The Oakland Post 10.11.23

A Trusted Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987.

Volume 49 l Issue 4 l October 11, 2023

FIRE TRUCK PULL

STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY

PAGE 6

PAGE 10-11

OU RecWell hosts competition to raise food pantry donations PHOTO BY KATIE RIED

Highlights from the previous academic year

DETROIT TRIBUTE

Miguel Cabrera retires from baseball after legendary career PAGE 19

2 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

EDITORIAL BOARD Arianna Heyman Editor-in-Chief aheyman@oakland.edu Autumn Okuszka Content Editor aokuszka@oakland.edu Megan Parker Managing Editor meganparker@oakland.edu

EDITORS

Lindsey Sobkowski Photo Editor lsobkowski@oakland.edu Brock Heilig Sports Editor brockheilig@oakland.edu Payton Bucki Features Editor paytonbucki@oakland.edu Olivia Chiappelli Arts Editor oechiappelli@oakland.edu

BODIES IN PROTEST Oakland University’s Dance Department’s Repertory Dance Company

MARKETING

hosted their fourth annual Bodies in Protest event at Elliott Tower.

PHOTO BY KATIE RIED

Evelyn Gandarilla Marketing Director evelyngandarill@oakland.edu

DISTRIBUTION Rory Strachen Distribution Director

oaklandpostonline.com

Zachary Oberdier Distribution

COPY & VISUAL

ADVERTISING

REPORTERS

ADVISING

Courtney Blackett Photographer

Brian Einowski Ads Director

Chelsea Bossert Reporter

Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser gjgilber@oakland.edu 248.370.2105

Katie Reid Photographer

Barret Schettler Graphic Designer

Christopher Udeozor-Nweke Graphic Designer Sean Whitaker Graphic Designer Megan Judy Graphic Designer

ads@oaklandpostonline.com Talia Agee Ads Assistant

Chloe Kukuk Reporter Kurt Szymanski Reporter Summer Weathers Reporter Noah Francis Reporter Noah Thompson Reporter Ana Gjorgjevski Reporter Moe Del Rosario Reporter

CORRECTIONS CORNER: The Oakland Post corrects all known errors of fact. If you know of an error, please email editor@oaklandpostonline.com.

Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu 248.370.2533

CAMPUS

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 3

FAFSA and OU scholarships delayed until December AUTUMN OKUSZKA Content Editor

Providing financial aid to students in need, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) usually opens on Oct. 1 – but not this year. Through the FAFSA Simplification Act, the 2024-25 FAFSA will not arrive until Dec. 2023 with discernable differences.

Changes include fewer application questions – from 108 to 36 – and a more streamlined process with privacy features. Another adjustment is expanding federal student aid eligibility and replacing the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) metric with the Student Aid Index (SAI).

“The SAI is similar to the EFC,” the FAFSA Simplification Act states. “Both metrics are a dollar amount that synthesizes personal and financial characteristics to estimate the ability of an applicant to pay for postsecondary education.”

However, a student’s SAI can be as low as -$1,500, whereas a student’s EFC cannot.

These changes to the FAFSA may seem intimidating, but Nicole Boelk, director of Student Financial Services at OU, believes students will find these adjustments beneficial.

“What [Federal Student Aid is] indicating is that nationally, this change in the formula of the FAFSA is going to result in more students receiving more financial aid funding,” Boelk said. “Potentially, we’re going to see students who have never thought they could qualify for financial aid perhaps become eligible for some type of financial aid funding.”

The changes to the FAFSA process don’t stop there. Due to the application’s delay, Boelk says

students can expect to receive financial aid offers later than they typically would.

“We typically send out financial aid offers to incoming students before the holiday break [and] returning students after the holiday break.

That timeline is going to have to change,” Boelk said. “We are hoping by mid-spring – so end of March, beginning of April – we are hoping to be able to produce financial aid offers before folks leave for summer.”

While students may have had more wiggle room with the release of the FAFSA in Oct., Boelk recommends students complete the new application as soon as it’s released.

“We need you to do that FAFSA right away in December when it becomes available… to get those financial aid offers out as quickly as we can, ”

Boelk said.

