Gabrielle Abdelmessih Editor-in-Chief gabdelmessih@oakland.edu
Megan Parker Managing Editor meganparker@oakland.edu
Lindsey Sobkowski Photo Editor lsobkowski@oakland.edu
Brock Heilig Sports Editor brockheilig@oakland.edu
Arianna Heyman Features Editor aheyman@oakland.edu
JUST KEEP SWIMMING! A splashy retirement celebration for Pete Hovland
CONNECT
oaklandpostonline.com
COPY & VISUAL
Jennifer Wood Graphic Designer
Emily Iatrou Graphic Designer
Melissa Walters Graphic Designer
Christopher Udeozor-Nweke
Graphic Designer
Leticia Cezário Santos Marketing Director lsantos@oakland.edu
Payton Bucki Reporter
DJ Lester Reporter
Olivia Chiappelli Reporter
Autumn Okuszka Reporter
Summer Weathers Reporter
CORRECTIONS CORNER: The Oakland Post corrects all known errors of fact. If you know of an error, please email editor@oaklandpostonline.com.
Joe Zerilli Campus Editor jzerilli@oakland.edu
Bella Javier Arts Editor isabellajavier@oakland.edu
DISTRIBUTION
Melanie Davis Distributor
ADVISING
Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser gjgilber@oakland.edu
248.370.2105
Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu
The Habitat was filled with music, fans and good vibes on March 22 when the Student Program Board (SPB) hosted their annual Battle of the Bands. Four bands performed in front of the students, with music ranging from metal to Japanese rock.
The event was kicked off by third year emcee Daryl Blackburn, coordinator of leadership and service programs in the Office for Student Involvement (OSI). Blackburn said turnout was good, and he is looking forward to future events where more and more people seem to be attending.
“I love it because I think students love to come out and, one, support each other, but then, two, just be able to hear the performances and just have a second away from the stress,” Blackburn said. “For me, it’s super fun, because I get to, one, be around students, and then, two, see the talent.”
After a warm welcome and a slight delay, Blackburn was able to get things going and handed it off to the bands.
The first to go on was the group Currently Unknown, a rock band whose own description of themselves is currently unknown. Playing songs like “Boys Don’t Cry” by The Cure and “We Are Young” by fun., they started the night off strong.
Next up was a metal band from Metro Detroit named APOTEH. Billed as hating corporations and
loving the planet, they did what they sought out to do by rocking the house with four of their own original songs.
The third act was LiVING Ai, a group influenced by Japanese rock music. They released their first single, “Summer Checklist,” in December 2022, and kept the energy high as they returned to the Battle of the Bands stage after appearing at last year’s event.
The closer for the night was Nathan Gonzales, a pop-rock/indie artist, who, alongside his band, already has four singles out on Spotify. Playing a mix of original songs and covers, he ended the night by keeping everyone entertained, even covering “Ripped Pants” from “Spongebob Squarepants.”
After some fan voting, Gonzales was deemed the winner and received a prize valued at $500 for him to choose at a later date. The former OU student was not expecting to win, but said it felt great.
“I think it was fantastic — it was
actually my band’s first time ever performing on a stage like this, and also our first time together,” Gonzales said. “I like to say that I feel at home on stage, and I like to visualize everybody as my friends.”
Gonzales is part of two other bands, Lyons Lane and drive safe!, and is on his way to releasing an EP. To celebrate, he will be having a concert on April 14 at The Loving Touch in Ferndale.
Three of the bands from the event can be found on Instagram @apoteh.ig, @livingai.band and @nathangonzalesmusic, while Currently Unknown can be found on campus at WXOU.
For more information on future SPB events, follow them on Instagram or go to their GrizzOrgs page. Some upcoming events include International Night on March 31 in the Founders Ballrooms at 5 p.m. and Drag Queen Bingo with Naysha Lopez on April 5 in the Banquet Rooms at 7 p.m.
From March 21-23, Oakland University’s Honors College (HC) hosted its Innovation, Creation and Exploration (I.C.E.) Festival in the Oak View Hall main lobby to give Spring 2023 HC graduates the opportunity to present their thesis projects.
At the festival, OU students were invited to learn about the research and creative projects of HC seniors while enjoying complimentary refreshments, giveaways and activities.
I.C.E. is described as a “rebranding” of traditional HC thesis presentations. The festival was designed to be interactive and fun, where HC seniors were given an opportunity to present their research findings and HC underclassmen were able to learn more about the thesis development process.
“This event was created to be a casual space for our Honors College seniors to discuss topics they are passionate about,” Dr. Susan Lynne Beckwith, faculty fellow, said. “Students are encouraged to bring posters with key images related to their research, so visitors are able to stop and ask questions about topics that pique their interest.”
With a writing-intensive capstone project being a typical requirement for most majors, the HC is flexible in allowing students conducting research for their capstone classes to use a similar design for their HC theses.
Abigail Austin, a senior majoring in social work, used a program development project from her social work capstone class to guide her thesis research. Austin used the framework of existing respite care programs to develop a respite program for caregivers of individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMIs).
“When discussing the topic of respite care in class, I was surprised to learn that there was no existing respite program for SMI caregivers,” Austin said. “It has been a very interesting process to develop this unique program and create unique solutions for individuals taking on the caregiver role.”
Megan Hanoush, a senior political science student, conducted survey research to examine the influence social media has on political polarization. Hanoush spent months extensively researching this topic and sending surveys out to her peers.
“For this research project — which I conducted through my political science capstone course — I had to gain over 100 responses to my survey,” Hanoush said. “It was a lot of work, but led to some interesting findings.”
Throughout the event, students were treated to a variety of complimentary
snacks and drinks and invited to participate in an array of games, raffles and activities for a chance to win various prizes. Therapy dogs also made an appearance at the event to provide stressed students solace as finals week quickly approaches.
To learn more about the thesis development process, email the OU Honors College at hc@oakland.edu. Accepted HC theses can be found on the OUR@Oakland webpage.
Next week, from April 3-5, Oakland University students will vote for their new Student Congress (OUSC) delegates. The voting method is still being determined by the OUSC Elections Commission.
