The strategic communications major’s work centers on a multi-platform outreach strategy that blends grassroots engagement with a six-week, workbook-driven workshop. Her project, “Designing Accessible Wellness: A Community Health Intervention Campaign for Alamance County Inspired by Blue Zones,” draws on research examining regions of the world where people live longer, healthier lives and translates those insights into practical solutions.

That approach is intentionally hands-on and community-focused. McGee’s campaign reaches people through tabling at local grocery stores, social media outreach and partnerships with local organizations, all aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging participation. At its core is a flexible workshop experience, which participants can complete in person or remotely, guiding them through topics such as movement, purpose, belonging, rest and diet.

“I wanted to create something that didn’t just inform people, but actually gave them the opportunity to build healthier habits in a supportive environment,” McGee said. “By narrowing my focus to a specific community, I realized I could design something more meaningful and impactful.”

Her research reflects a broader understanding of health as both a personal and systemic issue – an idea that first drew her to the project. McGee said she was inspired to focus on Alamance County at a time when healthy living can feel increasingly out of reach, noting that nearly half of adults in the United States live with at least one chronic health condition and that everyday environments often make unhealthy choices the easiest ones.

Drawing on Blue Zones principles, McGee emphasizes that lasting change depends on environment, culture and access – not just individual willpower. That perspective shapes how she tailors her campaign locally, incorporating resources specific to Alamance County – from nearby hiking trails to community-based spaces – and encouraging participants to rethink how their surroundings influence daily habits.

The project has also reshaped McGee’s own understanding of what research can be.

“While this started as a project for class, I have come to realize that this is something that could be real,” the Sutton, Massachusetts, native said. “Working through this project has made me feel capable and inspired to keep pursuing projects in life that can create change by starting small.”

That sense of possibility is exactly what SURF is designed to highlight. As one of Elon’s signature academic experiences, �þ��� research provides students with the opportunity to explore complex challenges while developing solutions that extend beyond the classroom.

For McGee, the hope is that her campaign does more than raise awareness. She wants it to spark a ripple effect.

“Research from the Framingham Studies shows that smoking, obesity, happiness, and even loneliness are contagious. We are influenced by our social circles,” she said. “By inspiring even a small subset of the population to take their health more seriously, it has the potential to shift behaviors across entire communities. The change starts small.”

McGee’s research was mentored by Paula Rosinski, professor of English, as part of her multimedia authoring minor.

What began as a joke – a parody social media page poking fun at a local police department – spiraled into a high-stakes legal battle and ultimately the subject of “Crime & Parody,” a new documentary co-produced by Elon graduate .

The film will screen at the 28th RiverRun International Film Festival in Winston-Salem on Saturday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. and again on Friday, April 24, at 5 p.m. .

At its center, “Crime & Parody” follows amateur comedian Anthony Novak, whose satirical Facebook page led to a police raid, criminal charges and a broader fight over First Amendment rights in the United States. As the case unfolds – eventually reaching the U.S. Supreme Court – the film expands beyond satire to examine deeper questions around qualified immunity and accountability, weaving in the story of Omar Arrington-Bey, a suburban Cleveland man who died while in police custody, and the lasting impact of police violence.

As a co-producer, Rostick contributed throughout the filmmaking process, from reviewing transcripts and shaping story structure to providing feedback across multiple cuts. Their work with director Will Thwaites evolved over several years, with Rostick helping strengthen the film’s narrative by encouraging the inclusion of additional perspectives that deepen its emotional and societal impact.

“’Crime & Parody’ is an important thought piece wrapped up in a good time,” said Rostick, who was a cinema and television arts and strategic communications double major. “You’ll laugh, reflect, question authority and feel something along the way. At a time when free expression and free speech are being threatened at every turn, the film offers the story of an unlikely hero fighting back.”

The film’s balance of humor and impact is what drew Rostick deeper into the work. Initially attracted to the opportunity to collaborate on an independent project, they said the film ultimately became something more – a chance to move beyond entertainment and contribute to meaningful dialogue.

“This felt like the first opportunity for my work in documentary film to leave a greater impact,” they said.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at Elon, said their foundation in film was shaped during their time at Elon. Through Cinelon, they gained extensive hands-on production experience and developed the work ethic that carried into professional opportunities. This includes traveling to more than 30 shoots nationwide supporting “Children of the Underground,” a five-episode documentary series from FX.