As OU’s Annual Scholarship Application usually opens the same day as the FAFSA, Student Financial Services is delaying the process until Dec. 1, with applications closing on March 1, 2024.

While the FAFSA will likely return to its Oct. 1 opening next year, Boelk says Student Financial Services is currently evaluating the best time to open the Annual Scholarship Application in future years.

“The majority of our students don’t apply until the last week before the deadline,” Boelk said.

“Every year, we evaluate what timeframe we should use with the OU Annual Scholarship process. We’ll make people aware of the change if there’s going to be one in the future.”

Though the format of the FAFSA will be different, Boelk says the importance of the application is still the same. She refers to the FAFSA as “the gateway to financial aid” and states not filling out the application prevents students from seeing what assistance they could receive.

“We’re encouraging everyone to submit a FAFSA,” Boelk said.

Student Financial Services has more information regarding the changes to the FAFSA and the OU Annual Scholarship Application on their website.

After the 2024-25 FAFSA is released, they will host small group workshops for those who need help filling out the form.

Student Financial Services is in North Foundation Hall, Room 120. Students can contact them by phone at (248) 370-2550 or by email at finservices@oakland.edu.

PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT

OUSC hosts Campus Dining Town Hall, addresses Hillcrest Dining Hall hours CHLOE KUKUK Campus Reporter

On Oct. 2, the Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC) hosted a Campus Dining Town Hall meeting on Oct. 2 in the Habitat in light of recent controversies regarding dining options on campus.

The discussion featured panelists Robert King, senior director of University Housing; Chris Reed, director of the Oakland Center; Bella Levitt, director of the Golden Grizzlies Pantry; Evol Gazzarato, resident district manager of OU Eats; Fay Hansen, director of the Student Organic Farm; and Jacqui

PHOTO COURTSEY OF JOHN D’ANGELO

Moore, marketing manager of OU Eats. “[We held this] because we were hearing about the dining hall hour change, we were trying to think of ways to engage students and to show administration that this is something that students care about,” OUSC President Murryum Farooqi said. “That’s why we had people submitting questions, testimonials…that’s why we had this. To create evidence of what real students care about.”

Among the topics discussed was the rationale behind a meal swipe plan instead of charging students for each meal, the possibility of adding more meal plan options with different ratios of declining dollars to meal swipes and the quality and healthiness of the food options available on campus.

However, the most mentioned topic was the dining hours at Hillcrest Dining Hall. Currently, the dining hall operates under reduced hours that do not allow students to eat breakfast or dinner at the location.

Student Kaeli Lowe said this poses an issue for many students due to their majors and class schedules.

“Sometimes, we don’t have the chance to walk over to Vandenberg and to walk back, especially for dinner,” Lowe said. “If we only have 30 minutes between our classes, I can’t necessarily make the walk to Vandenberg and back and have a meal, so I’m kind of forced to use my declining points.”

“We’re definitely trying to understand the class schedule. I’ve heard from a lot of students that they have later classes,” Gazzarato said.

“That’s definitely something we have to take into

consideration going forward.”

Gazzarato cited that in the 2023-2024 academic year, the number of students living on campus is still down approximately 1,000 since pre-pandemic.

King said illustrating the benefits of living at OU will be the key to addressing the on-campus housing issue and, by association, the current lack of demand for on-campus dining.

“The biggest thing for housing is we have to better show the value of living on campus. We have to be transparent about how students perform academically,” King said. “This year, we did bring in a significantly bigger first-year class. The idea for us is to retain these students.”

Gazzarato said OU Eats is working towards readjusting the hours but it will take time to “pivot.”

“We’re working towards it. When the decision was made for what the hours were going to be… we spent the entire summer [planning] that. So to turn around and pivot very quickly — it takes some time,” Gazzarato said.

“We can’t just all of a sudden change the hours to whatever that might be, so we’re taking staffing and menu planning and all that stuff into consideration. We’re working hard to get to that point. Unfortunately, I don’t have a solid time [for when the hours will change].”

King said he hopes that the two-way conversation between students and the dining hall staff will continue.