Three Presidential and Vice Presidential Slates are running in the 2023 OUSC Election: The Kobus Bazkinski Slate, the Gojcaj Mitchell Slate and the Farooqi Ferguson Slate. Read on to learn more about each slate and their main campaign initiatives.
Kobus Bazkinski Slate
Joshua Kobus is the only candidate running for the 2023 Student Congress Presidential role without experience working at OUSC. Kobus sees this fact as an asset, asserting that his noninvolvement with OUSC allows him to speak on behalf of students in a direct, unbiased manner.
“OUSC needs someone from the outside for once, someone who can actually speak for the students,” Kobus said. “I’m an engineer, and as an engineer, we fix things that are broken. I see what the others don’t – that OUSC needs fixing.”
Kobus rests his campaign on the values of transparency and communication. The Kobus Bazkinski Slate firmly believes SAFB must do a better job of supporting student organizations and plans to ensure all OUSC information is made available to the general public.
Gojcaj Mitchell Slate
The Gojcaj Mitchell Slate consists of a group of experienced OUSC members who are eager to create change within OUSC and throughout the campus community.
The prime focus of Gojcaj’s campaign is to uplift student voices by actively supporting student organizations and improving their college experience.
Some of the platform’s initiatives include:
• Reforming SAFB
• Re-establishing office hours for students to voice their concerns
• Adding gynecology as a specialty at the GHC
• Including PrEP, monkeypox vaccines and Plan C pills in the GHC
• Expanding the dining hall hours
• Improving food quality
• Pushing for more free therapy sessions for students
“One of our biggest goals is to rebuild the bridges that were burned under the current administration. #StrongerTogether is our slogan, because we value connection to further represent all students on campus,” the Gojcaj Mitchell Slate said.
To learn more about this campaign, visit @ stronger.together.oakland on Instagram.
Farooqi Ferguson Slate
The all-female Farooqi Ferguson Slate uses student voices to guide their initiatives. These candidates are dedicated to bettering OU as a whole by supporting student organizations, campus events and activism.
“A few of our key initiatives include reforming the University Medical Amnesty Policy, expanding our support for the Affordable Course Materials Initiative (ACMI), pushing for better dining hall hours, advocating for the creation of an academic forgiveness policy and expanding our free menstrual products initiative to all bathrooms on campus,” the Farooqi Ferguson Slate said when asked about campaign goals.
(Continue on our website)
Just before class registration opened on March 20, the Department of Communication, Journalism and Public Relations announced revised majors and new specializations for Journalism and Communication programs.
The new programs are:
• Journalism and Media Studies, B.A., Specialization in Media and Society
• Journalism and Media Studies, B.A., Specialization in Journalism
• Journalism and Media Studies, B.A., Specialization in Broadcasting and Digital Media Practice
• Revised Communication, B.A.
The most notable change is that all courses previously identified as JRN or COM will become JMS courses as of Fall 2023. Classes previously named with the outgoing labels will retain the same course numbers (i.e., JRN 2000 is now JMS 2000, and COM 3607 is now JMS 3607).
Communication professor and CJPR department chair Kathleen Battles worked on the new JMS program alongside other faculty members. She highlighted the most significant updates:
For Journalism and Media Studies (JMS):
“Media Studies and Media Production courses have been moved out of the Communication program and into the Journalism program, now an expanded Journalism and Media Studies program (JMS),” Battles said.
“JMS requires students to specialize. Still, all JMS students will take a core group of courses to provide shared theoretical and practical knowledge for understanding and working in media-related jobs.
“Broadcasting and Digital Media Practice specialization: Broadcasting or digital media production in a more general perspective.
“Media and Society Specialization: Media understanding, but not focused on the production,” she said.
“(...) Even within those specializations, there’s more depth, given that blending of theory, concepts and practice,” said Holly Gilbert, instructor of practice and chief academic adviser for Journalism
and PR courses.
For Communication (COM):
“The newly revised program offers students more flexibility through more elective credits,” Battles said.
“There is still a required core of courses, but students will now only have to take classes in two different course groups.
“The class categories have been reorganized so that students can better see the kinds of courses that match their career goals — new groups are Relational Communication, Organizational Communication, Advocacy and Social Influence, Culture and Communication and Practicum,” Battles said.
“COM 3300 (which used to be Multicultural Communication) is now Communication, Culture and Belonging,” she said. “Students who have already taken 3300 do not need to retake it.”
“The COM changes similarly reflect the ways that our field has changed: New questions get asked, and new areas of study open up,” Communication Professor Tom Discenna said. “The exciting thing is the way this continuously evolved.”
Internships:
“The department will now have only one Internship course,” Battles said. “Students in JMS, PR and COM who need to do an Internship for their capstone will now all register for the Communication Internship course.”
“As a faculty member in COM, I can tell you that we are very excited about the changes coming to the department,” Communication Professor Jennifer Heisler said. “This combination of media and journalism is much more relevant to the types of writing, working and media our students are seeing after graduation.”
Behind the scenes, the motivations behind the program updates vary from keeping up with the industry to making the programs more attractive to students, since enrollment has
decreased by almost half compared to previous years.
“Curriculum changes are a regular feature of academic work. As we learn new things about what we study, we make changes to the way we teach,” Discenna said. “Most of the time, these changes are incremental.”
To faculty, the new organization of both Communication and Journalism and Media Studies will emphasize to students the connections between their degree and their possible future careers.
“Our department had long struggled with where to put their production courses, and JMS gives them a clear home,” Battles said. “The creation of the Journalism and Media Studies specializations gives students many more opportunities to find their passions.”
All current students can continue following the previous COM or JRN requirements they started using. However, if they decide to switch to the revised programs, the faculty affirms it will not be a complicated process.
“Since it is a revision of the existing major, existing JRN or COM students are likely to find it pretty easy to switch to JMS,” said Erin Meyers, a CJPR media studies professor who led this initiative. “If you’ve already been taking courses in the media area of COM or in JRN, these will count towards the JMS major.”
Faculty believes switching to new majors is a good idea in specific circumstances.
