Cultural Programs | Today at Elon | 消消犯 /u/news Fri, 18 Sep 2026 21:40:39 -0400 en-US hourly 1 A World of Ideas /u/news/2026/09/18/a-world-of-ideas/ Fri, 18 Sep 2026 15:52:56 +0000 /u/news/?p=1056623 Through the 消消犯 Speaker Series and the Learning Society at Queens, audiences can engage with influential voices whose work is shaping conversations in leadership, science, technology, the arts, public service and beyond, bringing fresh perspectives to two campuses united by a shared commitment to learning.

For more information, including ticket details, please visit
elon.edu/speakerseries and .

Headshot of David BrooksFall Convocation with David Brooks

Bestselling author, staff writer for The Atlantic and longtime New York Times columnist

Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, 3:30 p.m. | Alumni Gym,
Koury Athletic Center, Elon, N.C.
消消犯 Speaker Series

David Brooks is a leading observer of American culture, politics and civic life. 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.

Headshot of Hanif AbdurraqibCommon Reading Lecture with Hanif Abdurraqib

Cultural critic and author of Theres Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension

Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, 7:30 p.m. | Alumni Gym,
Koury Athletic Center, Elon, N.C.
消消犯 Speaker Series

Hanif Abdurraqib is widely recognized for his lyrical and deeply personal writing that explores music, identity and the intersections of culture and lived experience. Theres Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension was selected as Elons Common Reading for 2026-27.

Headshot of Justin TrudeauNavigating Change, Empowering Progress: A Roadmap for Leaders Committed to Community and Democracy with the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, former
Prime Minister of Canada

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026, 7 p.m. | Sandra Levine Theatre, Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement, Charlotte, N.C.
The Learning Society

In an era of unprecedented global challenges and technological change, the foundation of progress remains human our ability to build and strengthen communities through democratic principles and shared values. Drawing from his transformational decade as Canadas 23rd Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau shares compelling insights on how leaders can foster resilient, inclusive communities that can thrive in times of opportunity and crisis.

Headshot of Kyle CarpenterCarol Ann Walker International Lectureship with Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter

Recipient of the Medal of Honor

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, 11 a.m. | McCrary Theatre,
Center for the Arts, Elon, N.C.
消消犯 Speaker Series

The youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor, Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter was recognized for extraordinary heroism when he suffered life-threatening injuries after throwing himself on a grenade in Afghanistan to protect a fellow U.S. Marine. He is the author of the memoir You Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For.

Coming in 2027

Headshot of Danielle Coke BalfourMartin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Address with Danielle Coke Balfour

Artist, author and social justice advocate

Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2027, noon | Alumni Gym,
Koury Athletic Center, Elon, N.C.
消消犯 Speaker Series

Headshot of Venus WilliamsA Conversation with Venus Williams

Olympian, world-renowned tennis champion and entrepreneur

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2027, 7 p.m. | Sandra Levine Theatre, Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts and Civic Engagement, Charlotte, N.C.
The Learning Society

Headshot of Tim TebowBaird Lecture with Tim Tebow

Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback and philanthropist

Tuesday, March 9, 2027, 7 p.m. | Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center, Elon, N.C.
消消犯 Speaker Series

Heather Cox RichardsonJames P. Elder Lecture with Heather Cox Richardson

Historian and bestselling author

Tuesday, April 6, 2027, 6:30 p.m. | Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center, Elon, N.C.
消消犯 Speaker Series

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Keith Alessi, “Banjo Saved My Life” POSTPONED /u/news/2026/09/02/keith-alessi-banjo-saved-my-life-postponed/ Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:27:52 +0000 /u/news/?p=1055102 Keith Alessi, “Banjo Saved My Life,” originally scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. has been POSTPONED.

This heartfelt project began as a nudge when Keith Alessis life took a major turn. Now, its his mission to raise money for causes close to his heart. Alessi shares his exceptional true story of leaving the world of corporate board rooms to follow a long-delayed passion playing the banjo! When faced with a deadly cancer battle, his musical pursuit took him on a journey that became the key to saving his life. Told through authentic storytelling, heartfelt humor and music, Alessis story is an uplifting tale of challenge, triumph and the healing power of the arts and music.