The Elon graduate also credits Nicole Triche, professor of cinema and television arts, with helping define their path. Triche’s documentary course introduced Rostick to the craft and ultimately led them to pursue a career in nonfiction filmmaking – and to an early PBS project that first connected them with Thwaites.

“Crime & Parody” has already built momentum on the festival circuit, premiering at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in Montana and screening at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival, where Thwaites earned Best Director honors.

Now, at RiverRun, the documentary will continue to reach new audiences, inviting viewers to consider not just the absurdity of one man’s arrest, but the broader implications for free speech, justice and accountability in America.

A team of School of Communications students has earned national recognition in the 2026 Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) , receiving an honorable mention for its campaign implementation and overall deliverables.

The Bateman Competition is PRSSA’s premier national case study competition, challenging �þ��� student teams to design and execute a public relations campaign for a real-world client. This year’s competition featured 46 entries from students representing universities across the country, with 11 teams earning honorable mention distinction. A full list of honored institutions appears below.

Elon’s team developed and implemented a strategic communications campaign for ACCESS Newswire, a media monitoring and news distribution service. The research and planning for the campaign began in January. The campaign implementation, conducted from February to March, focused on tactics to promote the company’s new educational program and platform, which provides professors free access so students can gain hands-on experience with press release distribution, media pitching, sentiment analysis and media coverage tracking.

The Elon student team included Hannah Parker ’26 (account manager), Sydney Griffith ’29, Brooke Menzock ’26, Sandy Orozco-Rosaldo ’28, Taylor Radney ’28 and Grace Wizel ’28. Karen Lindsey, assistant professor of strategic communications, served as the team’s faculty adviser and applauded the students’ efforts.

“Our Elon Bateman team spent countless hours in the evenings and on weekends to research, plan and implement the campaign,” she said. “From writing a series of thought leadership articles for Substack to facilitating faculty focus groups on and off campus, they created a meaningful campaign that challenged them.

“I’m incredibly proud of how they balanced the demands of their regular coursework with dedication to this competition. The experience produced the kind of work for their professional portfolios that employers want to see.”

The competition’s three finalists will present their campaigns to the national PRSSA board and ACCESS Newswire representatives on May 7 to determine the winner.

Bateman Case Study Competition

Finalists:
Montclair State University
Texas State University AdvoCats
Texas State University StarCats

Honorable Mentions:
Brigham Young University – Navy Team
California State University, Long Beach
�þ���
High Point University
Kent State University Gold
Louisiana State University
Loyola University New Orleans
University of Florida CommuniGATORS
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
University of Oklahoma Gaylord College
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Inspired by real-world stories about the high-stakes race for valedictorian, student filmmakers and spent the past several years bringing to life “Valediction,” a feature-length film set to premiere on Wednesday, April 8, in .

A twisted coming-of-age comedy, this first-ever feature film by Elon �þ���s explores the dangers of apathy and obsession. The screening, scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m., will be followed by an informal reception.

“I think people should be excited for the screening because it’s the culmination of so many Elon students and faculty’s hard work over these past two and a half years,” said Martin, a strategic communications and cinema and television arts double major. “No matter your major, you will almost certainly see a familiar face or two onscreen or in the credits.”

What began as a concept rooted in academic pressure quickly expanded into a genre-bending, feature-length production – an uncommon scope for �þ��� filmmakers. Sherouse, a cinema and television arts BFA major, and Martin collaborated to develop an intricate story and cast of characters, ultimately committing to a longer format to fully realize their vision.

At the center of their story is Sam, played by , an isolated overachiever who fights her classmates tooth and nail for the title of valedictorian. The film draws inspiration from the competition surrounding academic achievement, a dynamic explored in Margaret Talbot’s 2005 New Yorker article that examines how the pursuit of valedictorian status can push students to extremes. Sherouse said he read the article years ago, and the subject stayed with him long after.

“To include everything we wanted in the story, it became clear to us that ‘Valediction’ had to be feature-length, rather than a short film like most Elon productions,” Sherouse said. “We knew it would be a long and arduous process, but worth it to bring this story to life.”

