Note that residence halls do not officially “close” during Fall Break, although University offices on the main campus in �鶹��Ƶ are closed on Friday, Oct. 16, to give faculty and staff a holiday.

Campus Safety

As a reminder, several 24/7 services are available throughout this time.

• Campus Safety & Police can be reached at 336-278-5555. They can also help connect you with Student Life on-call administrators.
• Crisis Counselors are available at 336-278-2222 for urgent mental health needs.
• SAFEline is available at 336-278-3333 for confidential support with identity-based bias, sexual violence, or interpersonal violence – they can also be a confidential resource to access on-call violence responders.
• TimelyCare free virtual medical and mental health service is available 24/7 throughout the break from anywhere in the United States.

Residence halls and university apartments

Residence Halls do not close during Fall Break. Offices remain open during the break during regular weekday business hours, 8 a.m.- 5 p.m., except Friday, Oct. 16, when University offices are closed.

Parking & Transportation

If you are leaving your vehicle on campus, please take any valuables with you. Make sure your vehicle doors are locked. Please make sure your vehicle is parked in the lot where you are permitted. Do not leave your vehicle in any Faculty/Staff lot, the Inman Admissions lot or at The Inn at �鶹��Ƶ.

�鶹��Ƶ Express and Campus Transportation

Transportation and the �鶹��Ƶ Express will provide services on a reduced schedule.

• All �鶹��Ƶ Express Shuttle Routes will run on the normal schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 14, but will not run Thursday, Oct. 15, through Sunday, Oct. 18. The �鶹��Ƶ Express will resume the regular route schedule on Monday, Oct. 19.
• A modified �鶹��Ƶ Express route from the Gateway Parking Lot to Inman will run Sunday, Oct. 18, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• E-Rides will run normal operations on Sunday, Oct. 18, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Visit the �鶹��Ƶ Transportation website for the latest news, updates, after-hours resources and real-time route tracking.

Campus Services

Below are the hours for student service operations during Fall Break.

Belk Library

Belk Library will close early at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, but will maintain open hours throughout Fall Break:

• Thursday, Oct. 15 – Saturday, Oct. 17: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Normal hours resume Sunday, Oct. 18, at 10 a.m.

Visit the for information about library hours for Phoenix cardholders and community members.

Campus Bookstore

The Barnes & Noble Store will be open for reduced hours during Fall Break:

• Wednesday, Oct. 14 – Friday, Oct.16: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 17: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Visit the for information about hours or online shopping.

Campus Recreation

PARC Fitness Center will remain open throughout the Fall Break, while other facilities will have modified hours or be closed for part of the break:

• PARC Fitness Center 
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14 – Sunday, Oct.18: 4 a.m. – midnight
• Koury Athletic Center 
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14: 6 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct.15: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  • Closed Friday, Oct. 16 – Sunday, Oct. 18
• Beck Pool 
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14: 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
  • Closed Thursday, Oct. 15 – Sunday, Oct. 18
• Driving Range 
  • Wednesday, Oct. 14: Noon-4 p.m.
  • Closed Thursday, Oct. 15 – Sunday, Oct. 18
• PARC Gym, South Gym, ELOA Office and Esports Center
  • Closed Wednesday, Oct. 14 – Sunday, Oct.18

Visit the Campus Recreation website and download the Fusion Go app for detailed information about facilities and programs.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services will be open for appointments during regular hours Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and closed Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, for the university holiday.

• The TimelyCare mental telehealth service is available 24/7 throughout the break.
• The crisis counselor on-call also remains available 24/7 by calling 336-278-2222.
• If a student is experiencing a psychological emergency that is life-threatening or involves imminent danger (risk of harm to self or others at any time), call 9-1-1 for immediate assistance.

�鶹��Ƶ Dining

All dining locations will have modified hours for Fall Break, with Lakeside serving as the primary dining hall open throughout the break. Visit the menu-hours page of the �鶹��Ƶ Dining website for the latest update information about .

Moseley Center

The Moseley Center will close early at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, but will maintain open hours throughout Fall Break:

• Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct.16: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct.17: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 18: 11 a.m. – Midnight

Visit the Moseley Center website for information about adjusted hours of operation.

Mail Services

Mail Services will be closed Friday, Oct. 16 – Sunday, Oct. 18, and normal hours resume on October 19. Shipping partners will hold your items, and Mail Services will process them upon reopening. Visit the Mail Services website for updated hours and operations.

Student Health Services

Student Health Services will be open for appointments throughout the Fall Break:

• Wednesday, Oct. 14: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 15 and Friday, Oct. 16: 9:10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
• Closed Saturday, Oct. 17 and Sunday, Oct. 18

Visit the Student Health Services website for Information about after-hours care and resources in the community. TimelyCare medical telehealth service is available 24/7 throughout the break.

• Vote on the E’s! – Come out to vote on your favorite E. Voting will take place at different locations throughout the week—don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement.
• SGA Royalty Court Voting – Don’t forget to vote for the 2026 SGA Homecoming Royalty Court. Cast your ballot on PhoenixCONNECT any time this week before voting closes Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m.

