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01/05/2026

From her first trip off campus with the Elon College Fellows Program, senior Brooke Gustafson, a theatrical design and technology, and arts administration double major knew she wanted to use her fellows research project to engage the university with the local community. “I realized then and there that there was a large bubble around Elon University that wasn't connecting with the community,” Gustafson said. That led Gustafson to create her research project, Fitting Futures, which aims to provide free clothing alterations to the local community and establish a model for other universities to replicate the program.

https://elonnewsnetwork.shorthandstories.com/fitting-futures-sewing-university-community-engagement/index.html?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPJPj9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHY13gEzNN-80c-TDLW3I8sjFvBrkbNs4u9toqw4JtYla1G7PPZ8P2PtHwfA_aem_Kfps06LrMqWR2hhEmtfgqA

Fitting Futures: Sewing university, community engagement Elon University senior's research to serve as a guide for universities to engage with local community By Megan Walsh | Jan. 5 2026 From her first trip off campus with the Elon College Fellows Program, senior Brooke Gustafson knew she wanted to...

Elon University’s Student Government Association had an eventful fall semester following the implementation of a new fun...
01/05/2026

Elon University’s Student Government Association had an eventful fall semester following the implementation of a new funding model, freshman elections and an atypical town hall. “Change is change,” Vice President of Communications for SGA Kennedy Steiner said. “People don't always love change, but I think for the future, I think this could be really good, people asking, maybe why something didn't get funded, and just making sure everything was as equitable as possible for organizations.”

Elon University’s Student Government Association had an eventful fall semester following the implementation of a new funding model, freshman elections and an atypical town hall. “Change is change,” Vice President of Communications for SGA Kennedy Steiner said. “People don't always love chang...

As Winter Term approaches on Jan. 5, the new Gateway parking lot located at the Francis Center will be open for freshmen...
01/03/2026

As Winter Term approaches on Jan. 5, the new Gateway parking lot located at the Francis Center will be open for freshmen students starting Jan. 3.

The project was originally announced in November 2023 and was supposed to open in fall 2024. The new parking lot’s opening was continuously delayed with the most recent announcement of a delay occurring in August 2025.

As Winter Term approaches on Jan. 5, the new Gateway parking lot located at the Francis Center will be open for freshmen students starting Jan. 3. The project was originally announced in November 2023 and was supposed to open in fall 2024. The new parking lot’s opening was continuously delayed wit...

North Carolina state Rep. Stephen Ross announced he will not seek re-election, ending his sixth term after more than thr...
01/02/2026

North Carolina state Rep. Stephen Ross announced he will not seek re-election, ending his sixth term after more than three decades in public service. Ross said he wants to spend more time with his family. Ryan Moffitt, an Elon Law alum and Burlington attorney, has announced his candidacy for the seat.

North Carolina state Rep. Stephen Ross announced he will not seek re-election, ending his sixth term after more than three decades in public service. Ross has spent more than three decades in public service, previously serving as a member of  Burlington City Council, Mayor of Burlington and cha...

When Lucero Marti first walked into The Blend seven years ago, she quickly fell in love with the space. “I asked God, ‘I...
12/31/2025

When Lucero Marti first walked into The Blend seven years ago, she quickly fell in love with the space. “I asked God, ‘I’d really love for this place to be mine one day,’” Marti said. And through her involvement with the local Rotary Club, a global nonprofit humanitarian organization, Marti’s connection to The Blend deepened. The Rotarians began holding their meetings at the shop, giving her the chance to build a friendship with the former owner. When the former owner found himself unable to continue running the business after getting married, he approached Marti about taking it over. That turning point led to a new beginning, and she became the new owner Jan. 2.

When Lucero Marti first walked into The Blend seven years ago, she quickly fell in love with the space. “I asked God, ‘I’d really love for this place to be mine one day,’” Marti said. And through her involvement with the local Rotary Club, a global nonprofit humanitarian organization, Mart...

Elon senior Carlos Gomez Lopez was first introduced to Elon University in ninth grade, when his teachers encouraged him ...
12/27/2025

Elon senior Carlos Gomez Lopez was first introduced to Elon University in ninth grade, when his teachers encouraged him to apply for Elon Academy, a college access program offered to Alamance County high schoolers. Students stay on Elon’s campus for three weeks during the summer, living in residence halls, eating in dining halls and meeting members of Elon’s staff. Gomez Lopez said the program helped him become familiar with the school and was one of the reasons he chose to be a student at Elon.

