News

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NEWS 4/19/25 9:12am

Elon University School of Communications to launch new major in fall 2025

By Nia Bedard

Elon University School of Communications has announced the addition of a new major to its curriculum — digital content management. The last time the School of Communications introduced any new majors was in 2015 with the establishment of cinema and television arts, communication design and media analytics. The announcement of the new digital content management major comes after a 17% decline in enrollment at the School of Communications since 2021. Dean of the School of Communications Kenn Gaither said adding this major will hopefully increase the total enrollment of the school. 

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NEWS 4/18/25 10:33pm

Elon University's American Association of University Professors hosts Day of Action

By Charlotte Pfabe

For nearly eight hours, Elon University professors across disciplines presented teach-in sessions at Belk Outdoor Theater on April 17 as a part of a nationwide Day of Action, organized by the American Association of University Professors. A national AAUP event, the Day of Action aimed to bring attention to recent executive orders and actions targeting higher education. Professors taught lessons every 30 minutes. With 14 sessions total, the sessions focused on topics such as immigration rights, Project 2025, campus activism and more, but all returned to the same overarching theme of the impact of recent executive orders on higher education. 

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NEWS 4/18/25 2:41pm

Behavioral Center to open inpatient wing departments for security

By Avery Sloan

Despite Alamance County’s Behavioral Health Center opening its doors June 19, it is still waiting on a license from the federal government to open its 24/7 inpatient care wing, according to Donald Reuss, vice president of behavioral health and intellectual/developmental disability network operations at Vaya Health. The behavioral health center was created in partnership with Vaya Health, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and RHA Health Services. The goal of this center is to provide people with mental health and substance abuse issues a place they can seek treatment.

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NEWS 4/17/25 10:26am

Internal candidate selected as next dean of students at Elon University after confidential search

By Avery Sloan

Whitney Gregory will serve as Elon’s next dean of students following a confidential candidate search. This was announced to faculty and staff in an email from Jon Dooley, vice president of student life, on April 17. Gregory, the current assistant dean of students, will step into her new role this summer, after current dean of students, Jana Lynn Patterson, begins her new role as the associate vice president and dean of student health and well-being. Patterson has worked at Elon for 39 years and will retire in 2026, after serving in a new capacity. 

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NEWS 4/16/25 7:54pm

American Association of University Professors to hold Day of Action at Elon University

By Charlotte Pfabe

Elon University’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors plans to hold a Day of Action at the Belk Outdoor Theater on Thursday, April 17 to bring attention to recent executive orders targeting higher education. From 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Elon’s AAUP will present “teach-in” sessions every 30 minutes, taught by professors from various departments, including art history, philosophy, peace and conflict studies, and more. The Day of Action is a national AAUP event with universities across the U.S. participating. In North Carolina, there are five universities hosting events related to the Day of Action.

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NEWS 4/17/25 11:18am

Elon launches neuroscience major for fall 2025

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University will launch new Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs in neuroscience beginning in fall 2025, in line with the university’s commitment to science, technology, education and mathematics education in its Boldly Elon strategic plan. The new major — housed in Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences — will build on the success of Elon’s existing neuroscience minor. Roughly 180 students are working toward completing the neuroscience minor, which started in 2009, according to coordinator of the neuroscience minor and professor of exercise science, Matt Wittstein. 

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NEWS 4/17/25 9:39am

Elon Law graduate appointed as district court judge

By Kate Gray

Last fall, Judge William Solomon of the North Carolina 8th District Court retired, leaving a vacancy in the position to complete his term through 2026. On March 31, Stein announced Elon Law alumnus Tia Hudgins Taylor’s appointment to the position, describing her as an “exceptional” and “dedicated” attorney. Taylor worked as an assistant attorney in criminal law for the North Carolina 8th District Court, which includes Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson counties. She also spent time in private practice covering real estate, estate planning, civil matters, family law and juvenile law. 

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NEWS 4/15/25 6:08pm

Elon University organization holds peaceful walk around campus

By Trista Panagakos

The Students for Peace and Justice organization held a peaceful protest walk outside Moseley Student Center on Young Commons on the morning of April 15. According to event attendees, Together We Walk for Peace and Justice was an event held for students to join in the fight against oppression around the world. Many of the attendees came to the event with their own signs about a number of issues including transgender rights, Palestinian freedom and free speech. There was no chanting during the walk, but members spoke among themselves about the signs they were holding and why they were walking.

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NEWS 4/14/25 11:13pm

Elon junior arrested, faces 3 misdemeanor charges

By Elon News Network

Elon junior Jaimes Kylie Dean was arrested April 12 and is facing three misdemeanor charges — including assault inflicting serious injury, breaking or entering, and crime of domestic violence. Dean is 21 years old. According to the arrest warrant from the town of Elon Police Department, Dean allegedly wrongfully entered the residence of the victim and poured toilet bowl cleaner resulting in visible skin irritation to the victim’s face. Dean's bond had been set at $12,500. Dean was released April 14. 

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NEWS 4/11/25 10:51am

Elon University Student Government Association appoints vice presidents of communications, finance

By Trista Panagakos

Elon University’s Student Government Association appointed its vice president of communications and finance at its business meeting Thursday, April 10. Juniors Kennedy Steiner and Ian Brecker were selected by executive Student Body president Anya Bratic to be vice president of communications and finance, respectively. Unlike the senate, executive president and vice president, these roles are not elected by the student body and instead go through an application and interview process. After the president selects a candidate, the senate must vote on their approval.