Check out the full lineup of events happening this week and make the most of Homecoming 2026!

Homecoming Week College Coffee and E Voting

Tuesday, Oct. 6, 9:40 a.m. – 10:20 a.m., Medallion Plaza

Join us for a special Homecoming edition of College Coffee as we celebrate with treats and prizes! The Homecoming E’s will be on display for voting. Note that voting for your favorite E design takes place throughout the week in various locations.

Celebrate with SUB at the Student Homecoming Celebration

Wednesday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain location: Alumni Gym)

Join the Student Union Board for food and activities at the Wednesday Homecoming Week Celebration. Visit for more details.

NPHC Homecoming Step Show

Thursday, Oct. 8,  8 p.m., Alumni Gym

Join the member organizations of the �鶹��Ƶ National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) as they take the stage in a series of intricate dance steps, vibrant music selections and elaborate show themes. Hosted by Dannay Sellers, Class of 2014, the doors open at 7 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m.

Rock the Block & Homecoming Concert featuring DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal)

Friday, Oct. 9, 6-9 p.m., Young Commons

Don’t miss this annual celebration and community block party kicking off Homecoming weekend. Enjoy food trucks, yard games, inflatables and a fireworks show. We are excited to have DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O’Neal) with us for the Homecoming Concert – it will be a fun evening for everyone! Here are a few details to help you prepare for the concert:

• Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the concert will take place rain or shine at 7:30 pm.
• The concert has a 5,000-person maximum capacity. Once capacity is reached, additional guests will not be admitted into the concert area.  Re-entry is not guaranteed. If you leave the concert area, you may not be able to re-enter.
• There are two entrances, both on the north end of Young Commons: one between Koury Gym and Moseley Student Center, and the other between Belk Library and Moseley Student Center.

Visit the for more information.

Cheer on the Phoenix

Saturday, Oct. 10

Student Tailgate

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Hunt B (back parking lot of the Schar Center)

Before the football game, get ready to tailgate Phoenix-style! Visit the (or stop by Moseley 205) for more information.

�鶹��Ƶ v. Wofford College

2 p.m., Rhodes Stadium

Get ready to cheer on the Phoenix as �鶹��Ƶ football takes on Wofford College. Kickoff is at 2 p.m.

Have a great Homecoming Week, Phoenix!

Explore the full schedule and event details on the Homecoming Week Student Edition webpage. Additional information is also available on or by contacting Student Involvement at studentinvolvement@elon.edu, 336-278-7214, or in Moseley 205. Follow Student Involvement on social media for the latest updates and student events throughout Homecoming Week.

Week-long Events

SGA Royalty Court Voting

All Day | PhoenixCONNECT

All students can vote for the 2025 SGA Homecoming Royalty Court. Visit for more details and to cast your vote. Voting ends Friday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m.

Monday, Oct. 5

Phoenix Spirit Shoutouts

All Day | Instagram

Tag or send your organization photos to the to be featured on our page.

SGA Trivia

7-9 p.m. | McKinnon Hall 

Join SGA OnePhoenix for a trivia night to kick off Homecoming week! This trivia will be played in pairs, so grab your duo partner and come compete for prizes! Visit for more information.

Tuesday Oct. 6

Homecoming Week College Coffee and E-Voting

9:40 – 10:20 a.m. | Medallion Plaza

Students are invited to join for a special Homecoming edition of College Coffee as we celebrate with treats and prizes! The Homecoming E’s will be on display for voting!

SGA Silent Disco

8 p.m. | Alumni Gym

Celebrate homecoming week with a glorious Silent Disco! Come enjoy tunes with your friends, hosted by THE DJ Dillon Jam, and watch for a special guest. Hosted by the Student Government Association’s OnePhoenix Committee!

Wednesday, Oct. 7

SUB Homecoming Student Celebration

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain location: Alumni Gym)

Join the Student Union Board to celebrate Homecoming Week! We will have food and lots of fun activities – some themed around our Rock the Block artist, DJ Diesel. Hope to see you there! Visit for more details.

Voting on the E’s

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Phi Beta Kappa Commons (Rain location: Alumni Gym)

Thursday, Oct. 8

Voting on the E’s

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Medallion Plaza (Rain location: Moseley Student Center)

Hoco Swag Wagon

Noon – 2 p.m. | Medallion Plaza

Find SUB around campus in the ‘SWAGON’ handing out great snacks and giveaways! The wagon will start on Medallion Plaza alongside E-voting, then will travel around campus while supplies last. Follow the for real-time updates. Visit for more details.

NPHC Homecoming Step Show

7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.) | McKinnon Hall 

Join the National Pan-Hellenic Council for the NPHC Homecoming Step Show. Watch Divine 9 fraternities and sororities battle it out on the stage in a series of dance steps, music selections and show themes. Alumni, staff, faculty and community members can purchase a ticket for $10 via the Homecoming & Reunion Weekend website until 3 p.m. the day of the show.