Elon senior Carlos Gomez Lopez was first introduced to Elon University in ninth grade, when his teachers encouraged him to apply for Elon Academy, a college access program offered to Alamance County high schoolers. Students stay on Elon’s campus for three weeks during the summer, living in residen...

Shereá Burnett has been working with United Way of Alamance County for 10 years, writing grant applications and voluntee...
12/22/2025

Shereá Burnett has been working with United Way of Alamance County for 10 years, writing grant applications and volunteering. But for just over a month, she has served as the organization’s president and already has an idea of what the future holds. “We’ve had the opportunity to partner in a lot of different ways in the last month, and we’re planning some wonderful things for 2026 that I think will be the first time some of those things are done here,” Burnett said.

Shereá Burnett has been working with United Way of Alamance County for 10 years, writing grant applications and volunteering. But for just over a month, she has served as the organization’s president and already has an idea of what the future holds. “We’ve had the opportunity to partner in a ...

Alamance County resident Valerie Epperson said she doesn’t think she would be alive right now if it were not for the Ope...
12/20/2025

Alamance County resident Valerie Epperson said she doesn’t think she would be alive right now if it were not for the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County, a clinic that provides free healthcare to people who do not have insurance. “When I first started, my diabetes were out of control, and I was just eating anything I wanted. It’s like, I just didn’t care,” Epperson said. “When you have someone there to help you, it keeps your mind open all the time about, ‘Hey, you need to do this. You need to stop doing this.’”

Open Door Clinic offers free healthcare, open in-person 3 days a week

As K-12 students across North Carolina prepare for their winter break, the Elon University Poll released poll data on De...
12/18/2025

As K-12 students across North Carolina prepare for their winter break, the Elon University Poll released poll data on Dec. 17 finding that most North Carolinians gave mediocre or poor grades to public schools across the state. “The states have always had deep authority on education, but there has been more federal involvement in various years,” Director of the Elon University Poll Jason Husser said. “So we thought, well, this is the time for us to really look in depth about what do people think about North Carolina schools.”

As K-12 students across North Carolina prepare for their winter break, the Elon University Poll released poll data on Dec. 17 finding that most North Carolinians gave mediocre or poor grades to public schools across the state. “The states have always had deep authority on education, but there has ...

Elon University associate chaplain Rev. Julie Tonnesen said loss and grief are universal emotions, but found that they c...
12/17/2025

Elon University associate chaplain Rev. Julie Tonnesen said loss and grief are universal emotions, but found that they can be difficult for faculty and staff to process while continuing their usual routines. “Even when we show up to work, that doesn’t mean that we get to put the rest of our lives on the back burner,” Tonnesen said. “Our grief comes with us. It’s not something we can just keep on a shelf at home.” In collaboration with Counseling Services, the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, began offering a monthly group for faculty and staff to support those affected by loss.

Elon University associate chaplain Rev. Julie Tonnesen said loss and grief are universal emotions, but found that they can be difficult for faculty and staff to process while continuing their usual routines. “Even when we show up to work, that doesn’t mean that we get to put the rest of our live...

45 years after the first reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., the fight against this disease is far from over, especi...
12/14/2025

45 years after the first reported cases of HIV/AIDS in the U.S., the fight against this disease is far from over, especially in the South. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the South accounted for 52% of all HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2023. "We know that HIV/AIDS has had a disproportionate effect on people of color or q***r people of color in this country," Professor of communication studies at Vanderbilt University Jeff Bennett said. "You have many people living in rural areas. You might have distrust of medical providers, you have the social stigma.”

Commmunity reflects on shift in discussion, change in narrative

From freshmen starting to navigate the professional world to seniors preparing for post-graduate opportunities, understa...
12/12/2025

From freshmen starting to navigate the professional world to seniors preparing for post-graduate opportunities, understanding how to navigate the application process can make all the difference in landing an internship. “That doesn’t mean they need to start seeking out an internship right away,” Amber Moser, director of internships in the School of Communications, said. “Planning for it and researching and putting the pieces in place to be successful in your first year is really beneficial, particularly if students are double majoring, depending on the kind of double major they have.”

From freshmen starting to navigate the professional world to seniors preparing for post-graduate opportunities, understanding how to navigate the application process can make all the difference in landing an internship. “That doesn’t mean they need to start seeking out an internship right away,....

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