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Rail crossing closures in Elon to begin September 21 /u/news/2026/08/25/rail-crossing-closures-in-elon-to-affect-vehicle-and-pedestrian-traffic/ Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:36:11 +0000 /u/news/?p=1054230 Railroad crossings in the Town of Elon will fully close to vehicle and pedestrian traffic starting the morning of Monday, September 21, as work crews make their way west from Mebane to Greensboro as part of a comprehensive rail replacement project.

Grade crossings near the Elon campus include those on (from east to west):

  • York Road
  • Oak Avenue
  • Williamson Avenue
  • Church Street

During the closures, no vehicle or foot traffic will be permitted at crossings. Drivers should use available detours, follow posted signs and allow extra travel time.

Anyone walking to or from South 消消犯 must use the pedestrian tunnel underneath the railroad on East Trollinger and East Lebanon avenues. 消消犯, employees, and other visitors to the Elon campus should give themselves extra travel time.

Though crossings will be closed, rail traffic will operate on adjusted schedules. Norfolk Southern is moving much of its freight service to night deliveries during this period and passenger service is also continuing in the evening and early-morning hours, which makes it more difficult to gauge distance and speed of oncoming trains.油

消消犯 消消犯 Safety & Police will maintain a presence on both sides of the railroad tracks during the rail replacement project and partner with the Town of Elon Police to ensure adequate resources available to respond appropriately to any calls for service.

The Cook Road/University Drive overpass west of Elon is the nearest railroad overpass that will offer access to both sides of town. To the east, West Webb Avenue passes underneath the tracks and offers another vehicular route between both ends of campus.

The rail replacement project is part of a larger Carolinian and Piedmont Passenger and Freight Improvements project stretching from Greensboro to Raleigh. The rail lines that pass through the Town of Elon were last replaced in the 1970s.

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消消犯 Speaker Series welcomes authors, athletes and advocates to campus in 2026-27 /u/news/2026/05/01/elon-university-speaker-series-welcomes-authors-athletes-and-advocates-to-campus-in-2026-27/ Fri, 01 May 2026 20:00:34 +0000 /u/news/?p=1045266 The 消消犯 Speaker Series returns in 2026-27 with visitors whose careers span the highest levels of journalism, sports media, military leadership, literature and American history.

Visiting 消消犯 in the next academic year:

  • David Brooks, bestselling author, staff writer for The Atlantic and longtime New York Times columnist – Sept. 25, 2026
  • Hanif Abdurraqib, author and cultural critic (Common Reading Lecture) – Sept. 29, 2026
  • Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, Medal of Honor recipient and author – Nov. 11, 2026
  • Danielle Coke Balfour, artist, author and social justice advocate – Jan. 13, 2027
  • Tim Tebow, Heisman Trophy winner, former NFL quarterback and philanthropist – March 9, 2027
  • Heather Cox Richardson, historian and bestselling author – April 6, 2027

All programs are free to 消消犯 students, faculty and staff with ID. Venues will be announced closer to the dates of the programs. Tickets for the public for Fall Convocation go on sale starting in August.油Admission: $15 via油.

消消犯s Cultural Calendar油for Fall 2026 will be available later this year with additional speakers and a wide range of musical, theatrical, artistic and other intellectual and creative events.

About the 2026-2027 Speakers at 消消犯

David Brooks

David Brooks

Sept. 25, 2026

Fall Convocation

3:30 p.m.

A bestselling 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 Universitys 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.

Brooks is the author of multiple bestselling books, including How to Know a Person, The Second Mountain, The Road to Character and The Social Animal, which explore moral development, human connection and the search for meaning. His work emphasizes the importance of community, empathy and the cultivation of both inner character and outward relationships as essential to a flourishing society.

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib

Sept. 29, 2026

Common Reading Lecture

7:30 p.m.