“Current students would want to switch to better focus their studies on the path that interests them most,” Meyers said, “and they’ll be able to show potential future employers that they have this particular specialization that prepares them for a range of different career paths.”
While Communication and Journalism programs have a new face, the Public Relations program
stays the same. PR majors can take JMS courses as electives, just as they could before.
“In another way, this opens up new possibilities for PR students interested in double majoring,” Battles said. “Overall, there are many more pathways that one can find in the department that builds a set of courses that aligns with their interests and goals.”
Students can now mix and match JMS and PR majors and minors uniquely.
“As predicted at the outset, the PR major is still very attractive to our students,” Heisler said. “Many of our earlier graduates from years ago in COM or JRN find themselves working in PR environments. Plus, you know our PRSSA organization is, I’d say, the best in Michigan.”
As for classes, content is always updated to keep up with the field and the media industry.
“Course content is continuously changing, so this is not just ‘old wine in new bottles,’” Discenna said. But credits won’t be counted any differently, and the core of the curriculum is still the same.
“The great thing about these changes is that we are still us,” Battles said. “Some classes might change their content a bit, but overall, the courses themselves will be the same, and of course, the faculty will be the same.”
While students get used to the revised programs, faculty already have their favorite aspects of it.
“The pairing of media studies with journalism makes so much sense, and the packaging provides so many advantages to students,” Gilbert said. “But no matter what they pursue, they’re going to be able to explore their interests through a wider lens.”
“My favorite thing is how the JMS major offers a mix of theory-based and practice-based courses,” Meyers said. “All of the specializations offer this, but let students go down the path that interests them more.”
“My favorite thing about these changes is that it really helps to clarify the different areas that we study in COM — [...] it reflects on the way the field has moved since we last developed the categories,” Discenna said.
(Contiune on our webiste)
When Theresa Gabalis’ son Scott was diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 1999, she longed for a community of individuals who would understand and accept him. After discovering the Macomb St. Clair Chapter of the Autism Society of America, Gabalis, an Oakland University alumna, developed relationships with families that would last a lifetime despite the group’s untimely disbanding.
In 2019, Gabalis aided in the creation of Macomb Autism Connect. The group allows the former Autism Society of America members to meet and maintain the relationships they have created over the years, while also welcoming new members affected by ASD.
Gabalis discusses her relationship with Macomb Autism Connect and the group’s importance below.
How do you evaluate Macomb
Autism Connect’s effectiveness?
We’ve had individual families come up to us after [events saying], “this is the first time we were able to take our son to the [movies], this is the first time we came to something like this.” Even people that have been to our events for years have come up to us [and say], “thank you so much for doing this, we have such a good time.”
What are some limitations you encounter as one of the founding members of Macomb Autism Connect?
We don’t fundraise a whole lot. We’ve been having to charge families something toward our events, when before we really didn’t have to charge a whole lot of money. You have to make it reasonable enough so that they can attend because sometimes they have a lot of kids or they have several kids.
What would it take for Macomb Autism Connect to overcome those limitations?
Gabalis: We don’t really provide resources, we’re providing social
events so we’re just more honest with people. When we do see them and they’re wondering why things went up from $5 a family to $8 a family, we say, “we have to cover some of our costs.”
Somebody [donated] a dessert table for our St. Patrick’s Day party because they [wanted to]. That saves us a couple hundred dollars. So if you ask, people are very generous, but they have to know that you have the need. I think the thing is to just be more honest with people that we don’t have the funding we used to have and if you can help, or you can donate, usually people jump in and they’re very generous.
What do you want people to know about yourself and other caregivers in the community?
I wouldn’t change a thing. [Scott’s] a great kid. I can name these kids [from Macomb Autism Connect] like boom, boom, boom. I’ve known them since they were two-three years old. I wouldn’t change any of them and I think that it’s changed me as a mother.
[Scott’s] my boy, he’s my young man. He’s brought so much to our family and the people that meet him. He’s changed. These young parents who have kids that aren’t speaking and they’re not doing anything I go, “give them time because I was in the same boat. You never know where they’re gonna go.”
Features Reporter
On March 13, 2023, Wayne State University (WSU) announced that they will be offering free tuition to Michigan students whose families make under $70,000 a year. Through the Wayne State Guarantee, 50% of first-year WSU students will have zero out-of-pocket expenses for their tuition and fees beginning in the fall of 2023.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer hopes to increase the number of working-age adults with a skill certificate or college degree from 50.5% today to 60% by 2030. Through WSU’s guarantee, Whitmer says that Michigan is one step closer to that goal.
“There are so many hardworking young Michiganders out there who want to go to college but choose not to because of cost,” Whitmer said in a tweet. “I’m grateful to Wayne State for their efforts to open the doors of higher education to thousands more Michiganders by offering a strong tuition-free guarantee.”
The announcement of the Wayne State Guarantee raises the question of what other universities across the state of Michigan are doing to make
higher education more affordable. While prospective students weigh their options, they can rest assured knowing Oakland University implemented something similar to the Wayne State Guarantee in 2009.
Nicole Boelk, director of Student Financial Services, says that OU was the first public university in Michigan to have a tuition pledge. Titled the Golden Grizzlies Tuition Guarantee, OU offers free tuition to eligible incoming freshmen.
“[The Golden Grizzlies Tuition Guarantee] continues to be one of the affordability measures that we have in place through this entire time to help the students be able to keep debt at a minimum and to be able to afford going to school,” Boelk said.
Aside from the Golden Grizzlies Tuition Guarantee, Boelk says that OU has many resources that could make college more affordable including merit scholarships as well as need-based grants and awards for transfer students. However, the best way to ensure students receive some sort of financial aid is by applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
“So many people think they don’t qualify for financial aid,” Boelk said. “I just want to get past
that myth of, ‘I don’t qualify for financial aid’ because everyone who’s a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident who’s not in default on a previous student loan would qualify for something. We encourage everyone to do that FAFSA.”
Dawn Aubry is the Vice President of Enrollment Management at OU. She believes on-campus employment is another method that could make higher education more affordable and provide other benefits such as networking opportunities.