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NEWS 4/10/25 11:09am

Elon University announces 2025 Lumen Scholar winners

By Avery Sloan

The Lumen Advisory Committee director Michael Carignan announced Elon University’s 2025 Lumen Scholar winners. The 15 Lumen Prize winners are granted $20,000 to support their mentored research and creative projects. Established in 2007 by former Elon president Leo Lambert, the goal of the Lumen Prize is to give students an opportunity to pursue research and support other experiences such as international travel, service projects and workshops. For the next two years, the Lumen Scholars will work closely with their mentors to complete their research.

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NEWS 4/10/25 9:12am

PARC development set to bring 1,000 new housing units to town of Elon

By Charlotte Pfabe

Over the next 10 years, around 1,000 new housing units are expected to be built in the town of Elon. PARC Village was approved by the town of Elon Town Council on March 24 to be constructed behind Schar Center. The area where PARC Village will be located received a conditional rezoning to be a mixed-use development, allowing for both residential and commercial structures on the property. According to GreenHawk’s development plans presented to the town council, PARC Village will include housing units, office and retail buildings, a hotel, and a grocery store.

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NEWS 4/9/25 4:38pm

SGA to choose vice presidents of finance, communications

By Trista Panagakos

While the new Student Government Association executive president and vice president prepare to be sworn in on Thursday April 10, an SGA interview committee is deciding who will take over the roles of vice president of finance and vice president of communications. Unlike the senate, the president and vice president positions, the two executive roles of vice president of finance and communications are not voted on by the student body. After interviews, the chosen applicants are selected by the incoming president and approved by the new senate.

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NEWS 4/9/25 12:11pm

15 residents apply for open seat on ABSS Board of Education

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The Alamance Burlington School System is reviewing 15 applications from individuals seeking to fill a vacant seat on the seven-member board of education — the most people ABSS has ever had apply for a vacancy, according to ABSS board of education member Seneca Rogers. The seat is open following the resignation of Chuck Marsh on Feb. 24. The board will hear from the applicants during its April 28 meeting and could potentially vote the same night to appoint the seat. 

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NEWS 4/8/25 11:10am

Nonprofit Indigenous organization fights the development of Buc-ee’s

By Abigail Hobbs

North Carolina's first Buc-ee's will be constructed in Mebane on the Occaneechi-Saponi's Great Trading Path. 7 Directions of Service — a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for Native land and rights, particularly for the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation — is fighting Buc-ee’s development. “It's not just a trading path, or it's not just a historical thing, but it still has ties to our people today,” Coda Cavalier, a youth coordinator for 7 Directions of Service, said.

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NEWS 4/6/25 12:13pm

Cracking down on REAL IDs, deadline approaches

By Fiona McAllister

As the May 7 deadline for U.S. residents to get a REAL ID approaches, the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles’ appointments are filling up quickly. REAL ID is a federal law that sets minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards. It is indicated by a star on the corner of the drivers license and it allows citizens to travel and go to government buildings without having to carry a U.S. passport. The REAL ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, was put into effect after the 9/11 Commission Report set standards for safety within the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attack. 

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NEWS 4/5/25 11:23am

Protesters gather outside state capitol in Raleigh against Donald Trump, Elon Musk

By Kate Gray

Protesters are gathering between Raleigh’s State Legislature and State Capitol Building on April 5 to protest President Donald Trump and head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk. This protest and hundreds of others across the country are part of a nationwide series of protests known as Hands Off. There are 34 Hands Off protests scheduled for April 5 in North Carolina alone, with the three largest in the state expected to be in Charlotte, Asheville and Raleigh, according to 50501 North Carolina press representative Cole Dragotta. 

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NEWS 4/4/25 2:24pm

Gov. Josh Stein’s first 100 days: Cautious and relief-focused

By Miles Hayford

As Gov. Josh Stein’s first 100 days in office come to a close, his administration has focused on three key areas: Hurricane Helene recovery, a two-year budget proposal and cautiously navigating a Republican-dominated North Carolina General Assembly. Stein released a budget proposal March 19, which is a recommended budget that the General Assembly will take into consideration before passing the budget themselves. After two years of a Republican supermajority, the General Assembly is heavily controlled by the GOP. Republicans currently hold a 30-20 advantage in the Senate and a 71-49 advantage in the House.

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NEWS 4/4/25 12:48pm

500-spot parking lot to open near Francis Center to accommodate freshmen

By Tariq L. Johnson

Starting in the 2025-26 academic year, first-year students will now be required to park near the Francis Center. A new 500-spot remote parking lot will open up around 450 parking spots within the main part of campus, accommodating upperclassmen parking, according to Elon University Chief of Campus Safety and Police, Joseph LeMire. The Elon Express and E-Rides will be available to transport students who park in this parking lot, according to LeMire. The walk for students to the central part of campus will be approximately 20 minutes from the lot. 

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NEWS 4/3/25 9:32pm

City of Burlington opens pickleball complex at Fairchild Park

By Anjolina Fantaroni

The rain couldn’t stop the eager pickleball community from celebrating the grand opening of the pickleball and tennis courts at Fairchild Park in Burlington. From city officials to seasoned and new players, the six new courts were packed with the sounds of the popular sport. The six new courts at Fairchild Park opened April 3 with an event including refreshments, free pickleball keychains and paddle covers, and blue and green balloons to represent the colors of the city. The courts at Fairchild Park are free to the public. Players do not need a membership fee.

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