(Continue on our website)

CAMPUS

4 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

“Bloody Sunday” activists visit OU to discuss voting rights ARIANNA HEYMAN

in a prison for four days –– their parents having no idea

Editor-in-Chief

where they were. Moore and Holt were only 14 and 16

Nearly a century after the end of the civil war, the fight for equality was still raging in America’s southern states. The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 had done little to ensure that Black Americans had the right to vote. This was particularly true in Alabama where African Americans comprised more than half of the state population, but only accounted for 2% of registered voters.

As tensions continued to rise in Alabama, civil rights leaders wanted to take their cause directly to Alabama Governor George Wallace, and planned a march from Selma to the capital city of Montgomery.

Led by a young Senator John Lewis, 600 demonstrators marched through Selma, but as they crossed over the infamous Edmund Pettus Bridge, they noticed imminent danger on the other side.

State troopers, county deputies, and deputized white civilians met the protestors with billy clubs, whips, cow prods and tear gas. The showdown was captured on cameras and broadcast across the nation.

Americans were horrified at the abject cruelty of “Bloody Sunday,” and the local march instantly became a watershed moment in the fight for civil rights.

Since that day in 1965, the fight has continued and the message of the movement was brought to Oakland University (OU) on Sept. 19, 2023 when sisters Alice Moore and Denise Holt, two of the foot soldiers who marched on that fateful day, visited OU to speak on the importance of voting rights in America.

During the event, which was moderated by Carolyn Clifford of WXYZ-TV/Channel 7, with closing remarks from Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, the sisters described their involvement in the fight for civil rights to a captivated audience.

Moore and Holt stated that their fight started before the weekend of “Bloody Sunday.” They spoke of one incident where they were previously arrested and kept

at the time.

“They did it because we did not obey their rules –– ‘stop marching, go home,’” Holt said. “They were telling us to go home [and] being teenagers, being kids [we] were defiant. We were not going to go home, we were out here for a purpose and we were going to continue to do what we set out to do, and that was to make it possible for our parents and the seniors to get registered to vote.”

Moore and Holt were motivated to join in the movement because they had seen their parents publicly humiliated at the polls due to the impossible voter suppression tactics in Alabama.

“They couldn’t count the jelly beans in the jar, they couldn’t vote,” Moore said. “They couldn’t name every county in Alabama, they couldn’t vote. Everything, anything, that they could [do to] steer them away so they couldn’t vote –– so they would come back. They kept going, but there was something new every time they went to vote.”

Their efforts to secure the right to vote culminated in their participation in the Selma march on that infamous March day. They described the horror of crossing the bridge and encountering the violent authorities on the other side.

“It was the drug store owner, the grocery store owner, the clothing store owner –– anybody in the city that did not look like us was recruited to get on these horses with the whips, the cow prod and then now the tear gas.

When we walked across that bridge –– the tear gas it was horrific. It seemed like I got a full blast of it and the next thing I remember after crossing over the bridge –– there were two young men that had me by my arms dragging me near the water to get away from all of the smoke from the tear gas.”

Moore described that she and Holt were closer to the front lines and once exposed to the tear gas, she became separated from her sister.

Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson delivers closing remarks at the OU event on Sept. 19, 2023.

“I ran myself down to the water and laid down until I could see and come to again. All of these men that were there, all deputized by the law, but they were not really law enforcement –– they were deputized to do this job that they did on us, so when I came to I had no idea where Denise was at that time. All I could do was cry. I cried and I got very very angry. I don’t remember ever getting that angry before, but what I said in my anger and I said it, I spoke it –– that ‘I will fight more,’ and that’s why we were there for the second and the third march.”

When reflecting on their experiences in Selma, Moore and Holt find striking similarities between the situation in Alabama in the 1960’s and the worrying trend of voter suppression in the United States today.

“It is worse now when it comes to getting people to vote or registering people to vote than it was back decades ago when we were fighting for our parents to vote,” Holt said. “They couldn’t vote. You can. You are able to register to vote even though there are a lot of things out there, a lot of obstacles being thrown in our way to try and keep us from voting –– if you don’t have a valid driver’s license, if you don’t have a passport, if you don’t have this –– anything that they can come up with now today to keep you from voting they’re throwing it at you. Don’t let it stop you from getting out there, registered and going to the poll. They can’t tell you ‘you can’t vote’ like they told my mother and father. I’m telling you today you can vote, you must vote, you should vote.”