“On-campus employment provides students with greater financial security,” Aubry said. “They can also lead to internships with some of the amazing corporations, organizations in the surrounding community. It’s about skill building, it’s about utilizing resources and helping those students garner more wages so that way they can invest in their education.”
Aubry also wants to stress the importance of students meditating on why they’re attending a university aside from the cost of tuition. Whether they are planning on commuting or living in a residence hall, Aubry says that the student financial services office is a resource that can aid students along
every step of the way.
“We’re going to continue to be vigilant to support students and their families,” Aubry said. “I think talking to financial aid professionals is a really good step.”
Though WSU is located in the heart of Detroit, Boelk says that there are benefits to OU’s Oakland County location.
“There are so many resources available to students and connections to industry and business here in Oakland County,” Boelk said. “We’re working hard to make college affordable. We’re connecting [students] to resources and to jobs. At the end of the day, the ultimate goal is that job, that career path. We’re working very hard to get students to that.”
Three years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oakland University has decided to lift the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for all staff and students, effective May 1, 2023.
“The Executive Policy Group (EPG) has decided to implement this change following a careful review of pandemic conditions across the region by the Infection Prevention and Control Committee (IPCC),” the statement released on March 10 said. “This work has revealed strong COVID-19 vaccination rates, as well as a declining number of infections, severe illnesses and deaths as a result of the pandemic.”
Senior Jaden Sauvola, who suffers from the longterm effects of COVID-19, believes the lifting of the vaccine mandate is not a wise decision.
“A lot of people think that the pandemic is something in the past,” Sauvola said. “People like me serve as examples that it continues, and there are long-term effects for it.”
Though he graduates in April, Sauvola feels sympathy for other students who may feel vulnerable without a vaccine mandate in place.
“I feel for the students that will come after me,” Sauvola said. “I would like them to feel safe in their space. I think that there is no reason to not continue to take precautions.”
Conversely, junior Jaimee Moshenko believes lifting the vaccine mandate could be beneficial. She relates the mandate’s lifting to recent discussions about abortion, stating “people should have a choice.”
“I’m pro-choice,” Moshenko said. “Personally, I’m vaccinated, I’m boosted. I work in a hospital. I was never scared of getting a vaccine because I believe in science. However, I think it’s a good thing that they’re taking the mandate away, because people should have a choice.”
Ann Rayford, director of the Graham Health Center (GHC), says the GHC plans on continually encouraging all individuals of the OU community to be up to date on their vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
“I think as we evolve through the pandemic — because we’re not totally out of it — we’ve learned so much that we all have decisions to make for ourselves of how we can best protect ourselves,” Rayford said.
While Rayford has witnessed the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the OU community, she also appreciates the other mitigation strategies the university has implemented.
“Following the science of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and the CDC, to my knowledge, we have not had anyone, no active members of the campus community, die from COVID-19.”
Rayford also wants all staff and students to keep in mind that the COVID-19 public health emergency will be ending on May 11. She recommends obtaining free at-home COVID-19 tests while they’re still available.
“I would encourage people to have [at-home COVID-19 tests],” Rayford said. “The only way you know if you have [COVID-19] is if you take a test, whether that’s a home test or whether you go someplace to be tested.”
As a health care provider, Rayford always encourages people to be up to date on any vaccines they are eligible to receive. She believes it’s important for everyone to learn what to do to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
“Whether it’s our friends or family or people that we just pass every day and we’re sick, we should do the things we’ve learned about — to wash your hands, wear a mask and get a test,” Rayford said. “We want everyone to be successful. [The GHC is] here to help support that.”
The GHC will continue to administer COVID-19 vaccinations following the lifting of the vaccine mandate. If staff and students are interested, they can schedule an appointment through the online patient portal.
Election season is underway at Oakland University as many hopeful students have begun their respective campaigns for positions in the OU Student Congress. Read on to learn more about the candidates running for executive board and legislative seats.
There are three presidential/vice presidential slates running in the 2023 OUSC election.
The first slate of candidates consists of presidential candidate Josef Gocjaj, vice presidential candidate Amir Mitchell, speaker candidate Ethan Lehman-Pace and legislator candidate Jimena Garcia.
The Gojcaj-Mitchell Slate is running on the campaign slogan “Stronger Together,” a succinct description of their main priority; uplifting the student body by improving their college experience. The candidates intend to support student organizations by listening to student feedback and acting upon concerns.
“When we communicate with organizations, we are consistently hearing complaints about the Student Activities Funding Board’s confusing or potentially misapplied rules and regulations,” Gojcaj said in his presidential platform statement. “To mitigate problems and barriers for student organizations, we are committed to reforming the SAFB by-laws to further ensure transparency, clarity and funding for student clubs and events.”
Learn more about the Gojcaj-Mitchell Slate by following their campaign Instagram @stronger.together.oakland.
The second slate of candidates consists of presidential candidate Murryum Farooqi, vice presidential candidate Maris Ferguson and speaker candidate Emma Garrett.
The Farooqi-Ferguson Slate is running on the campaign slogan “Let’s Keep Moving Forward.” The all-female group is running on numerous initiatives, promising to protect students’ wallets, rights, voices and especially the health and safety of all Golden Grizzlies.
“With extensive experience comes extensive knowledge,” the Farooqi Ferguson platform statement reads. “We know what works, what’s realistic and what will keep us moving forward.”
Stay up-to-date with the Farooqi-Ferguson Slate by following their campaign Instagram @farooqiferguson.
The third presidential slate includes Joshua Kobus. The Kobus Slate is running its campaign on sustainability, financial support and ethics. One of Kobus’s major initiatives is championing a clear separation between SAFB and OUSC to eliminate conflict of interest concerns in regard to student organization financial requests.
“I would like to separate the funding board (SAFB) from the OUSC to ensure that no student organizations have financial favor at the expense of others,” Kobus said. “All student organizations deserve perfectly fair funding.”
To learn more about each candidate’s goals and initiatives, read the presidential/vice presidential election platforms by clicking this link.