SUB Coffeehouse

10 p.m. | Irazu

Join SUB for the first SUB Spelling Bee. Whether you want to spell for a prize or just come for the entertainment, this Coffeehouse will be un-BEE-lievable! Check out the SUB Instagram @elonsub to sign up to compete. Free coffee will be provided! Visit for more details.

Friday, Oct. 9

Dance with Pride

6 p.m. | Upstairs Lakeside Rooms

Homecoming is about to get LOUD! Get ready for DANCE WITH PRIDE — the ultimate pregame before the big Homecoming concert! There’ll be great food and hype music! Put on your best fit and bring your pride and energy. Be loud. Be proud. DANCE WITH PRIDE! This event is free and open to all members of the LGBTQIA community and allies! ! Visit for more info.

Rock the Block & Homecoming Concert featuring DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O’Neal)

6-9 p.m. | Young Commons

The annual celebration and community block party will host a variety of food trucks, yard games, inflatables and a fireworks show. DJ Diesel, also known as Shaquille O’Neal, will headline the Homecoming Concert with a performance beginning at 7:30 p.m. Here are a few important reminders to help you plan ahead for the event:

• Doors will open at 6 p.m., and the concert will take place rain or shine at 7:30 pm.
• The concert has a capacity limit; therefore, re-entry is not guaranteed
• The clear bag policy will be enforced.
• There are two primary entrances to Young Commons: Between Koury Gym and Moseley Student Center and between Moseley Center and Belk Library

Visit the Rock the Block information webpage for more information.

SUBCinema: Challengers Movie in Turner Theatre

10:30 p.m. | Turner Theatre

Movie description: Tashi, a former tennis prodigy-turned-coach, transformed her husband into a champion. But to overcome a recent losing streak and redeem himself, he’ll need to face off against his former best friend–Tashi’s ex-boyfriend. Movie Rating: R.

Saturday, Oct. 10

Student Tailgating

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Hunt B (back parking lot of Schar Center)

Grab your gear, cheer loud and celebrate Phoenix-style at the student tailgate! Visit the Student Involvement Tailgating website (or stop by Moseley 205) for more information.

SGA Crowning of Homecoming Royalty

After the third quarter during the football game| Rhodes Stadium

Come celebrate all members of the Homecoming Court and see two students be crowned as this year’s “Homecoming Royalty.”

SUBCinema: Challengers

8:30 p.m. | Turner Theatre

Her arrival at �鶹��Ƶ changed that perspective, giving her a broader view of how other members of the Latinx community understand and celebrate their own identities.

This new perspective has shaped Cassereau’s �鶹��Ƶ experience, influencing how she understands her identity as she explores her passion for working with marginalized communities.

“I really like working toward a goal that makes people’s lives better,” Cassereau said. “I want to work with people to have a positive impact in my community, in my country, with my people.”

At �鶹��Ƶ, opportunities both in and outside the classroom have introduced her to numerous career paths while helping her narrow her interests, ultimately showing her how economic development and empowerment can create meaningful change within communities.

One experience that has illustrated what that work can look like in practice is her involvement as a Periclean Scholar, now known as a Global Partnership Scholar.

Through the program, students work with community partners to develop mutually beneficial, sustainable partnerships. Cassereau’s cohort focused on the economic empowerment of marginalized communities in Sri Lanka, partnering with the .

Traveling with her cohort to Sri Lanka in summer 2025 gave Cassereau firsthand exposure to nonprofit work.

“Since I want to go into the nonprofit sector, it’s also been very eye-opening as to how nonprofits work,” Cassereau said.

The cohort has also partnered with , part of the Burlington Masjid, supporting the clinic through fundraising and website development while learning more about the community it serves.

Through these experiences, Mat Gendle, professor of psychology and faculty mentor to the Periclean Scholars program, has watched Cassereau grow into someone increasingly confident in navigating new experiences and determining the path she wants to pursue.

“She projects an easy and welcoming confidence that wasn’t present when I first knew her as a first-year student,” Gendle said. “It’s more of a projection of empowerment, [showing] that she’s confident in herself to know what she wants, figure things out and ask the right questions as she needs to.”

Gendle’s mentorship has also helped Cassereau better understand what it means to work alongside communities and how that understanding can apply to the work she hopes to pursue after �鶹��Ƶ.

“The way he sees the work we do has really impacted the way I see what I want to do,” Cassereau said. “It’s not only about helping, but it’s also about partnering and learning from the community.”

Gendle’s mentorship has also extended beyond the classroom, providing support that, he says, begins with taking an interest in who his students are and what they hope to accomplish.

“For Maria, I think ‘seeing’ her really does just come down to me taking a genuine and authentic interest in her life experiences, her goals and finding ways to create opportunities that will help move her in that direction,” Gendle said.

That sense of support and connection has extended into other areas of Cassereau’s �鶹��Ƶ experience, including her involvement with El Centro, where she has found a community that has also helped shape her interests and sense of belonging.