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OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 5

Key details from OUPD’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report CHLOE KUKUK Campus Reporter

The Oakland University Police Department (OUPD) recently distributed its 2022 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report to the student body, faculty and staff via email on Sept. 28.

OU has garnered a reputation for its safety — in 2020, they were ranked third in the nation for safety in a study by YourLocalSecurity.com and the safest college campus in Michigan based on hate crime, property crime, violent crime and violence against women statistics.

The OUPD’s report includes information regarding OU’s security and safety resources, policies and procedures and fire and crime statistics from 2022. This is provided in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy & Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (Clery Act).

All policies and procedures included in the report apply to OU’s main campus in Rochester, OU’s Anton/Frankel Center in Mt. Clemens, and the Macomb University Center in Clinton Township. Crime statistics for each location are reported separately.

Crime statistics In 2022, OU’s main campus saw a decline in stalking, fondling, burglary, motor vehicle theft and drug law violation arrests from the previous year.

There was an uptick in rape reports for 2022, with five reports as opposed to 2021’s three. In 2020, there were 10 reports.

2022 also saw a sharp increase in liquor law

violation referrals from 19 to 30. This contrasts the decline in drug law violation referrals from 14 to 0.

No hate crimes were reported in 2022.

As in previous years, there were no reports of murder, negligent manslaughter, robbery and arson.

There were also no arrests made for illegal weapons from 2020 through 2022.

Individuals are encouraged to use OUPD’s main phone number to report any crimes and emergencies taking place on campus at (248) 370-3331. On campus phones, the number is 911.

Fire statistics There were two fire reports on campus in 2022. Both occurred in Hillcrest Hall and were unintentional and resulted in no injuries or deaths.

Property damage did not exceed $100.

All on-campus housing facilities have smoke detection devices, fire extinguishers and evacuation plans posted in the building. All housing facilities have sprinkler systems except the George T. Matthews Townhomes, which also lack partial sprinkler systems.

In the coming year, the university plans to upgrade the fire alarm systems in several buildings on the main campus, including the Recreational Athletics Center, the Police and Support Services Building and the John Dodge House.

Prevention and awareness programs In 2022, OU hosted several prevention and awareness programs for its students. These programs include, but are not limited to: Healthy Relationships Workshop; Title IX Training; Sexual Assault & Healthy Relationships; Dating Violence, Stalking, Bystander; S’Mores & Safe Sex and Sexual Violence Training.

No programs for employees were hosted during the year.

Emergency alerts OU students and employees are encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts that notify them of any incidents that may represent a threat.

To sign up, visit https://oakland.edu/alerts and click on the section that says “Alerts for Students and Employees.” The form requires your name, Grizzly ID number and OU email address.

Emergency alerts are also sent via email, posted on the OU home page and broadcasted through both OUPD and OU social media accounts.

Physical copies of the annual report can be accessed by request at the Oakland University Police Department in the PSS Building. OUPD can be reached at info@oupolice.com with any questions, comments, or concerns.

PHOTO BY DONGFU HAN

OU Counseling Center aims to address staffing shortage CHLOE KUKUK Campus Reporter

Following a recent suicide attempt by a student, the Oakland University Counseling Center (OUCC) is now seeking funding to address a longstanding staffing shortage during a semester with high demand for services.

Last semester, the OUCC’s singular dedicated administrative position — which handles the front desk and office management — was cut with little consultation. To rectify this, a bell was placed at the desk for students to ring to receive assistance.

Dr. David Schwartz, director of the OUCC, said this position was critical for students seeking assistance.

“It was really great to have someone up front that could do an initial [screening] with [students],” Schwartz said. “Having a front desk person is really important because you need somebody to be able to greet people, to make sure they’re put on a waitlist, that there isn’t anything more urgent.

“Imagine being in a situation where you’re reaching out for help, and you’re in crisis. It takes a lot of courage to make that decision to go to the counseling center and ask for help,” he added. “I just can’t imagine how utterly defeating and frustrating and just disappointing it could be to come in that moment and all of the sudden be greeted with a sign.”