There are sixteen candidates running in the 2023 OUSC election. These candidates include Alex Verzillo, Matthew Staley, Darnell Sumpter Jr., Tyler Wykhuis, J. Cooper Smith, Lucas Sinistaj, Mohammed Salman, Ryan Olds, Victoria Ouding, Travis Palmer, Lance Markowitz, Daniela Meson De La Fuente, Nick Mumby, Jason Jimenez, Meron Eeso and Zohab Ali.
To learn more about each candidate’s goals and initiatives, read the legislator election platforms by clicking this link. Votes will be cast for all positions from April 3-5.
For more information on OUSC elections, please contact Elections Commission Chair Chiara Nava via email at chiaranava@oakland. edu. For timely updates on all election matters, follow OUSC on their Instagram @ouscofficial.
Correction: Kobus was not pictured in last week’s print edition. According to Calla Bazinski, she is not running as a candidate in the OUSC election.
“Stronger Together”
“Keep moving forward.”
Emma Garrett - Speaker Candidate
Maris Ferguson - VP
Murryum Farooqi - President
Ethan Lehman-Pace - Speaker Candidate
Amir Mitchell - VP
Josef Gojcaj - President
Jimena Garcia - Legislator
LETICIA CEZÁRIO SANTOS Marketing Director
We all have heard of it. Many of us thought it was a myth, and many had already heard scary stories about it.
Our college experience is going well until the last two semesters kick in and assignments and projects become infinitely more overwhelming, and our motivation gets shadowed by the excess of sleep deprivation. This is what we call: Senioritis.
This is still an informal term, but it’s as real as it could be. Dictionary.com defines Senioritis as “a decline in motivation or academic performance that supposedly afflicts some seniors in high school, especially in their last term.”
While the term is widely studied for high schoolers, we college students can testify that it works very similarly for us.
In college, students’ senior year doesn’t fall short of the amount of tension or pressure. While in high school, you are dealing with college applications. In college, you’re dealing with life plans.
Senior year is the time when everything has to come together. Students are encouraged to do internships; projects have to be concluded; credits have to sum up to fill all requirements.
Then, there is always the doubt of what comes next: a full-time job, graduate school, another major, a gap year, none of this or even all of it?
For many, it is the season to make the most out of what college can be. But each of us has a different perspective of what that looks like.
For some, this is the season to enjoy the friendships you nurtured along the way. For others, it’s the time to finish good projects, extracurricular activities and grades.
Mentally, our senior year can be a lot. But meanwhile, our class schedules and responsibilities are in full swing.
“Some students may find
themselves with only one problem: finishing the year without mentally checking out,” Anayat Durrani wrote for the U.S. News.
Keeping up with everything while graduation is so close might be more challenging than we think.
“I would describe it as seeing the finish line and realizing you don’t necessarily have to work as hard anymore to reach it,” Abby Tincher, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) academic advisor, said to Ashley Wallis. “The loss of momentum and motivation leaves students hoping they can float through to the end.”
To help you navigate through this intense and unstable moment, here are some symptoms you should be aware of:
• Lack of motivation to attend class / consequently skipping it
• Procrastination
• Lack of interest in studying
• Having a hard time learning/ doing assignments
• Drop in grades
• Exhaustion and Tiredness
• Burnout from decision-making
• Excess of indecisiveness
But don’t worry — you got to the final stretch of all this. While overwhelming, this moment can be incredibly rewarding.
Here are some tips to make the struggle days easier:
• Focus on the end goal: Graduation is almost here. Besides being a great accomplishment, you will finally be able to be the professional you envisioned in the first place.
• Don’t deprive yourself of fun: Balance is always the key to success. While the schedule might be busy, you can always take an hour or two to do something you like or see a friend.
• Welcome small changes: Now might be the time to change some small habits. For example, sitting on a chair to
study for two hours might not be as manageable as it was before, so try a new study spot or a new playlist. Schedule a study date with a friend — company is always a great motivation. Small changes might be a huge success.
“Rather than viewing senioritis as a burnout phase, high school students should continue to develop their strong study habits and carry them into college,” Eric Eng, founder and CEO of AdmissionSight, a college admissions consultancy in California, said to Anayat Durrani.
• Stay organized and on schedule: Everything you can do to reduce stress might be the best route to follow. Instead of stressing over a late assignment, get organized and ahead of the game. Senior year has a lot of events and dates you need to meet, so a calendar might be your best friend.
• Be transparent: Talk! Be transparent with your professors and explain your commitments and struggles. They know how this works and might even be willing to help somehow. Talk with friends. Let them know what is going on. They might have solutions
for your struggles, or again, some company might be what you are missing.
“Finding a healthy outlet for stress and anxiety will help you finish your senior year strong,” National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) advises high school students with advice also applicable to college students.
• Reward yourself: You are almost there! Celebrate the small steps. Every assignment submitted, an attended event, concluded meetings or anything in your schedule and plan is a step in the right direction and closer to graduation. So, reward yourself with minor or even big things — your favorite coffee, a chocolate bar, an hour of gaming or anything that makes you happy.
The most important thing to remember is, “we are all in this together!” If you didn’t get that reference, please go through the Disney+ archives the next time you decide to watch a movie.
Fellow seniors, good luck with your final month of class! I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at commencement.
As of December 2022, the impossible has become a (future) possible!
Nuclear fusion is one of the only sources of energy that requires less power than it generates, leading it to be the future of “green” energy.
The Department of Energy announced that an experiment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California was successful in creating net energy (more energy out than in), the first to achieve this feat in the history of humankind. While the Sun carries out nuclear fusion daily to provide itself energy, it has been a near impossible concept for scientists here on Earth.
Fusion is a long way away from being used to power our neighborhoods and cities, but this breakthrough could lead to the next generation of energy production and consumption. Until we get that figured out, below are the best forms of energy in terms of net energy and “green” characteristics:
• Solar energy: This option, while heavily dependent on environmental conditions such as weather and time of year, is able to capture our planet’s most abundant source of energy – the Sun!