An acclaimed essayist, poet and cultural critic, Abdurraqib is widely recognized for his lyrical and deeply personal writing that explores music, identity and the intersections of culture and lived experience. His work blends criticism with memoir, offering readers a nuanced perspective on art, belonging and the forces that shape contemporary life.

Abdurraqib is the author of several award-winning books and is known for his ability to connect cultural analysis with broader questions about race, community and memory. Theres Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension was selected as Elons Common Reading for 2026-27.

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter

Nov. 11, 2026

Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship

11 a.m.

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.

Danielle Coke Balfour

Danielle Coke Balfour

Jan. 13, 2027

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address

12 p.m.

An artist, entrepreneur and author, Balfour is the founder of Oh Happy Dani, an illustration-based educational platform that uses visual storytelling to make complex ideas about racial justice and advocacy accessible to broad audiences. Through her work, she has built a community of hundreds of thousands who engage with her content on social media and beyond.

Her creative approach to artivism combines design, storytelling and education to inspire individuals to take meaningful action in their own communities. She is the author of A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well and a companion workbook that encourages reflection and everyday advocacy. Through partnerships with major brands and speaking engagements across the country, she promotes a message of hope, empathy and sustained engagement in social change.

Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow

March 9, 2027

Baird Lecture

7 p.m.

A Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion, Tebow gained national prominence as a quarterback at the University of Florida before being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. He later played professional baseball and has become a prominent sports analyst, author and motivational speaker.

Tebow is a seven-time New York Times bestselling author and founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, an organization that serves vulnerable populations in more than 70 countries through initiatives focused on faith, health and human dignity. Through his speaking and philanthropic efforts, Tebow encourages audiences to pursue their passions, lead with integrity and make a positive impact in the lives of others.

Heather Cox Richardson

Heather Cox Richardson

April 6, 2027

James P. Elder Lecture

6:30 p.m.

A professor of history at Boston College, Richardson is a leading scholar of American political history with expertise in the Civil War, Reconstruction and the evolution of the Republican Party. Her work examines the intersections of politics, economics and social change, helping audiences better understand the forces shaping the nations past and present.

She is the author of several award-winning books, including the bestselling Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, which explores the nations ongoing struggle to uphold its own ideals. Richardson also writes Letters from an American, a nightly newsletter that reaches millions of readers with analysis of current events in historical context. She hosts two video series,油Journey to American Democracy and油American Conversations,油both of which are available on YouTube and Facebook. Her油articles and reviews have been published in the油Washington Post, the油New York油Times, and油The Guardian, among others.

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The Month in Photos: April 2026 /u/news/2026/05/01/month-in-photos-april-2026/ Fri, 01 May 2026 14:45:41 +0000 /u/news/?p=1046013

Related Articles

As the spring semester at 消消犯 draws to a close, the campus remained vibrant and full of energy throughout April. The 202526 Elon Speaker Series wrapped up with a visit from bestselling author Frank Bruni, while nearly 200 students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors. Progress also continued on the new Roberts Academy, and Elon hosted its largest-ever Spring Undergraduate Research Forum.

Take a look back at April through the lens of the University Communications team.

A new life for Holland House

University leaders and student-athletes celebrated a new era for Elons Holland House on South 消消犯 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that debuted a preeminent home for the Phoenix mens and womens golf programs. Before the latest renovation, the building was home to two Elon presidents and administrative offices and even moved across campus.

Members of the Board of Trustees, donors, and 消消犯 leaders including President Connie Ledoux Book and Director of Athletics Jenn Strawley cut the ribbon on April 10, 2026, during a rededication ceremony of the university’s Holland House on South 消消犯.

The Montagues in McCrary

消消犯 Performing Arts brought history’s most famous love story to McCrary Theatre with “Romeo and Juliet.” The Shakespearean tragedy tells the tale of Romeo, from the House of Montague, and Juliet, from the House of Capulet, who secretly fall in love and get married, despite their families disapproval.

Romeo and Juliet dress rehearsal at McCrary Theater on April 15, 2026.