Schwartz’s concern was that students in crisis

may not be thinking clearly enough to follow the steps on the sign on how to reach out.

These concerns became a reality the week of Sept. 18 when a student came in seeking help, attempted to follow the steps provided on the sign and was unable to receive support. Later, that student made a serious suicide attempt.

This garnered attention across campus, including from the Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC), which put out a statement on Sept. 22 via Instagram regarding the issue.

“The Counseling Center has reported that students in crisis are needlessly suffering (with increasing severity) during a semester where there has already been an increase in students

PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT

in crisis seeking help,” OUSC said. “OUSC calls on the University to immediately hire additional staff for the Counseling Center to fulfill current demand and implement unlimited free counseling sessions.”

Although Schwartz said he was happy to see the quick response from administrators — he was invited to present at the Faculty Senate and immediately granted permission to hire graduate students to staff the front desk part-time — it is a temporary fix to a grander problem.

The staffing shortage is nothing new — the OUCC has the highest staff-to-student ratio of any other college counseling center in Michigan, with nearly double the number of students per full-time staff member that the state averages.

To rectify this, Schwartz has submitted a proposal to “ambitiously” increase the size of the OUCC. “This is a three-year proposal. Right away, we would be hiring a full-time attendant, and over the course of three years, we would be adding two or three positions a year,” Schwartz said.

Despite the proposal’s $830,000 cost, Schwartz’s calculation of return on investment through the University of Michigan yielded savings of $2.1 million through student retention and recruitment.

However, Schwartz’s focus isn’t on the monetary component — his focus is on saving lives and contributing to student success first and foremost.

(Contiune on our website)

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6 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

RecWell hosts fire truck pull competition to raise food pantry donations CHLOE KUKUK Campus Reporter

Oakland University Recreation and Well-Being (RecWell) recently hosted a fire truck pull competition on Sept. 27 to raise nearly 100 pounds of food and toiletries donations for the OU community.

Students, faculty and staff participated in teams of five or fewer to pull an idle 60,000-pound fire truck — provided by the Auburn Hills Fire Department — 75 feet by a rope. For safety purposes, a member of the fire department was inside the vehicle at all times. Each team was allowed two attempts to get the best time.

To participate, each team member was asked to bring at least one item to donate to the Golden Grizzlies Pantry, located in the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) in the Oakland Center. Other donors provided additional items to involve students who may not have had the ability to contribute an entry fee.

Cortney Heileman, assistant director of fitness and well-being, said she wanted to host an event like this for a long time.

“We had a lot of support on this one, and we’re hoping to raise some good donations for the pantry…

It’s a really unique thing,” Heileman said. “It’s a

great experience for [people] to do something fun and promote physical health, but also have a really supportive community here on campus.”

The team to pull the truck the quickest would receive a prize — and if the winning team was a club sports team, they would receive $500 in additional funding.

Among the club sports teams that participated were Ballroom Dance, Football and Swim & Dive — the latter won the competition with a time of 17.44 seconds.

For student Beau Schultz, the reason for participating was simple — it was a chance to try something unique.

He added that he appreciated the “friendly competition.” “[The food drive] is obviously a great cause, but

what really triggered my interest was pulling a truck,” Schultz said. “That’s cool…I’m always good to give some cans, but cans for a truck pull? I mean, please, how often do you get to pull a fire truck?”

Student David Mercier said he decided to participate in the truck pull event in hopes of receiving the money for the Tennis Club at OU. “Not only did we get to help donate the cans, but [that money would] allow us to compete in more tournaments, so more experiences for everyone,” Mercier said.

Although this is the first time RecWell has hosted the event, Heileman said she hopes to make it an annual fundraiser.

“I’ve had it in the back of my mind for a couple years to do this, and this is the first year that we were able to get it all together and make it work,” she said.

“We’re grateful for the Auburn Hills Fire Department for partnering with us on this.

“We’re hoping from here on out that it’ll be an annual event to raise awareness for the pantry.”

Any individuals interested in donating items to the pantry can drop them off directly at the pantry or schedule an appointment for drop-off online.