• Hydroelectric energy: The Hoover Dam is an amazing example of this! On average, this dam generates about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of energy each year – this is enough to serve the 8 million
residents of Nevada, Arizona, and southern California
• Geothermal energy: Heat beneath the Earth’s surface can heat homes directly or be used to generate electricity
• Wind energy: Considered one of the “cleanest” forms of energy, wind powers turbines that power our grids across the globe
• Nuclear energy in the form of fission: This form uses Uranium-235 to generate reactions, but can
SciTech Reporter
Climate activists around the globe – not those exclusively to the United States – are anxious for what the Willow Project will bring to the alreadyuphill battle we are facing.
With President Biden’s latest approval, what can Americans expect to change throughout the country, and what can the world brace for environmentally?
The facts:
An oil drilling project by ConocoPhillips, Alaska’s largest crude oil producer and petroleum refinery company, Willow will be located in the North Slope of Alaska in the National Petroleum Reserve. This will provide up to 600 million barrels of oil once the project is finished.
In terms of gasoline, this equates to three quattuordecillion (3 x 10^14) barrels, with 500,000 barrels of gasoline produced per one million barrels of crude oil. In simpler terms, that is a lot of gas!
This would mean the U.S. and its associated partners would no longer be reliant on oil imports from regions such as Russia, which became even more of an issue after the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Not only will the oil be a benefit from this project, but the jobs it will supply to Alaska’s inhabitants will help its large unemployment percentage as compared to other U.S. states. According to
ConocoPhillips, the project is anticipated to create roughly 350 permanent jobs and over 2,000 construction jobs through its lengthy establishment.
The concerns:
From an environmental standpoint, the project alone could create as many emissions as 1/3 of all of the coal plants throughout the country, with a projection of 278 million metric tons of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere during its lifetime. If we are aiming to produce less emissions and make more green-minded efforts to protect our planet, this project may not have been in our best interest.
The project will last for the next 30 years, pumping out harmful greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and dimming out the hope of climate activists alike. Indigenous groups that reside in and continue to protect Alaska against the crushing weight of government intervention have bound together to sue the Biden administration over this project.
Their fears range from the lack of environmental awareness of the administration and consideration of what this will potentially do to our climate, to the damage of protected land and wildlife.
Even as President Biden erects new national monuments of federally sheltered land, the irony is not lost. If Willow goes through, it will hurt the caribou population that Indigenous peoples rely on for sustenance, and the native communities may never recover from this loss. New national monuments will not make up for those subjected to drilling and excavation for replaceable forms of energy.
be wasteful because of the nonrenewable resource that cannot be recycled. While this form of energy is technically considered clean because of its zeroemissions, its waste products must also be taken into consideration
What is the difference between renewable and zero-carbon energy?
Renewable energy is a more sustainable option, as it is essentially “endless” and will never run out. Zero-carbon energy, in contrast, is not considered to be renewable but generates low to no levels of carbon dioxide.
Nuclear fusion, as opposed to fission, is completely renewable. As two nuclei collide to form a singular nucleus, energy is released. Since we will never run out of atomic nuclei to collide, this form is the most promising form of renewable energetics yet!
Swapping out harmful forms of energy, such as the burning of fossil fuels that account for 80% of our world’s energy, is not an easy process. While science advances and we are able to find newer, cleaner, and greener ways to generate energy, other forms will have to be phased out slowly.
Green energy such as solar and wind are dependent on their location, the weather, and resources such as batteries and turbines, may not be the best option for all around the globe. With the introduction and continuation of research on nuclear fusion, green energy could become the new normal.
In the case of the Willow Project, it is hard to see how the potential pros outweigh the cons, unless one is viewing it from an economical and gas-production standpoint. If one chooses to look at the potential impact, both environmentally and morally, they may feel differently.
Visit ProtecttheArctic.org if you are interested in stating your stance on Willow.
chief
You are what you eat. Well, maybe not literally, but what you eat can have short and long-term health consequences.
Eating healthy can reduce one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers and other health conditions. While more research about this link needs to be conducted, current studies suggest that foods high in components like sugar, salt, saturated fats and trans fats can have negative impacts. It is important to point out that this is not specific to any one person’s individual risks, genetic factors and physical activity levels, and that you should always consult with a healthcare professional about your particular dietary needs.
Exercise is associated with a decreased risk of chronic diseases, too.
Yes, it seems like a no-brainer that eating healthy foods and exercising is better for you, but what isn’t always acknowledged is the amount of time, money and access that is required to do so.
For this week’s column, I spoke to Dr. George Howard, chief of the Department of Hematology and Oncology — Beaumont Troy, about what tangible and practical steps college students can take to improve their overall health, as well as share some free resources available to OU students that can help in reaching that goal.
Whether it be developing healthy eating habits,
an exercise routine, or limiting alcohol and tobacco consumption, Dr. Howard emphasized the importance of establishing a routine as a young adult.
So, how do we fit this into our college schedule and budget? Let’s discuss:
“The path to health when you’re older starts when you’re making decisions long term about your dietary choices, ” Dr. Howard stressed. According to Dr. Howard, incorporating whole-food plant-based foods into your diet and reducing consumption of food low in nutrients (minerals, vitamins, and fibers) is a good place to start. “Keeping as whole food a diet as possible is going to lead to all sorts of long-term health outcomes,” he said. Meal prepping and having healthier snacks like fruit and unsalted nuts readily available to grab and go can help save some time and kudos to Gen-Z, we tend to already prefer plant-forward meals while also taking pricing and sustainability into account.
Alcohol and its potential sugary mixers are also risk factors for chronic health conditions. It doesn’t mean that it can’t be enjoyed responsibly and safely in moderation, but higher consumption levels increase the risks. Limiting other sugary beverages like soda and coffee drinks should be considered as well. Note to self: less Starbucks, more water!
Tobacco causes short and long-term damage, including cardiovascular damage, cancer and potentially a nicotine addiction that can prolong usage. Oakland University is a smoke-free campus.
“You only benefit yourself, from the perspective of energy, brain functioning, good sleep and cardiovascular health through excessing,” Dr. Howard emphasized. For adults over the age of 18, 150 minutes of cardio activity (a brisk walk, jogging, swimming, etc.) is recommended a week along with two days a week of activities that strengthen muscles (lifting weights, climbing stairs, yoga, etc.). This doesn’t have to take place all at once. Try adding two or three short workout sessions a day. It adds up! That 10-minute walk to and from your car thanks to the joy that happens to be OU parking lots? Consider it part of your exercise routine.
