SOLIDARITY^
community moves to stand together,
support one another in current political climate
Emmanuel Morgan
News Editor
@EMorgan704
When Mariatu Okonofua walked into the
room, Kristina Meyer looked up and giggled.
Both are sophomores at Elon University,
and their yearlong friendship has morphed
from simply being hallmates to having con
stant outbursts of laughter, inside jokes. As
friends often do, they complimented their
outfits — but like their uncommon cama
raderie — they were dressed completely
different. Okonofua, an African-American
Muslim, rushed back to campus from her
Raleigh-based internship, leaving no time to
change from her pantsuit. But Meyer, a white
Christian, was cloaked in a raincoat and
boots to absorb the precipitation of a dreary
Friday afternoon.
Their differing choices of wardrobe
somewhat exemplifies their contrasting ide
ologies. The bulk of history says these two
groups — white and Christian; colored and
Muslim — are not to get along. In light of the
United States’ current political climate, that
statement seems more relevant than ever. But
SeeMUSLILM LIFE
pgs. 6-7
ANTON DELGADO I Contributor
The Global Solidarity
March leads Seniors
Emily Collins, Surya
Shahi and Suad
Ibrahim into the
Global Neighborhood
Feb. 6.
A FUR-EVER CLASSIC: Elon theater updates ‘Cats’ aesthetic
Deirdre Kronschnabel
Contributor
@kronschd
he curtain is closed and the theater
dark, but right around the corner the
dressing room is bursting with color
and energy. Inside, the cast is getting
fitted in wigs of shimmering silver,
burnt orange and pale pink. Fur lines the
walls on costume racks, and makeup artists
and actors alike prowl in and out of dressing
rooms, wielding everything from Styrofoam
mannequin heads to eyebrow pencils.
In four hours, faces are painted, wigs are
teased and the troupe is transformed into a
band of feline creatures.
The Elon Department of Performing Arts
opens its production of “Cats” at 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 9 in McCrary Theatre under the direc
tion of Associate Professor of Dance Lynne
Kurdziel Formato. Formato is supported in
costume, makeup and design by guest design
er Caitlin Graham ’ll.
Based on T. S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book
of Practical Cats,” “Cats” follows a tribe of cats
who come together on one fantastical night
for an annual ball. Winner of seven Tony
Awards, the show is the fourth longest-run
ning show in Broadway history and is now
successfully sharing its story to a new genera
tion in the “Cats” Broadway revival tour.
Formato described “Cats!” as a foil to re-
See“CATS”
pgs. 18-19 The cast of “Cats” performs at their dress rehearsal at McCrary Theatre Feb. 6.
STYLE
DIEGO PINEDA I Pbolo Editor
Elon alumna trains for
first 50k
m