18 in Germany. After joining the military in 1983, he shipped out to Germany during the Cold War. Before leaving, Young only thought about coffee when he made it every morning for his first sergeant in infantry school. After serving in the army, Young ran an electronics store selling home theater setups and stereo systems. Young stuck with this job for 28 years doing the same thing over and over. Until one day he stopped loving it. So, Young returned to his first love, coffee. 

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LIFESTYLE 12/26/24 12:03pm

Alamance County film school opens in January

By Abigail Hobbs

After 33 years working for some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Dean Jones returned home to Alamance County eight years ago. Now an Emmy-winning makeup artist, producer and director, Jones said he felt like he had to move to California to continue his career. Because of his hardships moving away to find work, Jones saw the need for a local film school in Alamance County to build the labor force in the state. The North Carolina Film & Television Working Arts School will start its first semester with five students Jan. 21, 2025.

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LIFESTYLE 12/22/24 8:17pm

Elon’s Irish Dance Team provides strong sense of community for members

By Ruby Burckle

The sound of fiddles and flutes fill the conference rooms in upstairs Lakeside as the Elon Irish Dance Team begins its weekly practice. The team is a small but close knit community made up of people from all ranges and skill levels. Some members, like senior and co-president Sarah Dawkins, have been dancing since as early as 3 years old, while others like freshman Trudie Arling, have never done Irish dance before. The uniqueness of the sport has created a strong sense of community within the club that provides an outlet for its members. 

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LIFESTYLE 12/7/24 1:43pm

Elon Electric Ensemble showcases songwriting talent in Fall Songwriter Showcase

By Evan Cooper

Music production students performed original songs in McCrary Theatre on Dec. 6 as a part of the Fall Songwriter Showcase, a yearly concert held by Elon’s Music Production and Recording Arts program. Members of the Elon Electric Ensemble had the chance to debut songs they worked on throughout the semester, and the crowd had the chance to see the talent present at Elon. Ten songs were performed, with nine written by sophomore Maya Spencer, junior Shreyas Kumar, sophomore Keller Knight and sophomore Maya Cohen.

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LIFESTYLE 12/7/24 9:26am

Memory of loved ones pave Mountains-to-Sea Trail

By Monika Jurevicius

Donna and Haley Burch are natives of North Carolina and volunteered together at the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a wilderness path that spans the width of the state from Clingmans Dome in the Great Smoky Mountains to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on the Outer Banks. Volunteers, also known as Friends of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, work field days throughout the year to maintain the trails. After dying in 2021, Haley left a legacy through his leadership, his experience in carpentry and the energy he brought to the group.

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LIFESTYLE 12/4/24 10:34am

Elon Watches: ‘Arcane’ season 2

By Lucy Samuels

*This review contains spoilers for “Arcane” season 1 and season 2. The first time someone told me to watch Netflix’s Emmy winning “Arcane,” I brushed it off since I wasn’t familiar with Riot Games’ “League of Legends” — the show’s source material. But now, I could not be more absorbed by a piece of media. Animated by French animation studio Fortiche, “Arcane” is truly a powerhouse of story and animation, fueled by passionate artists and equally passionate fans.

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LIFESTYLE 12/2/24 9:51am

TikToker, Elon student known as judyhoppsl0vr69 releases debut single

By Sarah T. Moore

With over 2.1 million followers on TikTok, Elon University senior Nik Salah — also known as judyhoppsl0vr69 — expanded his digital presence by releasing original music. Salah’s TikTok page primarily features satirical comedy videos, often centered around the Zootopia character Judy Hopps. However, Salah began posting snippets of his songwriting over the summer. He released his debut single, “Midwest’s Best,” on Nov. 1, and it garnered over 165,000 streams in its first four days on Spotify. As of Nov. 29, the song has 366,290 streams and has been added to over 33,000 playlists on Spotify.

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LIFESTYLE 11/27/24 11:38am

Man with a silver thumb: 91-year-old Elon alum crafts silverware creations

By Lilly Molina

With shaky hands, Bob Rice '61 opened one of the various tall, plastic storage cabinets in his garage. Some are labeled vintage spoons, forks and coins, but that’s not what he is looking for. He eventually finds a box labeled knives, which are perfect for making rings. Instead of relaxing in his retirement, Rice sells hand-made jewelry at The Main Line, an artisan goods shop located in downtown Graham. Over the past five years, Rice estimates that he’s made around $50,000 in profit from this side hustle.

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LIFESTYLE 11/17/24 1:24pm

Burlington Preservation Salvage Shop saves historic homes from landfills

By Lilly Molina

Inside a World War II quonset hut, a building shaped like a silver half-moon, lies two cased doors resting along tall wooden crates. This door sticks out in the Salvage Shop like a sore thumb; it’s the tallest object in the entire shop, but it’s also quite beautiful. The top of the door has a half-circle structure with details on it to look like rays of sun. Besides the fade and chipping of paint, this door remains completely intact and in decent condition. The only thing it was missing is its story.

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LIFESTYLE 11/15/24 8:02am

Elon’s fall dance concert explores concept of unboxing

By Megan Walsh

Emotions, relationships, pushing past spatial limits, AI, social media and technology — all topics to be “unboxed” in Elon University’s fall dance concert. Elon’s fall dance concert, “UnBoxed,” will feature pieces from professors, student choreographers and guests, all sharing their perspectives on the theme of unboxing something and thinking outside the box. Shows will run at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and 16, and matinee performances will be held at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 and 17 in Roberts Studio Theatre in Scott Studios. Tickets are free with an Elon ID or $15.

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LIFESTYLE 11/14/24 10:40am

Native American Student Association promotes change, community

By Julia Donaghy

A primary goal for the Native American Student Association has been to develop more of a long-term relationship between Elon and the Occaneechi Band. However, the first step of this is to educate and unite Indigenous and non-Indigenous students across Elon, which begins with the organization’s meetings. NASA held “Crafting in the Commons” on Nov. 4 in Global Commons, which was one of three planned events to celebrate the month of November as Native American Heritage Month. The organization will host “Soil to Soul: Indigenous Planting” on Nov. 15 from noon to 2 p.m. in Moseley 221.

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