That extended scope also shaped how the story is told. A balance of satire and suspense drives the film’s tone, blending humor with unexpected twists.

“‘Valediction’ is simply a movie that’s meant to be seen by a large audience,” Sherouse said. “There are laughs, scares and shocking turns – a whole emotional rollercoaster that’s best experienced with friends. I guarantee there are some twists you won’t see coming.”

As the premiere approaches, the scale of that effort is giving way to reflection.

Martin expressed pride in what the team accomplished and excitement to share the finished film, while Sherouse acknowledged the mix of anticipation and nerves that comes with completing a nearly three-year creative process.

Produced through , “Valediction” drew on support from faculty across campus.

Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Kai Swanson served as the project’s primary faculty sponsor, while Director of Technology, Operations and Multimedia Projects Bryan Baker and Assistant Professor of Cinema and Television Arts Youssef Osman provided mentorship and feedback throughout development and production. Baker also assisted with securing equipment for principal photography.

Faculty also stepped into the story itself. Several faculty members appear in the film, including Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas, Assistant Professor of Classical Languages Tedd Wimperis, Associate Professor of English Scott Proudfit and former journalism professor Susan Ladd – many trying their hand at acting for the first time.

Several mentors praised the students’ ambition and execution in bringing a feature-length film to the screen.

“I had the chance to see a rough cut and was very impressed with their ability, passion and perseverance in completing an entire feature film on their own,” Osman said. “The film is a fun, highly stylized and engaging dark comedy.”

Swanson noted that the project originated as a student pitch and has grown into ESTV’s first made-for-TV movie.

“The students have put an incredible amount of work into this project, from development through production and post,” Swanson said. “It’s a great example of the kind of ambitious, long-form work students are starting to pursue.”

Credits

Roof Rat Productions (creative team)

• Talula Martin – co-director, co-writer, producer, actress
• Hammond Sherouse – co-director, co-writer
• Althea Muldrew – producer
• Katharyn MacDonald – lead actress, associate producer

Crew

• JJ Duckworth – production sound mixer, actor
• Karter Evans – makeup artist
• Lauren Nesbit – costume designer
• Gabi Emerson & B Underhill-Reed – composers

Cast

• Katharyn MacDonald – Sam
• Hope Hynes Love – Eliza (Sam’s mother)
• Jeff Alguire – Dr. Whistler (Sam’s father)
• Grace Minton – Deidre (Sam’s friend)
• JJ Duckworth – Ben (politician)
• Monty Lewis – Henry (student reporter)
• Amelia Brinson – Abe (theater kid)
• Graham Boggess – Nate (jock)
• Ryan Voisard – Charlie (stranger)
• Susan Ladd – Mrs. Garden (psychology teacher)
• Hank Heimlich – Seth (theater kid)
• Talula Martin – Jeremy (theater kid)
• J. Israel Balderas – Mr. Haruspex (principal)
• Jackson Bennett – Patrick (student reporter)
• Maverick Powell – Nora (student reporter)
• Rose Fyffe – Sarah (theater kid)
• Tedd Wimperis – Dr. Franklin (scientist)
• Wrigley Koch – Ms. Burnesse (guidance counselor)
• Scott Proudfit – Dr. Miles (scientist)

Tickets sold out for the fifth annual on March 27 at NC State University. Nearly 300 attendees participated in 28 sessions that addressed topics like innovating student journalism, navigating state elections, covering climate change, and reporting on immigration emergencies. WUNC’s program hosted a live broadcast during the Summit’s lunch hour.

The keynote, “North Carolina’s AI Crossroads: Innovation, Investigation, and the Public Interest,” was moderated by Alex Mahadevan, director of the Poynter Institute’s MediaWise and AI Innovation Lab. It included an expert panel: Dr. Siobahn Day Grady of NC Central University’s Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Research, Ricky Leung of Code the Dream and investigative reporter Lisa Sorg of Inside Climate News.

To see photos of the Summit, visit this .

The , based in Elon’s School of Communications, also presented its annual Sunshine Awards. Categories recognize public servants, journalists, student reporters and advocates who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to government transparency, press freedom and the public’s right to know.

