News

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NEWS 11/30/23 9:05pm

Christopher Newport Dean visits Elon University as second College of Arts and Sciences dean candidate

By Joseph Navin

Elon University faculty members listened to a presentation by Dean Nicole Guajardo from Christopher Newport University inside upstairs Lakeside on Nov. 30. This comes as the university is looking for a new dean to helm Elon College, College of Arts and Sciences starting fall 2024. At the end of this academic year, Dean Gabie Smith will end her two decade-long tenure as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Smith will remain a professor in the Department of Psychology afterwards. Dr. Hilton Kelly will be the third candidate to present at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4 in Lakeside 213.

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NEWS 11/30/23 7:36am

Dean of Elon College candidate offers vision for liberal arts education

By Miles Hayford

Jennifer Fredericks presented and spoke to Elon faculty members about her vision for the College of Arts and Sciences, along with her philosophy on the ideals of liberal arts education. Following Gabie Smith’s decision to step down as the Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, Fredricks is one of four candidates interviewing for the position of dean of the college. Nicole Guajardo of Christopher Newport University, the next candidate, will speak to Elon Nov. 30 from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. in Lakeside 212.

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NEWS 11/29/23 2:11pm

Elon University announces increase in parking permit price; freshman parking move to Danieley, Francis Centers fall 2024

By Joseph Navin

All Elon University students will see an increase in parking permit rates next academic year. For regular permits, the rates will increase from $160 to $225, except for Global Neighborhood lot permits which will increase from $50 to $100. According to a campus-wide email forwarded by Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley on Nov. 29, Chief of Campus Police and Safety Joe LeMire will be initiating a parking pilot program in which all freshman parking will be moved to the east side of campus, including at Danieley Center and a new lot being built at the Gerald Francis Center.

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NEWS 11/28/23 11:41pm

PHOTO GALLERY: Elon University celebrates annual Festival of Lights, Luminaries festival

By Joseph Navin

The Festival of Lights and Luminaries Festival was held Nov. 28 and featured numerous stations across campus, highlighting numerous religions and cultural traditions being celebrated this holiday season. 

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NEWS 11/27/23 7:49am

Elon University School of Health Sciences to enter final phase of renovations

By Owen Metz

Phase four of a four-step plan to expand Elon University’s School of Health Sciences is set to start construction January 2024 — which will add a nursing suite area and group all nursing staff together. Otherwise known as the Francis Center, the School of Health Sciences is the newest of Elon’s six schools. Though things have been running well in the new program, it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. According to Interim Director Stacey Thomas, a lack of space for faculty members has often left them scattered around the building and struggling to communicate with one another.

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NEWS 11/26/23 9:50pm

Graham, Faucette fire crews knock out hotspots after Carolina Mill blaze

By Joseph Navin

A caller reported a fire inside the Carolina Mill at roughly 4:03 a.m. on Nov. 25, and the mill was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire crews were on scene — according to Chief Jimmy Westbrook from the Faucette Township Volunteer Fire Department. Twelve fire departments from across Alamance County, including those from Graham and Burlington, responded to assist crews from the Faucette Township Volunteer Fire Department. Westbrook said at the height of the response, around 75 people were on scene.The Carolina Mill was a former cotton mill which was built in 1869.

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NEWS 11/17/23 8:22am

Invicta Water collaborates with Elon University students to combat PFAS

By Miles Hayford

Invicta Water, a private water treatment company, is working to remove PFAS from water sources along with the help of Elon students. Elon and its surrounding area has recently faced multiple chemical leaks into nearby water sources such as the Haw River. Additionally, drinking water in the Alamance County area has PFAS levels higher than the Environmental Protection Agency recommends. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — otherwise known as PFAS — is a group of chemicals that is used in products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. 

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NEWS 11/16/23 7:53pm

Elon University recognized by Institute of International Education

By Jenna Rudolph

Elon University has been recognized for the 18th year as the leading university for highest percentage of students who study abroad among doctoral universities, according to the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Report. This year also had the highest percentage of undergraduate students who study abroad at Elon in University history at 87.8%. Additionally, Elon ranked No. 12 nationally among doctoral universities in the total number of students who completed mid-length study abroad programs and No. 26 among doctoral universities in total number of students studying abroad.

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NEWS 11/16/23 8:03am

Law enforcement copes with increase in Alamance County overdoses

By Abigail Hobbs

From 2000 to 2022, over 36,000 North Carolinians died from overdose and 3,875 deaths in 2022 alone. Cpt. Chris Crain from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department said he has responded to more calls of overdose in Alamance County than he can count — at least two to three a week. Alamance County saw 34 opioid-related overdoses in 2020, 50 in 2021 and 40 in 2022, according to the NCDHHS. Town of Elon Sgt. Chris Miles said he is seeing more younger people overdosing from fentanyl since it is being laced in drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. 

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NEWS 11/15/23 5:20pm

Town of Elon permanent plaza set for Dec. 2

By Miles Hayford

The launch date for the permanent plaza in downtown Elon has been set for 6 p.m. Dec. 2, according to Elon’s Downtown Development Director Jill Weston. The construction of the new gathering space began Aug 3., and after three months of construction, it is expected to debut at the town of Elon’s Hometown Christmas event. The plaza will include dining tables, umbrellas and a stage area for events and musical performances.

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NEWS 11/15/23 7:46am

Elon University Student Health Services hires registered nurse

By Madison Powers

After a monthslong gap, Elon University Student Health Services has hired a registered nurse who can provide allergy shots, patient care and other treatment. Becky Amash, who previously worked with the Alamance County Health Department, is joining as a full-time RN after Registered Nurse Cynthia Moore retired at the end of the 2022-23 school year after working at Elon for over 14 years. Dr. Ginette Archinal, university physician and medical director of student health at Elon, said there is a shortage of registered nurses which made it difficult to fill the position at the university. 