These suggestions might seem like just the basics of good health practices, but developing healthy habits earlier in life is fundamental to long-term health and wellness.
If you have any questions or suggestions for future columns, email me: gabdelmessih@oakland. edu. My goal is to make “A Grizzly’s Guide to a Healthier Y(OU)” as helpful as it can be for the university community.
On-Campus Resources:
Golden Grizzlies Pantry
OU Counseling Center
Oakland University Recreation Center
Office for Student Involvement
editor in chief
A college schedule is a busy schedule. With all of the time spent interacting with a digital screen, whether for education, communication, or entertainment purposes or through utilizing books and other study aids, our eye health can be overlooked. I spoke to Dr. Joshua Vrabec, a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist at Michigan ophthalmology, about what college students can do to protect their short and long-term eye health.
Q: What are some of the factors that can contribute to poor eye health in college students? How can students protect their eyes?
A: The most common reason for permanent vision impairment in college-aged adults are injuries. Over 1 million eye injuries occur each year, and 90% of these are preventable. The most important way to protect your eyes is to wear safety glasses while working with machinery, power tools, or even hand tools. Another common cause of problems is wearing contact lenses too long, or worse, sleeping in your contacts. This can lead to cornea infections (ulcers) which can permanently impair vision for life. Young adults who have trouble maintaining good contact lens habits may want to consider laser vision correction such as LASIK.
Q: How often should one get their eyes checked?
A: It depends. If you have a medical problem like
diabetes or autoimmune disease, you should have your eyes examined once per year. Similarly, if you wear contacts, you should have your eyes checked annually to make sure the lenses are still fitting well to minimize complications. If you have none of the above, you should consider an eye exam once every five years.
Q: Why shouldn’t one sleep in their contact lenses?
A: Sleeping in contact lenses greatly reduces the oxygen absorption into the corneal epithelial cells, which causes them to more easily break down and become infected by bacteria. This leads to corneal inflammation (keratitis) or infection (ulcer). Treatment for ulcers can be very difficult, and may lead to permanent vision issues and may prevent you from having a vision correction procedure in the future.
Q: Does taking measures to ensure good eye health now have an impact on your future health? Is there anything else you think college students should know about their eye health?
A: Taking great care of your eyes now is an investment in your future. Sadly I have witnessed many examples of students whom have had tragic accidents that permanently impacted their vision. This can result in excluding you from certain careers in the military, aviation, and some medical fields. The vast majority of these tragic injuries could have been prevented simply by wearing eye protection, or being more careful with contact lens wear. I also get asked frequently about the dangers
of computer and phone screens, and so far the jury is still out. Generally, it’s a good idea to give your near focus mechanism (accommodation) frequent breaks to avoid eyestrain, but there has not been definitive benefit seen from computer or blue-light blocking glasses to date.
I also frequently get asked by college students about LASIK, and specifically whether it is safe. The answer is that yes, in the proper candidate, laser vision correction (particularly the most modern versions of the procedure) is incredibly precise and safe. It has been FDA-approved for over 20 years, and with can be a great way to free yourself from the inconveniences and costs of glasses and contacts. Anyone who has additional questions about laser vision correction or LASIK, including whether they might be a candidate, is welcome to contact our office at 248-710-2323 or contact us via our website: http://mieyedoc.com
Attention, all Swifties — Taylor Swift’s anticipated Eras Tour is finally upon us. After five long years of waiting, our concert queen is back. Did I get tickets? No. Will I be stalking every social media app for content? You bet I think about it.
Loverfest was canceled at the start of the pandemic. Because of that, it was only fitting Swift opened the Eras tour with her “Lover” album.
I didn’t expect her to open with one of her more recent albums. I honestly expected Taylor to open with her self-titled debut album or “Fearless.” I’m personally glad she opened with “Lover” — “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince” is one of my favorite songs of hers.
With all of the new music we’ve gotten from Swift since her last tour, not to mention her extensive catalog, many fans have been speculating which songs she’d perform. Now, we’ve got a seriously packed set list — the concerts are capped at a whopping three hours long.
I’m going to start with discussing her part of the show from my favorite album, “Reputation.” Swift looks like she never left her “Reputation” era — that black suit with the red looks amazing.
Her energy when performing anything from “Reputation” makes you want to get up and dance. “Don’t Blame Me” is one of the “Reputation” songs
I was begging for her to perform, and I got my wish. “Midnights,” being the most recent album, hasn’t been performed live yet. From that album, “AntiHero” was a must for me. To not only get that, but also “Vigilante Shit” (with huge Cell Block Tango vibes), “Bejeweled” and “Karma” is top tier. All of my favorites are on the set list, and I’m loving it.
song that she should always perform live — and of course, she is.
Can we talk about the costumes? The costume department was on point with this tour. Going through so many eras with different costumes, and they made her look unbelievable.
You can tell what album she’s about to perform based on the costume she’s wearing. My personal favorites are the “Speak Now” gown from night two and the “Midnights” dress.
“Folklore” and “Evermore” deserve to be heard live. Those two albums feature some of Swift’s best work, and they’re fictional albums. It’s so cool to see them — especially Evermore — get the live performance treatment they deserve.
I’m really excited that people are doing live streams online. The next few months of tour content are going to be pandemonium for all Swift fans, and I can’t wait to see what she has planned for the future shows.
“Blank Space” from her “1989” album is one of my favorite all-time Swift songs. I was really glad to see that on the setlist.
“You Belong With Me” from “Fearless” can never be taken off the set list. It’s such a nostalgic
For almost 100 years, the Detroit Lions have consistently been one of the worst franchises in sports.
There’s no debating it. It’s as much a fact as two plus two equals four is.
It’s been seven years since the Lions made it to the playoffs, 32 years since they won a playoff game, and infinite years since they’ve been to or won a Super Bowl, because it’s never happened.
The aforementioned playoff win is the only postseason victory Detroit has boasted in the Super Bowl era, which dates back to 1967.