“It’s never been more important to honor individuals and organizations who embody the principles of open government and freedom of information,” said Pate McMichael, director of the NC Open Government Coalition. “Their work ensures that citizens, journalists, advocates and communities can access the information they need to hold power accountable.”

Sunshine Award for Advocacy

Raleigh attorney Hugh Stevens, a founding board member and past president of the NC Open Government Coalition, was honored for a lifetime of exceptional open government advocacy in North Carolina.

“I am extremely grateful for this award,” Stevens said, “not only because I was privileged to be a founding director of the North Carolina Open Government Coalition, but also because the Coalition’s home is at �þ���.”

Stevens explained how the partnership started.

“Fortunately, Elon’s emerging School of Communications, in the person of its newly appointed Dean Paul Parsons, raised a welcoming and visionary hand,” Stevens continued. “It was during our initial conversations with Paul and his colleagues that I met Connie Book, who was then a member of the School of Communications faculty and is now the dynamic and much-lauded president of �þ���. Connie has supported the Sunshine Center from its infancy, and I am delighted to be both her admirer and her friend.”

Stevens practiced law in North Carolina for six decades and served as the NC Press Association’s legal counsel for 20 years. A founding partner of , Stevens has mentored generations of media lawyers and journalists. In 2006, he was inducted into the NC Journalism & Media Hall of Fame.

Amanda Martin, supervising attorney of Duke Law’s First Amendment Clinic and a Coalition board member, presented Stevens — her mentor and friend — with the award. Beth Soja, senior staff attorney at Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, provided the nomination.

“In addition to counseling hundreds of journalists, editors and publishers over the years,” Soja wrote, “every transparency and media law attorney in the state of North Carolina has benefitted from Hugh’s mentorship. His guidance and example have shaped the lives and careers of every government transparency advocate in our state, and consequently, every journalist and every member of the public.”

Sunshine Awards for Public Service

Lexington was honored for his exemplary commitment to supporting local journalism, civic dialogue and the essential role of a free and independent press. Antionette Kerr, publisher of , nominated Hayes for his commitment to transparency.

“In recognition of his exemplary commitment to supporting local journalism, civic dialogue, and the essential role of a free and independent press,” Kerr wrote. “In an era when misinformation spreads quickly and trust in institutions is fragile, Mayor Hayes stands out as a public servant who values the role of local journalism not simply when it is flattering, but when it holds power accountable.”

Public Records Officer Joel Ferdon & Records Analyst Samantha Rivenbark,

Public Records Officer Joel Ferdon and Records Analyst Samantha Rivenbark were recognized for their outstanding public records management at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. By the end of 2025, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education had received 710 public records requests and released more than 12,000 records. acknowledged that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools had supplied all relevant records requested by the newspaper since the beginning of 2025.

Sunshine Awards for Journalism

The Sunshine Award in Journalism recognizes journalists and news organizations that have effectively utilized public records to tell stories of significant importance to their communities. Judges included Kate Martin of APM Reports, Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism at �þ���, Natalie Jennings, senior managing editor of Wake Forest Magazine, Amanda Sturgill, associate professor of journalism at �þ���, and McMichael.

Doug Bock Clark, ProPublica —

Clark was recognized for his sweeping investigative series on North Carolina’s judicial and political landscape, including investigations into how conservative court-packing reshaped state government and how a legislative power grab diverted funds meant for sexual abuse survivors.

Clark filed dozens of public records requests to numerous North Carolina institutions, ultimately amassing thousands of pages of emails, calendars, contracts, budgets, and other records. When state court officials attempted to block access to certain documents, ProPublica successfully compelled their release, illuminating how the legislative maneuver had harmed victims of sexual violence.

Kyle Ingram, The News & Observer —

Ingram was honored for his data-driven reporting on the Judge Griffin election challenge, which revealed that Black North Carolina voters were twice as likely to have their ballots contested as white voters — a disparity that persisted regardless of party affiliation. Ingram’s analysis of the demographics of more than 100,000 voters on the state’s challenged-voter list also found a disproportionate impact on young voters and those unaffiliated with any party.