Stargazing for mental health

消消犯 were encouraged to engage with nature in support of their mental wellness through the Star Gazing for Mental Health event at Lake Verona. The Astronomy Club, Counseling Services, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and the Office of Sustainability sponsored the event.

Trollinger’s new look

Renovations have started on Trollinger House, which was once a small residence hall but will soon serve as the temporary location for Roberts Academy at 消消犯, an all-day private school for children with dyslexia that opens in August.

Established in 2025 through a gift from philanthropists Hal and Marjorie Roberts of Lakeland, Florida, the Roberts Academy at 消消犯 will be the fourth in a series of successful university-based private elementary schools the couple also supported at Vanderbilt University, Mercer University and Florida Southern College.

Administrators and staff involved with the launch of the Roberts Academy at 消消犯 toured a Trollinger House under renovation in preparation for the arrival of third- and fourth-grade students in August.

A Holi Celebration

On April 10, a warm and sunny spring afternoon, nearly 200 students, faculty, and staff gathered on the lawn of the Lambert Academic Village to celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors.油This year marked the 14th anniversary of Holi at Elon, a tradition led by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

Holi celebration on Phi Beta Kappa Commons on April 10, 2026.

Escaping the ‘age of grievance’

Journalist and bestselling author Frank Bruni delivered a sold-out Frank P. Elder Lecture in Whitley Auditorium on April 9. He explored how Americans are油living in what he calls an age of grievance, a time where more people believe they are losing because someone else is winning. The Elder Lecture marks the final event of the 2025-26 消消犯 Speaker Series.

James P. Elder Lecture with Frank Bruni at Whitley Auditorium on April 9, 2026.

A record-breaking SURF

消消犯 held its largest-ever Spring Undergraduate Research Forum on April 28, featuring 384 presentations, including 229 poster presentations, 155 oral presentations, and performances.

SURF Day is an annual event at the university, during which other campus activities are suspended to celebrate the academically centered creative endeavors and research efforts of Elon students.

SURF presentations and posters at Alumni Gym on April 28, 2026.

Double CAA Champs

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams took home CAA titles in April.油The conference title was the , when the Phoenix also took down UNCW. This was Elon’s fifth straight CAA championship match, all of which were against the Seahawks. With the victory, Elon secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Men’s Tennis Championship.

The women have , with both championship match victories coming against William & Mary.油With the win, Elon secured the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Women’s Tennis Championship.

Elon men’s tennis team win the CAA championship in 2026
The Elon women’s tennis team win the CAA championship in 2026

Go baby go!

For the first time, Elon students brought the Go Baby Go initiative to campus, adapting ride-on toy cars for children with mobility challenges.

The collaborative effort between the Elon Engineering Club, Phoenix Racing and the Department of Physical Therapy brought the Go Baby Go Initiative to Elons campus for the first time. Founded in 2012 at the University of Delaware, Go Baby Go is a national initiative that modifies ride-on toy cars to meet the individual physical needs of young children who experience mobility challenges.

A child tries out a new adapted toy car during the 消消犯 Go Baby Go event in April 2026.
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Frank Bruni offers advice to escape the age of grievance in Elder Lecture /u/news/2026/04/13/frank-bruni-offers-advice-to-escape-the-age-of-grievance-in-elder-lecture/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:08:09 +0000 /u/news/?p=1044012 Journalist and bestselling author Frank Bruni says American society is living in what he calls an age of grievance, a time where more Americans believe they are losing because someone else is winning.

Frank Bruni with James P. Elder before the James P. Elder Lecture at Whitley Auditorium on April 9, 2026.

We are quicker to anger, we let anger drive too many of our interactions, Bruni said. “Theres a culture thats taking hold wherever everybody is taking inventory over what their slights are. Theyre turning minor slights into major crises. Theyre looking for someone to blame. Theyre looking for someone to punish. Thats the story of our politics.

Bruni explores this concept in his New York Times bestseller The Age of Grievance, and, on April 9, spoke of how society got to this place and how it can move past it, in a sold-out James P. Elder Lecture in 消消犯s Whitley Auditorium, part of the 2025-26 消消犯 Speaker Series.