As a student coordinator, Cassereau works with staff to support El Centro programming and create a welcoming environment for students who visit the space, such as starting conversations or offering a friendly smile. While helping create that environment for others, Cassereau has also found her own sense of belonging within El Centro.

Cassereau’s interest in creating community extends beyond her work as a student coordinator. She also works with Kelly Bland, an international admissions counselor, to strengthen connections among international students.

At the same time, the communities Cassereau has found at �鶹��Ƶ have given her opportunities to learn from people whose experiences differ from her own, adding new meaning to the identity she grew up with in Mexico City.

“Hispanic Heritage Month has given me a broader understanding and helped me express my Latino identity in a different way,” Cassereau said. “Every year, I get a clearer idea of what it means to be Latina to me.”

�鶹��Ƶ honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latine communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.

“It’s just common humanity that we’re all going to struggle with well-being across our lifetime,” Iselin said. “It’s allowing that shared experience of struggle and being able to bounce back, reconnect and reorient.”

This perspective has shaped Iselin’s approach to teaching and caring for the whole student. Now, as the Faculty Fellow for Wellness and Well-Being, she is exploring how faculty can integrate well-being into their teaching while also caring for themselves.

Putting the person first

Growing up, Iselin spent time with peers whom others viewed as the “wrong crowd.” However, she saw them first as people and became interested in working with adolescents facing challenges. That interest became her entry into mental health, eventually leading her to work with youth who were in trouble with the law, including beginning as a live-in manager of a group home.

These experiences shaped Iselin’s life philosophy, which still guides her today: putting the person first.

“Trying to understand that person holistically before focusing on perhaps something that’s not going so well,” Iselin said. “The student before the concern. The student before the missed assignment. The adolescent before the criminal behavior.”

The commitment to understanding the whole person continued throughout Iselin’s academic journey. She studied psychology, social welfare and criminal justice at the University of Wisconsin–Madison before completing her Ph.D. in Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa and postdoctoral work at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her career later took her to Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington before a family move to the Triangle and time away from full-time academia brought �鶹��Ƶ onto her radar.

“�鶹��Ƶ felt like a unicorn,” Iselin said. “It was this perfect way of integrating everything that I love, from my research questions to how I live my life and the ways that I care for students in the classroom.”

Iselin joined �鶹��Ƶ as a full-time faculty member the semester before the COVID-19 pandemic and began integrating wellness practices, such as deep breathing and values affirmation exercises, into her classroom. Once the pandemic began, she became even more intentional about incorporating wellness practices, drawing on her clinical psychology background.

“I realized I could bring my clinical self into the classroom,” Iselin said. “Not as a clinician, but as little healthy strategies that people can pull into their lives. Part of effective teaching at �鶹��Ƶ is caring for the whole student.”

This realization led Iselin to implement what she calls “well-being rituals” into each class, giving students a few moments to reflect, reset or reconnect with themselves.

For Iselin’s students, these small practices have made a meaningful difference in the classroom. Anna Grace Gilbert ’27, who took a class with Iselin and now serves as her teaching and learning assistant, has experienced that approach firsthand. She believes Iselin’s care extends beyond the “well-being rituals” and is an important part of how Iselin supports her students.

“At our very first meeting, I made name tags for everyone in the class. After I finished writing their names, she wrote a personalized note of encouragement on the back of each one,” Gilbert said. “I think that just demonstrates how much Anne-Marie cares about her students before she even meets them.”

Iselin’s commitment to integrating wellness practices into the classroom and caring for the whole student ultimately drew her to the Faculty Fellow for Wellness and Well-Being role, allowing her to expand that work beyond her own classroom.

Wellness as part of effective teaching

Central to Iselin’s work as the Faculty Fellow for Wellness and Well-Being is exploring what she calls the “mutuality” of pedagogical wellness, where supporting student and faculty well-being can work together.

“Anne-Marie brings a thoughtful combination of expertise, care and collaboration to this role,” said Marna Winter, associate director for the Center for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning, and Teaching Professor of Education at the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. “She understands wellness not as an additional task faculty must take on, but as something that can be meaningfully integrated into pedagogy and course design.”

Jill McSweeney, assistant director of CATL, explained how that integration can create an environment where students can learn effectively.

“When a classroom is attentive to how students are doing physically, mentally and socially, it becomes a space that invites them to show up fully and take the risks that deep and meaningful learning requires,” McSweeney said.

Gilbert has experienced the connection between well-being and effectiveness in her role as Iselin’s Teaching and Learning Assistant (TLA).

“In the beginning, she set very clear expectations and made sure that I continued to put my well-being first,” Gilbert said. “She has been an incredible support system for me this semester. This has allowed me to be fully present as her TLA and do my job effectively.”

Iselin also emphasizes that supporting student well-being requires clarity about the faculty role, understanding meaningful ways faculty can support students, and recognizing when to connect students with other university resources.