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NEWS 11/14/23 8:59pm

Abandoned Graham mill continues to smolder

By Joseph Navin

The former Culp Weaving Mill continues to burn after fire crews from across central North Carolina — including Alamance, Guilford and Orange Counties — responded to a fire at 300 E. Parker St. in Graham overnight Nov. 12. According to Graham Fire Chief Tommy Cole, the fire department was called to the former Culp Weaving Mill around 7:55 p.m. Nov. 12. The Graham Recreation Center on College Street served as a temporary shelter for those affected in the community, according to Graham Mayor Jennifer Talley. 

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NEWS 11/14/23 4:17pm

Elon University hosts multifaith panel to discuss the Israel-Gaza war

By Cassie Weymouth

A panel of Elon University’s multifaith chaplains gathered in the Sacred Space of the Numen Lumen Pavilion. The panelists discussed the Israel-Hamas war and how to navigate the conversations around it, particularly with the holidays drawing near. The Rev. Kirstin Boswell, the Rev. Julie Tonnesen, Imam Shane Atkinson and Rabbi Maor Greene spoke at the event Nov. 13. During the event, Greene said because the attack on Oct. 7 happened on Shabbat and the festival of Sukkot — a Jewish holiday —, there was extra shock and grief felt by the Jewish community. 

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NEWS 11/14/23 1:21pm

Haggard Avenue expected to close for 3 weeks

By Lilly Molina

East Haggard Avenue — from North Williamson Avenue to North Antioch Avenue — will be closed for three weeks starting on Nov. 15 and opening again on Dec. 6. In addition, part of North O’Kelly Avenue located north of East Haggard will be closed as well. Dooley sent an email from Senior Director for Facilities Management Raymond Fletcher, who said the closure is due to a project conducted by the Town of Elon focused on water system improvements. During non-work hours, the roadways are expected to resume back to normal, and most of the sidewalks will remain untouched by the roadwork.  

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NEWS 11/14/23 11:04am

Fire engulfs abandoned mill in Graham as nearby homes evacuated

By Jenna Manderioli and Joseph Navin

Fire crews from across central North Carolina, including Alamance, Guilford and Orange Counties responded to afire at 300 E. Parker St. in Graham. This marked the second major fire at the complex in roughly a year after an October 2022 fire. According to Graham Fire Chief Tommy Cole, the fire began the night of Nov. 12 and continued into the morning on Nov. 13. Fire crews are continuing to work to put out remaining hot-spots around the facility. The source of the fire has not been identified, according to Beau Russell at the Graham Fire Department.

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NEWS 11/14/23 7:58am

Elon University students welcome Wawa expansion into North Carolina

By Lilly Molina

For Emma Puleo, an Elon senior from Maryland, Wawa was her life. Wawa is a major gas station chain that sells food and beverages such as hoagies, club sandwiches, milkshakes and smoothies.The company originated in Pennsylvania and has since expanded all over the East Coast but has bypassed North Carolina, until now. Wawa announced its expansion into North Carolina on Oct. 25 at the Greenville Convention Center and Casita Brewing Company in Wilson. In a statement, Wawa said they plan to open 15 more stores in North Carolina by 2025 and are investing $7 million for each store.  

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NEWS 11/13/23 11:24am

Elon University biology major fights to keep senior year alive

By Mason Willett

Senior Mandi Lichtenstein started to feel symptoms during the first week of school. As symptoms got worse Lichtenstein knew something was wrong so she decided to drive herself to the hospital on Aug. 29. After sitting in the emergency room waiting area for six hours, Lichtenstein was finally able to get the exams she needed. “They gave me a CT scan of my kidney and bladder and they found a shadow on the bladder scan, which could have been anything," Lichtenstein said. "But the doctor who came in was like, ‘No, you probably have cancer.’”

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NEWS 11/11/23 11:47am

Elon residential students can now access Max with university accounts

By Nia Bedard

Elon Residence Life announced that the streaming platform Max is now accessible to residential students through their Elon University accounts. Assistant Dean of Campus Life and Director of Residence Life Kristen Carrier announced the update in an email that was sent out to students living on-campus on Nov. 8. In February 2023, Elon students lost the ability to use Max — formerly HBO Max — with their university logins, following a change in cable providers from Philo to Streeme. After nine months without the streaming service, Max is now back at Elon.

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NEWS 11/9/23 8:21am

Elon University students to host CANstruction event Nov. 11

By Madison Powers

Three students in EGR 2210: Engineering Design for Service are partnering with Southern Alamance Family Empowerment to promote the nonprofit, collect canned goods and spread awareness about food insecurity in Alamance County. On Nov. 11, the group of Elon engineering students will deconstruct four structures made of canned goods to be donated to SAFE. Griffin Chase, a senior majoring in entrepreneurship with a minor in engineering design, is one of three students partnering with SAFE. Chase said through this project, he has learned about food insecurity in Alamance County.

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NEWS 11/8/23 1:39pm

Elon University’s Phoenix Policy Institute hosts sustainability discussion

By Ryan Kupperman

Elon University's Phoenix Policy Institute hosted a sustainability discussion where speakers Kelly Harer, Elon University’s associate director of sustainability for education and outreach, the Rev. Donna Vanhook ’07 — Alamance County’s soil and water conservation district supervisor — and professor of political science and policy studies Julianne Liebenguth spoke to nearly a dozen students about barriers to sustainability at Elon and in the community. Vanhook emphasized the importance of race and policy in local change, while Liebenguth related efforts to a global, political scale and Harer reviewed Elon’s sustainability goals and challenges.

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