Bruni served at The New York Times for more than 25 years as a White House correspondent, the Rome bureau chief, the papers chief restaurant critic and op-ed columnist. He is the author of five New York Times bestsellers.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Policy Dillan Bono-Lunn welcomed the audience Thursday night, before Charlotte Pfabe 27, a communications fellow and ENN Tonight anchor, introduced Bruni.油The James P. Elder Lecture series was first endowed by former students of the popular professor and mentor. An油estate gift油from Elder in 2021 doubled the endowment of the speaker series, ensuring it will endure for future generations.

Polluted media landscape

In his address, Bruni discussed three ways Americans got to the age of grievance, the first being the polluted media landscape. This landscape is something Bruni knows intimately after working for The New York Times. As more media outlets exists, along with social media, Bruni says that nobody is living in the same reality.

Truth itself has become a marketplace with lousy merchants, Bruni said. There are no more gatekeepers when it comes to the information thats put out.

To combat this issue, Bruni says, there needs to be continuous discussions with young people about what is happening on social media and the lopsided role of information and whether they are using social media or it is using them.

Micro-climates of exclusivity

A man in a suit stands at a podium delivering a talk in an auditorium with flags in the background.
James P. Elder Lecture with Frank Bruni at Whitley Auditorium on April 9, 2026.

Another reason Americans have moved into the age of grievance, Bruni says, is because of micro-climates of exclusivity, how everything from entertainment, travel, dining, etc. has incorporated levels of tiering, mainly based on how much one pays. Bruni says this pecking order has existed for a long time in society, but has moved into every facet, every corner of our lives. Bruni says social media only makes the issue worse.

There are all of these peep holes into how other people are living, and they present a very, very warped view that leads people to feel left out and resentful, he said. Social media platforms are engines of envy.

But Bruni says people dont have to buy into these micro-climates and instead focus on civic care”: how people are taking care of society around them.

Primed for disappointment

The third reason Bruni says Americans have moved into the age of grievance is because they have become more pessimistic, noting that a minority of Americans now believe their children will do better than them in life.

Weve all become catastrophists in front of our children. Were just so primed for disappointment, he said. If I believe that tomorrow is certainly going to be darker than today, if I believe everything is going to hell, then I no longer have a collaborative relationship with you.

Though he says all hope is not lost, people should avoid activities like doom scrolling, where you continuously look at negative news updates on social media, and get out of a cycle of pessimism.

We need to start talking in a more realistic fashion about whether that pessimism is warranted, said Bruni. So much of it is not about the world being worse, its about expectations and a shortfall of expectations.

The key, Bruni says, to get out of this age of grievance, and not feel terrible all the time, starts with perspective.

Each of us (needs) to decide not to be that person who always sees things the most darkly, who is primed for offense, who is spoiling for a fight and is looking for people to be angry, he said. “Because the way a culture changes is with each of us, and then our friends, and then our friends’ friends, and then we actually have enough people to make a difference and have a better America.

James P. Elder Lecture with Frank Bruni at Whitley Auditorium on April 9, 2026.
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Frank Bruni to deliver Elder Lecture on Thursday, April 9 /u/news/2026/04/07/frank-bruni-to-deliver-elder-lecture-on-thursday-april-9/ Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:02:05 +0000 /u/news/?p=1043423 Frank Bruni
Frank Bruni

This event is sold out.

Journalist and bestselling author Frank Bruni will deliver the Elder Lecture on Thursday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. in Whitley Auditorium.

Bruni is the author of five New York Times bestsellers including The Age of Grievance, a dive into why Americans are so angry. He makes the case that Americans conflate legitimate causes and petty complaints, creating a condition of constant self-victimization. People obsess over how theyve been wronged and who to blame, which poses a threat to American democracy, rather than choosing to focus on civil, productive dialogue and constructive action.

The Beauty of Dusk is a memoir detailing Brunis adjustment to the sudden loss of vision in one eye and the acceptance of the reality that the same fate could befall the other at any moment. It earned rave reviews from people and publications including Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, People magazine, The New York Times and The Washington Post.