“With students, I can empathize. I can affirm. I can support. I can reach out,” Iselin said. “But I don’t have to be a counselor. That’s not my role. That’s not my scope of practice.”

Rather than seeing role clarity as separate from care, Iselin views it as part of creating healthy and sustainable relationships with students. Being transparent about what faculty can offer and connecting students with others when different expertise is needed allows faculty to remain caring and responsive without assuming responsibilities that belong to mental health professionals.

Iselin is bringing these approaches to faculty and staff through the Kindness Pedagogy Community of Practice, workshops and one-on-one consultations.

Looking ahead, Iselin hopes that creating multiple entry points through the Kindness Pedagogy Community of Practice, workshops and one-on-one consultations with faculty and staff will help strengthen the culture of well-being at �鶹��Ƶ, where pedagogical wellness is recognized as part of effective teaching and learning.

“If faculty want to build their teaching effectiveness, this is another pathway for them to do so,” Iselin said. “To learn how to conceptualize it, implement it effectively and recognize the positive impact that it might have.”

Less than a year after the release of “Shaking the Table,” Stephanie Hernandez Rivera, assistant professor in the Master of Higher Education Program and Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education Emerging Professor, and Jonathan A. McElderry, dean of Student Inclusive Excellence and assistant professor, are continuing their work to amplify the voices of identity center practitioners in higher education with the release of “Still Shaking the Table.” The second volume builds on the strong response from identity center practitioners to their initial call for contributions to “Shaking the Table.”

“It was clear to us after receiving the overwhelming response that the first volume would be a starting place,” Hernandez Rivera said. “There were definitely more stories and insights to share.”

“Shaking the Table” created space for identity center practitioners to speak their truth and share their experiences. “Still Shaking the Table” builds upon those conversations, focusing on how practitioners advocate, build community, navigate change and show up for students.

“To release a second book less than a year later speaks to the urgency of these conversations and the generosity of practitioners willing to share their stories,” McElderry said. “These books are about more than publications—they are about community, visibility, and affirming that this work and the people doing it continue to matter.”

Like volume one, “Shaking the Table,” the mission of “Still Shaking the Table” is to help identity center practitioners feel affirmed and empowered to continue engaging in culture and identity work, with support from institutional leaders and colleagues who will champion them.

Both Hernandez Rivera and McElderry hope readers can see themselves in these stories throughout volume two. However, they also hope for something even more transformative.

“I also hope the book pushes institutions to think differently,” McElderry said. “We cannot simply celebrate practitioners for being resilient. We have to create environments where they can thrive.”

Hernandez Rivera echoed McElderry’s hope, stating the stories reveal the realities practitioners experience in their campus communities, and how they navigate them with care, strength, dedication and strategy.

“To me, this text reflects the continued evolution of that commitment and how we have remained grounded in our initial intention,” she said.

“Still Shaking the Table” is available for , continuing Hernandez Rivera and McElderry’s mission to create space for identity center practitioners to share their stories and experiences.

�鶹��Ƶ is deeply committed to civic and political engagement. The university’s Commitment to the Values of Freedom of Expression and Inclusivity is available on the Council on Civic Engagement website and included in student, staff and faculty handbooks. �鶹��Ƶ also provides guidelines for political activities and demonstrations.

Throughout election season, �鶹��Ƶ will offer a range of resources, programs and events designed to support informed participation and constructive dialogue.

Pre-Election Day Events and Resources

Several events and voter registration drives are planned leading into Election Day, including:

�鶹��Ƶ Votes! Student Voter Registration Drives

�鶹��Ƶ Votes! will host several voter registration drives to help students register to vote and prepare to cast their ballots in the upcoming election. Drive dates include:

• Monday, Sept. 21, 3-5 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor
• Wednesday, Sept. 30, 3-5 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor
• Monday, Oct. 5, Noon-3 p.m., Moseley Center First Floor

Students are invited to attend a voter registration drive, stop by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life (Moseley 232), or visit the for additional information.

Fall Convocation with David Brooks

Friday, Sept. 25, 3:30 p.m., Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center

As part of the 2026-27 �鶹��Ƶ Speaker Series: Exploring Bold Leadership, David Brooks will deliver the keynote address during Fall Convocation. A best-selling author and longtime New York Times columnist, Brooks is a leading observer of American culture, politics and civic life. He serves as a staff writer at The Atlantic, a commentator on PBS NewsHour and a senior fellow at Yale University’s Jackson School of Global Affairs. Over decades in journalism, his columns have become some of the most widely read in the nation, offering insight into political dynamics, social trends and the challenges facing modern democracy. Admission is $15 or free with a valid �鶹��Ƶ ID. Tickets can be purchased on the .

Active Citizen Series: Deliberative Dialogue – Selecting Candidates on Your Election Ballot

Monday, Sept. 28, 4:30 p.m., Lakeside 212

When you cast your ballot during the midterm elections, how will you decide whom to vote for? How will you decide what makes an effective elected official? Elections provide an opportunity for voters to select the leaders who will shape how our municipalities, counties, states and nations are governed. Making informed decisions about who we vote for directly affects our daily lives and the lives of our fellow citizens. This dialogue will provide an opportunity to explore the issues that matter most to you and to consider how you might select candidates who best represent your values and your needs. Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, Political Engagement Work Group, and �鶹��Ƶ Votes!

Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education Candidate Forum

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Hugh M. Cummings High School Auditorium, 2200 N. Mebane Street, Burlington, NC

This forum will offer local voters the opportunity to hear from candidates for the Alamance-Burlington School System Board of Education. Sponsored by Alamance Chamber, �鶹��Ƶ and Impact Alamance with support from �鶹��Ƶ News Network

Alamance County Board of Commissioners Candidate Forum

Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m., Hugh M. Cummings High School Auditorium, 2200 N. Mebane Street, Burlington, NC

This forum will offer local voters the opportunity to hear from candidates for the Alamance County Commissioners. Sponsored by Alamance Chamber, �鶹��Ƶ, and Impact Alamance with support from �鶹��Ƶ News Network.

Facilitating Meaningful Discussion in the Classroom

Monday, Oct. 5, 4-5:30 p.m., Belk 208

Why are so many of us hesitant to bring difficult or timely conversations into the classroom, and what might we be missing when we avoid them? Using the Chronicle of Higher Education article “Why Higher Ed Won’t Look Itself in the Mirror” as a starting point, this session explores the value of facilitating dialogue around challenging, unexpected or unplanned topics. Participants will learn practical strategies to recognize opportunities for deeper engagement and bring dialogue more intentionally into their teaching. . Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

North Carolina House and Senate Candidate Forum

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 6 p.m., Lakeside 212 and 213

This forum will offer local voters the opportunity to hear from candidates for North Carolina House of Representatives District 63 (Ian Baltutis and Ryan Moffitt), North Carolina House of Representatives District 64 (Levon Barnes and Dennis Riddell), and North Carolina Senate District 25 (John Blanton and Amy Galey).

A Stronger, Safer, More Resilient North Carolina with Kathie Dello

Tuesday, Oct. 20, 7 p.m., McKinnon Hall

As part of Campus Sustainability Week, Kathie Dello will deliver the keynote address. Drawing on her experience as both North Carolina’s former State Climatologist and her current role as the Assistant Secretary for Resilience at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Dello will explain how resilience moves beyond disaster response to reduce risk before disasters occur, especially in the wake of the three damaging hurricanes that hit North Carolina in less than a decade. She will highlight the state’s resilience work through the Flood Resiliency Blueprint and community-based programs that help local governments identify vulnerabilities and invest in long-term solutions. She will also discuss how partnerships with universities and local leaders contribute to stronger, safer communities across North Carolina. Sponsored by the Office of Sustainability.

Election Day

Information about voting and Election Day resources is available on the �鶹��Ƶ Votes! website.

Election Day Shuttle

Students already registered to vote in Alamance County are invited to use the Election Day shuttle throughout the day. A shuttle will run from the Center for the Arts to two local polling places from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

To find your polling place in Alamance County on Election Day, visit the and confirm your polling place before you leave to vote.

Note: The �鶹��Ƶ campus is divided into two precincts.

Active Citizen Series: Election Night Watch Event

The �鶹��Ƶ community is invited to watch history unfold as election results come in from across the nation from 8 to 11 p.m. on the first floor of the Moseley Center. Sponsored by the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, �鶹��Ƶ Votes!, Council on Civic Engagement, and �鶹��Ƶ Political Engagement Work Group.

Post-election Events

Several events are planned for the days and weeks after the election, including:

After the Vote Panel

Tuesday, Nov. 10, 4:15 p.m., LaRose Student Commons

The Department of Political Science and Phoenix Policy Institute sponsor a faculty panel to unpack the 2026 midterm elections. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions about what the local, state and national results mean for you, your friends and family, and our country. Sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Phoenix Policy Institute.

Carole Ann Walker International Lectureship with Kyle Carpenter

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts

As part of the 2026–27 �鶹��Ƶ Speaker Series: Exploring Bold Leadership, the Carole Ann Walker International Lectureship will feature Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, a United States Marine and the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor. Carpenter is recognized for extraordinary heroism during his service in Afghanistan. In 2010, he sustained life-threatening injuries after throwing himself on a grenade to protect a fellow Marine, an act of valor that led to years of recovery and more than 40 surgeries. Following his recovery, Carpenter set and achieved ambitious personal goals, including completing a college degree, running a marathon and traveling internationally. He is the author of the memoir “You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For,” which chronicles his journey of resilience and purpose. Today, he speaks widely about leadership, perseverance and finding meaning in adversity, encouraging others to overcome challenges and pursue lives of impact. Admission is $15 or free with a valid �鶹��Ƶ ID. Tickets can be purchased on the .