There are middle-aged Detroiters who are likely married, have kids and are well on their way to saving up for retirement but have never been alive for a Detroit Lions playoff victory.
It’s been one of the worst 70-year stretches for any sports team.
But is the tribulation on the brink of conclusion?
Does one of the most loyal fan bases in the sport actually have something to get excited about?
Will the Lions be… dare I say… good?
It sure seems that way.
Head coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have implemented a new culture, which, at first, Lions fans struggled to get excited about. Why should they be excited? The team hasn’t given fans any logical reason for optimism in decades.
The franchise has had 12 coaches coach in at least one game since the turn of the millennium, many of whom have promised to bring in their own culture. Spoiler alert: none of them worked.
But there’s something uniquely different about the Campbell-Holmes culture. I don’t know if it’s the ‘grit’
shirts or the fact that Campbell does conditioning drills with the team, but it seems to be working.
After a 4-19-1 start for Campbell in his first 24 games as the head coach — including a 1-6 start in 2022 — fans once again began to repulsively utter the phrase “same, old Lions.”
But Campbell and the Lions flipped a switch that, perhaps, has never been flipped in the franchise’s history.
Detroit won six of its next seven games and eight of its last 10 to finish off the 2022 season. It was still in serious playoff contention heading into Week 18, which is about all you can hope for as a Lions fan.
The Lions narrowly missed the playoffs, but for fans, beating Aaron Rodgers in, perhaps, his last game at Lambeau Field (will he ever make a decision on what to do next?) was a gleeful consolation prize.
Making the playoffs never seemed like a realistic outcome for the 2022 Detroit Lions (especially after the 1-6 start), but the impressive turnaround is
what has Lions fans so giddy for 2023.
That, and the masterful signings that Holmes has made recently.
One of the biggest weaknesses on the team heading into 2023 has now become an area of strength as Holmes signed defensive backs Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley.
Holmes identified an area of weakness and fixed it.
But then, last Sunday night, Holmes struck another deal with one of the top remaining free agents in a deal that probably made you do a double take.
Stud safety and former Eagle C.J. GardnerJohnson signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Lions, and a secondary that was bound to be solid became one that should give opposing offenses headaches.
And don’t forget the four top-55 draft picks that Holmes can play with, too. The Lions can quite literally do whatever they want in this year’s NFL Draft. Trade up? They can (and should) do it. Trade down? They can do that, too.
Stay at pick No. 6 and make your selection? Once again, they can do it.
The Lions are appearing on many lists of the top 10 NFL teams for the upcoming 2023 season, and they’re not just on the list of your season-ticket-holding, Dan Campbell-idolizing buddy at the work office.
No.
These are real, paid analysts who project the Lions to be a top-10 team in the NFL.
A lot will be unveiled during the NFL Draft weekend in late April, but the Detroit Lions are poised for a run at the NFC North title, which means they would host a playoff game.
Just imagine the eruption from a desperate fan base after decades of agony.
The Oakland softball team split its two-game series with Northern Kentucky over the weekend. Strong pitching from Sydney Campbell helped Oakland to the win in game one.
With Campbell’s win in game one, she became the program’s all-time leader in wins.
Oakland opened the Horizon League series against Northern Kentucky with a big 3-1 victory on Friday afternoon. Campbell secured her fifth win of the season in the pitcher’s circle, and it was a strong effort all around from head coach Lauren Karn’s team.
The Norse got the scoring started in the third inning after a hitless first two innings from both sides. Campbell allowed the first hit of the game in the top of the third inning, and it came in the form of a leadoff double from Charly Koehler.
Two batters later, Northern Kentucky’s Ella LeMonier singled, bringing Koehler home for the first run of the game.
Campbell worked her way out of the third-inning jam, and the Golden Grizzlies wasted no time in scoring a run of their own. In the home half of the third inning, redshirt junior Jen Krizka doubled, and
sophomore Madi Herrington scored on the play.
Oakland couldn’t plate any other Golden Grizzlies in the bottom of the third inning, and the teams entered the fourth inning tied, once again.
The pitcher’s duel resumed in the fourth inning, but in the bottom of the fifth, Oakland threatened again. Krizka and Herrrington both got on base, and senior Reese Ruhlman tripled, bringing both Krizka and Herrington around to score. Ruhlman’s triple gave Oakland a 3-1 lead, which was all Campbell needed.
The Golden Grizzlies won the series opener, 3-1. Game 2
The second game of the series didn’t go as Oakland had hoped. Sophomore pitcher Mia Konyvka got the start in the pitcher’s circle, but Northern Kentucky had her number.
Oakland struck first in the bottom of the first inning as junior outfielder Allisa DiPrima stole home, but it was all Norse from then on out.
It took until the fourth inning, but Northern Kentucky took the lead in triumphant fashion with a three-run home run. The Norse then added three more runs in the top of the fifth and two more in the seventh inning to put Oakland away, 8-1.
The loss was Oakland’s eighth of the season overall and its second in Horizon League play. Game 3
The third game of the series between the two Horizon League foes was canceled due to poor field conditions at the OU Softball Field. The game was scheduled to be played on Sunday afternoon, but some winter weather conditions hit town late on Saturday night, forcing the game to be canceled.
Oakland now sits at 6-8 overall for the season and 2-2 in conference play. It will head to Ann Arbor on Wednesday to take on Michigan at Ray Fisher Stadium.
After its one-game series with Michigan, Oakland will head south to battle Youngstown State in a three-game series before it takes on another in-state Big Ten opponent in Michigan State on April 4.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGESOAKLAND UNIVERSITY’S SUMMER PAYMENT DUE DATE: APRIL 15
Students who do not pay their balances in full or sign-up for a payment plan (and make the required installment(s)) may be dropped from classes and University housing (if applicable), and may be subject to late payment penalties and registration holds.
If you have questions or are experiencing circumstances that may prevent you from paying your account balance, please contact Student Financial Services at (248) 370-2550. We are ready to support you and help with your financial aid and billing options.
LEARN how to avoid cancellation (drop) at oakland.edu/financialservices/payments-refunds/payments-cancellation