The first openly gay op-ed columnist at the Times, Bruni is a recipient of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Associations Randy Shilts Award for his career-long contributions to the LGBTQ community and the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Newspaper Columnist. A Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature writing, he is the Eugene C. Patterson Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke Universitys Sanford School of Public Policy.

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Zeynep Tufekci encourages Elon students to ask tough questions about artificial intelligence /u/news/2026/03/13/zeynep-tufekci-encourages-elon-students-to-ask-tough-questions-about-artificial-intelligence/ Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:53:32 +0000 /u/news/?p=1041509 Techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci says artificial intelligence is one of the big transitions in society, akin to the development of writing or the printing press, that will have widespread effects. And if history is to be learned from, Tufekci notes, it cant just be viewed as a tool only to be used for good.

These things can be extremely destabilizing and very complicated and very painful, regardless of whether the technology is good or bad, and it’s simply because it just doesn’t even apply () to put it in good hands, put it in bad hands, said Tufecki. We have regulated, assimilated, grappled with very complex technologies and problems, on a global scale, that people thought were like, Oh, this cannot be fixed.

A woman speaks at a podium labeled 消消犯 on a stage with blue lighting and the university crest in the background.
Associate Professor of Journalism Amanda Sturgill introduces Zeynep Tufekci during The Baird Lecture in McCrary Theatre on March 12, 2026.

Tufekci, a New York Times opinion columnist and the Henry G. Bryan Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University, offered her insight on the growing challenges of AI in The Baird Lecture on March 12, part of the 消消犯 Speaker Series. The Baird Lecture series was endowed in 2002 by James H. Baird and his late wife, Jane M. Baird of Burlington, North Carolina. The Bairds were the first presidents of the Elon Parents Council, and their family’s involvement with the university has spanned more than 40 years.

Haya Ajjan, dean of the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, introduced the lecture in McCrary Theatre, followed by Amanda Sturgill, associate professor of journalism, who welcomed Tufekci to the stage.

Dr. Tufekci has what the New York Times called, a habit of being right on the big things. So, in an age where everyone has an opinion about technology, she offers something more valuableinsight, Sturgill said. She sees patterns where others see chaos, asks hard questions when everyone else is celebrating the latest thing, and reminds us that we should really look at the human consequences of the tools that we’re building.

A speaker stands at the same podium delivering remarks during a formal event at 消消犯.
Zeynep Tufekci delivers The Baird Lecture in McCrary Theatre on March 12, 2026.

Tufeckis work on the social and moral implications of machine learning, big data and algorithmic decision making argues that the true threat of artificial intelligence is rooted in privacy and human rights violations. In The Baird Lecture, titled Power, Protest and Algorithms: How Technology Shapes Society and Democracy, Tufekci argued that AI will bring about destabilizing change, and there are many things, three she highlighted, that society is not prepared to handle:

  • Machines that can speak like humans, with no way to discern what is human and what is not: The idea that millions of people are going to be speaking to a machine that speaks like a human, talks with them, we dont even have language or concepts to understand, she said. This is one of the biggest historic deals ever in human history.
  • AI photos and videos blur the line between what is real and what is not: There are ways we could think about it that would involve verifying videos and photos as real, in a way that would be compatible with democracy, privacy, but it would involve all sorts of technologies that are just barely developed to get way better, she said.
  • AI can imitate human speech: Imagine using AI to scan all of Instagram to find all the kids, college students who are in Cancun or somewhere, parents are worrying. You find their phone numbers, it’s very easy to spoof, said Toufekci. You just call them all, leave a (scam) voicemail, (asking for) $800 a pop. Nobody’s investigating this.

These are already huge things. We need to get on this very quickly, she said. Its going to be the young generation, whos in college right now, who are going to be at the forefront of this.

Before opening the floor to a Q&A from both Elon and high school students, Tufecki encouraged them to begin to ask tough questions about AI, research past technologies that have had large impacts on society and find solutions that wouldn’t sacrifice the freedoms of society.