“We invite the �鶹��Ƶ community to join us in celebrating and honoring Hispanic Heritage Month by immersing ourselves in the vibrant art, music, food, and traditions that unite and inspire the community,” Amy Gutierrez-Luviano, assistant director of the CREDE, said. “By doing so, we are creating supportive spaces focused on mental, physical and holistic health that uplift the community.

Observed annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States. Established by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, the celebration expanded to a month-long observance under President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and became law on Aug. 17 that year. The month highlights the lasting impact of Hispanic and Latinx individuals across various fields, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of their vital role in shaping American society.

The celebration begins with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following shortly after on Sept. 16 and 18.

Hispanic Heritage Month programming at �鶹��Ƶ will run from Sept. 10 to Oct. 30. Highlights of this year’s events include the annual Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff and “Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities,” featuring film producer and poet Françoise Nieto-Fong, sponsored by Latin American Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, the Department of World Languages and Cultures, the Center for Advancement of Teaching nd Learning, and Belk Library.

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026 events at �鶹��Ƶ

Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff

Tuesday, Sept. 15

5:30 p.m. | Medallion Plaza

Crossing Borders: Images of Migration and Voices of Minorities

Wednesday, Sept. 16 

2-3:40 p.m. | Turner Theatre

Campus Screening: Sunset over America and The Return-Family Separation

Sponsored by Latin American Studies; Peace and Conflict Studies; the Department of World Languages and Cultures; the Center for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning; Belk Library.

Noche Latina

Tuesday, Sept. 29

7 p.m. | Rudd Field

Perspectivas

Wednesday, Sept. 30

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Soccer Tournament

Friday, Oct. 2

4-8 p.m. | Intramural Fields

Perspectivas

Thursday, Oct. 8

5:30-7 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Café con Leche Homecoming Edition

Friday, Oct. 9

3:30-5 p.m. | El Centro (Carlton 114)

Café con Leche w/ friends!

Monday, Oct. 19

5:30-7 p.m. | Irazú

Gala Latina

Friday, Oct. 30

5:30-8 p.m. | McKinnon Hall

Explore the detailed schedule of events for Hispanic Heritage Month on the CREDE website. For questions or more information, please contact Amy Gutierrez-Luviano at agutierrezluviano@elon.edu.

The first Phoenix Five of the year is here! Each Sunday afternoon, I’ll send you a quick email with five things you need to know for the week ahead. This could include important deadlines and campus events or helpful reminders and opportunities to get involved.  My goal is simple: keep you as informed as possible with one Sunday email you can use to plan your week ahead.

With classes beginning on Tuesday, here are five things to help you start the semester off right.

Get Connected on Social Media

Social media is one of the easiest ways to stay plugged in at �鶹��Ƶ. If you want to know what’s happening on campus in real time, here are a few Instagram accounts I recommend:

• �鶹��Ƶ (main)
• Phoenix Athletics and Phoenix Phanatics
• Student Life
• �鶹��Ƶ Dining
• Student Union Board
• �鶹��Ƶ News Network
• HealthEU

Hypnotist

Monday, Aug. 24, 8:30-11 p.m., Alumni Gym

Join the Student Union Board (SUB) for the annual hypnotist show – a student favorite! Come ready to watch your friends (or maybe even yourself!) take the stage for an unforgettable, hilarious performance. .

�鶹��Ƶ Campus Traditions – Starting this Week!

College Coffee

Tuesdays, 9:40-10:20 a.m., Alumni Gym

College Coffee is one of �鶹��Ƶ’s most beloved traditions. Every Tuesday morning, the entire campus gathers for coffee, treats and conversation. It’s a chance to meet people, connect with faculty and staff, and hear about what’s happening around campus. If your student organization wants to host an information table at College Coffee, information on .

Numen Lumen: A Thursday Inspiration

Thursdays, 9:50-10:20 a.m., Numen Lumen Pavilion

On Thursday mornings, we pause for a moment of reflection and inspiration. You’ll hear music from student, faculty, and staff performers and reflections from members of our community. This year’s theme is and the first Numen Lumen of the year will be held this Thursday.

Getting Started with Canvas

Beginning with the Fall 2026 semester, �鶹��Ƶ is using Canvas instead of Moodle. You’ll use it to access course materials, submit assignments, communicate with your instructors, and view your grades. Before classes begin:

• Log in to Canvas using your �鶹��Ƶ account.
• After logging in for the first time, as part of setting up your Canvas account. Your account will not be fully functional until you do.
• Visit the for student guides, FAQs and support resources.
• Learn the basics by enrolling in the course.

When you log in, you may not see all of your Fall courses immediately. Your instructors will make courses available before or on the first day of class.

Cheer on Phoenix at First Home Football Game

Thursday, Aug. 27

Student Tailgate

2-7 p.m., Hunt B (back parking lot of the Schar Center)

Before football kickoff, get ready to ignite your game day with Phoenix spirit at the student tailgate. Parking passes are available in Student Involvement and are limited to one pass per student and three passes per student organization or group.

�鶹��Ƶ v. Glenville State

7 p.m., Rhodes Stadium

Start off the fall semester by cheering on the Phoenix as �鶹��Ƶ opens the football season against Glenville State. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. in Rhodes Stadium.