Frank Barrows Award for Excellence in Collegiate Journalism

The 9th Street Journal at Duke University was honored for its series: “” Student journalists Katelyn Cai, Valentina Garbelotto, Reece MacKinney, Paige Stevens, Noor Nazir and Jack Regan dug through public records and wrote in-depth portraits of longtime voters — including a 113-year-old Durham resident who has voted consistently since 1945.

“Through this series, our students brought attention to a group of citizens who show their dedication to democracy in a simple yet critical way, by casting their votes season after season, election after election,” adviser Alison Jones wrote in her nomination.

About the NC Open Government Coalition

The unites organizations interested in ensuring and enhancing the public’s access to government activity, records and meetings. The nonpartisan coalition educates people about their rights to gain access to records and meetings that are considered public under North Carolina law. Through educational programming and public service, the coalition advocates for the principles and benefits of open government at all levels. Learn more at or .

arrived at Elon without knowing a single role inside a broadcast control room – not the technical director, not the replay operator, not even how the production itself came together. Four years later, the cinema and television arts major now operates at the highest level, having stepped into an NHL television broadcast.

“Since my first year, I’ve tried to immerse myself in Elon Sports Vision as much as possible, attempting to absorb and learn if 1, this is what I wanted to do, and 2, if I found it fun,” Doherty said. “Ultimately, I fell in love with broadcasting sports.”

That immersion opened the door to a rare opportunity: Doherty served as technical director for a March 12 St. Louis Blues NHL broadcast, managing the live production from a FanDuel remote truck outside Lenovo Center as the show was delivered back to St. Louis. Assistant Professor Max Negin, who worked the same game as a replay operator and editor, said the opportunity reflects just how unique Doherty’s rise has been.

“It’s truly rare for someone this early in their career to work a professional hockey game for a regional network,” Negin said.

Even more remarkable, Negin noted, was how Doherty prepared for the role – �þ��� himself to operate one of the industry’s most complex switchers while learning to manage the pace and precision required at the professional level.

“Learning a very complicated switcher, basically on his own, is something I’ve never heard of anyone doing in my 30-plus years of television,” Negin said. “But beyond the equipment, Philip also was able to build a show and work in a high-pressure environment without making any major mistakes – again, something that seasoned and very experienced TDs don’t do.”

Doherty’s path to that moment was built through hands-on experience and initiative. After gaining early experience with Elon Sports Vision and working as a technical director for Elon football broadcasts, he began building connections that opened doors to freelance opportunities on college football broadcasts across ESPN platforms.

“The biggest thing I learned at Elon isn’t my technical skill, but rather the people skills,” Doherty said. “Building connections and relationships by far has been the most important component. If I hadn’t attempted to talk to people in the real world, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything I have gotten to do.”

Doherty credited a group of Elon mentors and collaborators – including Quintin Brenner, John Spitznagel, Annika Cronin, Patrick Cunningham and Negin – for helping him develop his skills and navigate the industry.

“I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without the people at Elon helping me out along the way.”
– Philip Doherty ’26

Those connections became critical in preparing for his first NHL assignment. After being hired, Doherty reached out to the broadcast’s director in advance, studying materials and workflows so he could step into the truck prepared.

Instead of focusing on visual flair, he concentrated on the fundamentals – building the elements needed to get the show on air – from sponsored segments to in-game transitions.

By the end of the broadcast, the feedback was immediate. Negin said professionals on site – from crew members to network leadership – were impressed not only with Doherty’s performance, but with how seamlessly he operated.

“Everyone involved said he did a great job and wants him back the next time St. Louis comes to town,” the professor said.

For Negin, Doherty’s trajectory is almost unheard of. “To me, this is like an Elon baseball player jumping from Division I baseball games, and within a year, starting in the major leagues and making an all-star team,” he said.

Now, with his first NHL broadcast complete, Doherty sees it as confirmation he’s on the right path.

“This NHL show only confirmed that this industry is for me, and I am stoked to continue onward,” he said. “I cannot wait to see what comes down the road.”

In December, as Anderson presented the agency’s Gold Bear Award – a peer-driven recognition celebrating employees who best represent the company’s culture and values – he lauded Young’s willingness to take on “massive responsibilities,” commending her ability to “effortlessly power through high-pressure projects.”

“She’s the person everyone turns to for answers and support, uplifting every team she touches and quietly cleaning up problems that aren’t even hers to solve,” Anderson told audience members.