Dont let anybody tell you this is so big that we cant do anything, because we have always done this, she said. We just can do it better. We should do it better.

A person stands at a microphone in the audience while a speaker addresses the room from an 消消犯 podium on stage. Blue stage lighting and university banners frame the formal event.
A student asks a question to Zeynep Tufekci during The Baird Lecture on March 12, 2026 in McCrary Theatre.
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Phoenix Five: March 8-14 /u/news/2026/03/09/phoenix-five-march-8-14/ Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:44:40 +0000 /u/news/?p=1041127 Elon Day was a big success, and it was exciting to see the community come together to celebrate and support the university.

Here are a few events and opportunities coming up on campus this week you wont want to miss:

Brenda Dixon-Gottschild Challenges, Changes, Chances: My Object Lesson in Reclaiming My Time

Monday, March 9, 7 p.m., McCray Theatre, Center for the Arts

Join the Lyceum Series to hear from Brenda Dixon-Gottschild, an acclaimed dancer, author and scholar whose work explores race, culture and the arts. Come hear reflections from her six-decade career and experience a presentation that blends storytelling and performance. Visit the for more information.

Understanding the US-Iran Conflict: An Elon faculty panel

Tuesday, March 10, 4:30-6 p.m., East Commons 102

Faculty from multiple disciplines will come together to discuss the unfolding developments in the Middle East. The discussion will aim to contextualize recent developments for the campus community. Sponsored by the Council on Civic Engagement.

Zeynep Tufekci Power, Protest and Algorithms: How Technology Shapes Society and Democracy

Thursday, March 12, 7 p.m., McCray Theatre, Center for the Arts

Dont miss this years Baird Lecture, featuring internationally recognized techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci. A 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary, Tufekci examines the use of social media to mobilize large numbers of people in political protest and why many modern movements lack the direction to foster real change. Visit the Spring Cultural Calendar for more information.

SUB Cinema Drive-In presents: Wicked: For Good

Saturday, March 14, 8-10:30 p.m., Innovation Quad Parking Lot

SUB Cinemas drive-in movie is back with Wicked: For Good. Bring your friends, a car or a lawn chair, and settle in for a movie night under the stars. Visit for more information.

Career tip: Stop by the SPDC today!

Stop by the Student Professional Development Center (SPDC) on the first floor of the Moseley Center to prepare for whats next whether youre a senior searching for a job, a student looking for an internship, or just exploring career paths. Practice interviewing, polish your r辿sum辿, and get free printed copies and business cards to help you put your best foot forward as a young professional.

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Techno-sociologist Zeynep Tufekci to deliver the Baird Lecture on Thursday, March 12 /u/news/2026/02/27/techno-sociologist-zeynep-tufekci-to-deliver-the-baird-lecture-on-march-12/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:01:47 +0000 /u/news/?p=1040357 Zeynep Tufekci will deliver the Baird Lecture, part of the 消消犯 Speaker Series on Thursday, March 12 at 7 p.m. in McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts.

Tufekci is an internationally renowned techno-sociologist whose work analyzes the intersections of science, technology, politics and society. She is known for asking hard questions about artificial intelligence, privacy and surveillance, social movements, and public health, and she answers them in ways that defy disciplinary boundaries.

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Tufekci is a New York Times opinion columnist and the Henry G. Bryant Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. Her work on the social and moral implications of machine learning, big data and algorithmic decision-making argues that the true threat of artificial intelligence is rooted in privacy and human rights violations. She links the AI-powered erosion of privacy in processes such as facial recognition to the early stages of authoritarianism.

A 2022 Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary, Tufekci is the author of Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest, which examines the power of using social media to mobilize large numbers of people in political protest and why many modern social movements lack the direction to foster real change once the protest is over.

Prior to joining The New York Times, Tufekci spent years as a contributing opinion writer at several of the nations most acclaimed news publications. She was an Andrew Carnegie Fellow, a fellow at the Princeton University Center for Information Technology and the inaugural director of the Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security at Columbia University.

Tickets are $15 at or free with an Elon ID.

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