It was through the Gender & Sexuality Living-Learning Community that Lagunes Flores discovered something more: a community that helped her realize she wasn’t “just another student,” but someone who mattered deeply to the people around her.

“It made me realize that I played a bigger role than I initially did,” Lagunes Flores said. “I thought it was just going to be, ‘Oh, another first year,’ but it made me realize that I mattered a lot more than what I thought.”

What began as a search for belonging has evolved into a commitment to help others find it, too. That transformation started the day she moved to campus.

A journey of self-discovery

Lagunes Flores’s journey began during a Phoenix Friday event, where she experienced a sense of belonging and purpose after meeting another incoming student who encouraged her to apply to the Gender & Sexuality LLC. The two would later become roommates.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, okay, at least I’ll have one friend at �鶹��Ƶ and a roommate I know I can trust,'” said Lagunes Flores, who joined the university community through the Leon and Lorraine Watson scholarship in the Odyssey Program.

What she didn’t know at the time was that the connection would help shape the foundation of her first year of college. After settling in on move-in day, Lagunes Flores and her roommates gathered the pride flags they had brought for their shared living space.

“One of my roommates was like, ‘Before putting them up, do you want to just go outside or go in the hallways and run with them?'” Lagunes Flores said.

Carrying their flags through the residence hall, she and her roommates celebrated the start of their first year and the community they had established. For Lagunes Flores, this moment meant so much more than celebrating move-in day.

“That was the first time I had actually experienced a sense of community with other queer people,” she said.

Growing up in a Native American community in Lumberton, North Carolina, Lagunes Flores had few opportunities to explore many of her intersecting identities.

“The only identity that I really got to explore before undergrad was the money struggles and things like that,” she said.

�鶹��Ƶ became a springboard for self-discovery, helping her embrace parts of her identity that had remained largely unexplored. That journey included gaining a deeper understanding of her queer identity. Experiences and friendships with fellow students led her to the support and community she needed.

One of those experiences came during a Drag Extravaganza event hosted by the Gender and LGBTQIA Center (GLC), featuring drag star Stormie Daie, who invited audience members to celebrate diverse identities and encouraged them to cheer when they heard one that resonated with them.

“That was the solidifying moment where I was comfortable in my sexuality,” Lagunes Flores said. “That was when I found my label.”

Building a foundation of belonging

Beyond helping her explore her identity, the Gender & Sexuality LLC also connected Lagunes Flores with mentors who would shape her academic and professional journey. Among them were Lauren Gulimette, an associate professor of philosophy and co-coordinator of Women’s Gender and Sexualities studies, and Luis Garay, director of the GLC, who are both co-advisors of the LLC.

Through conversations with Gulimette, Lagunes Flores discovered a passion for Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies and eventually added it as a minor, alongside her major in elementary education and a minor in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

Guilmette also connected her with the PACE program, which helped her secure a campus position and introduced her to opportunities she hadn’t considered as a first-year student.

Among them was an internship with Transcend Alamance, a nonprofit organization that supports transgender individuals in Alamance County. As an intern, Lagunes Flores helps write the organization’s bi-monthly newsletter.

Those who have worked closely with Lagunes Flores have noticed her growth and commitment to building community, noting that she is someone who actively creates spaces where others feel welcomed and connected.

“While Maria can at first seem shy and quiet, it has been a pleasure to watch her find community and come into their own as an active participant in the classroom and a student organizer on campus,” Gulimette said.

Garay echoed Gulimette, highlighting that Lagunes Flores’ commitment to inclusivity and building connections extends beyond the living-learning community itself.

“She brings floormates and friends outside of her residence hall to our monthly community dinners, extending our values of connection and relationship-building to others across campus,” Garay said.

Tibs Vance ‘29, a fellow student and friend, said that Lagunes Flores has a gift for helping others feel included.

“Maria is always really good at inviting me to events she helps organize or events she thinks I’ll enjoy,” he said. “Her understanding of others in her communities really helps her support and form impactful connections.

The sense of belonging and community that she found through the Gender & Sexuality LLC and with students, such as with Vance, now informs how she approaches leadership opportunities and her future career goals.

Looking ahead, she hopes to help students explore their identities and find community, just as she did during her first year at �鶹��Ƶ. After graduation, she plans to teach in the classroom before pursuing a graduate degree and a career in higher education.

Her first-year experiences have shaped not only her career aspirations but also her understanding of belonging and what pride looks like in everyday life.

“Belonging means knowing you’re loved in a space and that space makes you feel welcome,” she said. “You being you is an act of everyday pride.”

�鶹��Ƶ honors Pride Month stories

As part of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, �鶹��Ƶ is sharing stories through Today at �鶹��Ƶ that highlight students, faculty and staff who contribute to a campus environment where cultural identities and experiences are celebrated year-round. Throughout the month and year, �鶹��Ƶ also offers resources and events to support the LGBTQ+ community.