As he concluded and Young’s name flashed across the massive screen behind him, the room erupted in applause – a moment captured in a video Young shared on her LinkedIn page.

The award capped off a standout year for Young, who serves as an assistant producer at TBWA\Media Arts Lab, the global network of agencies responsible for one of the world’s most iconic brands, Apple. Her year included work on major Apple-related projects such as the Mac for �þ��� campaign, the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Dua Lipa’s “Shot on iPhone” tour and Apple TV rebranding efforts.

Reflecting on that work, Young said the experience has been both challenging and rewarding.

“I am so incredibly grateful for these experiences and the amazing, incredibly talented teams behind them,” she said, noting how meaningful it was to be part of such high-profile, creatively ambitious work.

Young’s path to TBWA\Media Arts Lab began at Elon, where a DEI in Hollywood class helped shape her professional direction. Encouraged by former Elon faculty members J. McMerty and Rachel Ramist, she applied for and landed an internship with the Television Academy. That experience, along with her participation in the Elon in LA program, led her to move to Los Angeles after graduation. Once on the West Coast, she first worked as a personal assistant, then as a production coordinator at a social media marketing company.

As Young began thinking about her next step, a recruiter from TBWA\Media Arts Lab contacted her about a production coordinator role in the agency’s broadcast production department. During interviews, she learned that her internships – especially with the Television Academy and RadicalMedia – helped her stand out. She was offered the position and later moved into her current role, where she supports lead producers to ensure projects run smoothly from start to finish.

As part of her work, Young organizes security plans, tracks creative assets, coordinates meetings with production companies, and supports communication among producers in editorial, finishing and mix. Her goal, she said, is to make sure every project has what it needs to succeed.

Working at a global creative agency has reshaped how Young views storytelling. She said she was surprised by how much care goes into even the shortest pieces of content. Creative teams analyze work frame by frame, fixing even the smallest details before releasing it into the world. Seeing that process firsthand has made her more aware of the thought, precision and responsibility behind creative work.

When she learned she had received the Gold Bear Award, Young said she felt grateful more than anything else. “I consider myself lucky to work with the teams I have,” she said. “The whole production team is a bunch of rockstars, not to mention our creative department and account teams. To be recognized by them makes me feel like I am doing something right.”

As she reflects on her journey from Elon to one of the world’s most influential creative agencies, Young emphasizes the importance of attitude, effort and openness to opportunity. Her advice to current Elon students is simple: say yes often and show that you are willing to work. Some of the best projects, she said, come from teams who are fully committed to making something great – and who bring a positive attitude, even when things get stressful.

“What I’ve found in internships and entry-level roles is that folks who show that they are passionate and team-oriented seem to do well,” Young said. “When I first started at MAL, the people who stood out to me, who had clearly left their mark on the agency, were those who were team players, focused on supporting others and achieving the best final result.”

Published in March in the International Journal of the History of Sport, the article, “,” was written in collaboration with Jörg Krieger of Aarhus University.

The research arrives at a moment of renewed global debate. In 2025, World Athletics reinstated sex control policies, and reports suggest the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may consider similar measures. Current verification methods focus on identifying a specific gene to determine eligibility in women’s sport – an approach that has drawn criticism from leading medical experts as both unscientific and unethical.

Pieper and Krieger’s work demonstrates that these tensions are not new.

Drawing on archival research, the authors examine opposition from Danish geneticists and medical professionals in the 1970s, who challenged the IOC’s use of chromosomal testing. In 1972, five Aarhus University professors formally protested the policy, arguing that no single biological criterion could accurately define sex and warning of the harm such practices could cause — particularly for women with differences of sexual development.

Despite acknowledging the scientific limitations, the IOC chose to continue its testing protocols.

“We were unsurprised to find that the IOC ignored the expertise of the Aarhus professors in the 1970s,” Pieper said. “It has a long history of disregarding scientific and medical knowledge that conflicts with its ideas about women’s sport. The consequences are on display today. World Athletics is again ignoring experts, including Andrew Sullivan, who led the team that discovered the gene in question, to enforce gendered categories.”

By tracing this historical pattern, the research argues that sport governing bodies have consistently prioritized rigid biological definitions over evolving scientific understanding — a trend that continues to shape policy decisions today.

Pieper joined Elon in 2025 after 13 years at the University of Lynchburg, where she served as department chair of sport management. She is the author of two books, “Sex Testing: Gender Policing in Women’s Sport” and “Women in the Olympics,” and her scholarship has appeared in journals including Sport in Society and the Journal of Sport History.

The International Journal of the History of Sport is a leading peer-reviewed academic journal published by Taylor & Francis that focuses on the historical study of sport, physical culture and related social issues.

The little-known history of Greensboro, North Carolina’s 1938 movie theater boycott protesting Jim Crow censorship was the topic of a March 6 public talk by Assistant Professor of Journalism Lorraine Ahearn at the city’s

The event at the museum, site of the pivotal Woolworth sit-in protests of 1960, also featured a presentation on North Carolina’s first commercially produced movie, 1948’s “Pitch a Boogie Woogie.” Veteran Associated Press reporter Skip Foreman talked about the once-lost featurette and the role his father, Tom Foreman, Sr., played in the all-Black cast.

“These two events expand our understanding of film history and the long journey of screen representation of African Americans,” Ahearn said. “They reveal Black people in North Carolina both resisting and negotiating Jim Crow conventions during two decades not often emphasized in this struggle.”

In 1938, students at Greensboro’s Bennett College for Women, an HBCU, organized a community boycott of white movie theaters. The students discovered that white exhibitors in the South were censoring out scenes casting Black performers on an equal social footing with whites, violating Jim Crow-era typecasting that relegated Black actors to subservient or comic stereotypes. The Black press was instrumental in covering the months-long boycott.

Ahearn first wrote about the forgotten incident as a newspaper reporter, then extended the research as a chapter in a scholarly anthology edited by Naeemah Clark, Elon’s Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence.

“The ‘38 boycott is noteworthy on a couple of counts,” Ahearn said. “For one, it comes a whole generation before Woolworth’s, lengthening the timeline of direct action initiated — once again — by college students. Equally important, the movie boycott turned not on the issue of where Black people were physically allowed to sit or eat, but on how Black people were allowed to be depicted to white audiences in the most powerful new medium of the time, Hollywood movies.”

A decade later, “Pitch a Boogie Woogie,” captured the disappearing genre of tented Black vaudeville and traveling minstrel shows in a complex post-war era of social and musical evolution. Black actors, musicians and dancers played all the parts in the short movie a white Greenville producer made exclusively for Black audiences and scored by the popular Greensboro band The Rhythm Vets. The band members were veterans of the World War II-era US Navy B-1 Band, among the first African Americans to hold Navy ranks above that of mess officer.

Elon News Network earned 11 awards during the National College Media Conference hosted by the Associated Collegiate Press in San Francisco, March 5-7.

The awards contest included hundreds of entries from college media outlets from across the country. Below is a list of the Elon winners.

• Finalist – Online Pacemaker | Staff |
• 2nd Place – Best of Show Broadcast | “ENN Tonight” |
• 2nd Place – Best of Show Newspaper | The Pendulum |
• 4th Place – Best of Show Digital Newsletter | Elon News Network Weekly Newsletter |
• 6th Place – Best of Show Website |
• 6th Place – Best of Show News Story | Lilly Molina and Charlotte Pfabe |
• 10th Place – Best of Show Sports Story | Benjamin Berfield |
• 8th Place – Best of Show Feature Story | Charlotte Pfabe |
• 6th Place – Best of Show Newspaper Design | Sarah T. Moore |
• 7th Place – Best of Show Broadcast News Story | Anjolina Fantaroni | “
• 10th Place – Best of Show Broadcast Sports Story | Monika Jurevicius | “

Elon students attending the National College Media Convention conference included Evan Cooper ’28, Trista Panagakos ’28, Megan Walsh ’28 and Nolan Williams ’28. They were accompanied by Kelly Furnas, senior lecturer in journalism and ENN adviser.

ENN is a student-run news organization covering �þ��� and the broader Alamance County community. It includes The Pendulum newspaper, “ENN Tonight” broadcast, elonnewsnetwork.com website, as well as social media accounts, podcasts and newsletters. regardless of their experience level, major or year in school.