PHOTO BY KATIE REID

OU’s Bodies in Protest bring women’s empowerment to Elliott Tower OLIVIA CHIAPPELLI Arts Editor

On Friday, Oct. 6, Oakland University’s Dance Department’s Repertory Dance Company hosted their fourth annual Bodies in Protest event at Elliott Tower.

The event was originally created in response to the social unrest and political dialogue that emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, and has since evolved to incorporate a wide breadth of protest and activism.

“The very first event was about reproductive rights, last year was about water politics — with water conservation themes. We’ve titled [the event] the same every year as ‘Bodies in Protest,’ which is kind of a very general wide open umbrella that you can spin off into any subject with,” Director of OU’s Repertory Dance Company Thayer Jonutz said.

Bodies in Protest uses the medium of dance as a form of activism — a departure from its usual purpose of entertainment and creativity. As a student-run company, the performances are completely conceptualized and choreographed by students — under the direction and guidance of Jonutz.

Because of its quick development at the start of

each semester — and its unique location on campus — the event has to be approached differently than a fully produced dance piece for the traditional concert dance space.

The performers also have complete creative freedom when it comes to deciding what topic they are passionate about to represent through their performance, with this year’s ensemble of five reaching the unanimous decision to represent women’s rights and empowerment.

“Something that kept coming up in discussion was our personal experiences as women of various backgrounds — we have mothers in this group, we have women of color, we have women of all different religions and ethnic backgrounds and cultures,” sophomore dance major Aliyah Spears said.

Through this theme, the dancers wanted to pay homage to their different backgrounds, and find a way to do all of them justice as individuals. They felt an innate connection as women, but wanted to celebrate their unity while also honoring their diversity.

The Bodies in Protest performance on Friday incorporated a voice-over component that was a composition of speeches, spoken word and exclamations that all revolved around women. Narrations of daily

routines, stories in different languages and empowering affirmations gripped the audience and echoed throughout Elliott Tower.

“My guidance involves saying, ‘Consider using this improvisational structure versus trying to choreograph every little detail with each other.’ I think with any kind of protest there is energy and meaning and symbolism, so I try to input that too in [the dancer’s] thought process[es] and creativity — that’s how the end circling and inviting the audience came about too,” Jonutz said.

The performance ended with the dancers inviting the audience to join their parade around the clock tower, symbolizing a physical representation of solidarity among waves of students passively walking by.

“We hope that the audience is able to see through a clearer lens how important it is to celebrate women and to uplift women as individuals. But also how it is just as important to build community and unity through all of that, and just support the women around you because women really do help the world go round,” Spears said.

FEATURES

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 7

OU’s first graduating class celebrates its 60th class reunion PAYTON BUCKI Features Editor

From Sept. 28 to 29, members of Oakland University’s first graduating class gathered on campus grounds to celebrate their 60th class reunion. The Charter Class members were invited to take part in numerous festivities organized in their honor.

The festivities began on the evening of Sept.

28, with a reunion dinner hosted at the historical Meadow Brook Hall. Upon arrival, the Charter Class members mingled with their former classmates.

Together, the classmates browsed through photos and yearbooks from their college days, gleefully sharing memories.

“It was survival of the fittest once we began classes,” Charter Class member Susan Hubbard said.

“Matilda Dodge Wilson wanted to make our school the ‘Harvard of the Midwest.’ One could say we were the strongest-willed students out of the bunch.”

Hubbard recounted the atmosphere of the campus back in her time, recognizing the OU campus has long since expanded beyond its infancy. The university was a mere three buildings large when it first opened.

“When I began as a student, there was nothing to do besides classes and homework,” Hubbard said. “So, we had to build the culture [of the school] ourselves.”

Beverly Miller, another Charter Class member, remembers having many wonderful experiences throughout her college career.

“We had a grand time, even though the university was quite young,” Miller said. “For our last year, we had a Senior Prom at Meadow Brook Hall. We wore fancy dresses for the evening and ate breakfast on the lawn of the mansion the next morning.”

Miller recalls how her son, also an OU graduate, was

able to experience her favorite memory for himself.

“I was so pleased that my son was also able to spend the evening at Meadow Brook Hall when he was an OU student,” Miller said. “He entered a lottery to win tickets to the ball. He ended up winning two tickets and was able to enjoy the night with his girlfriend.”

Miller was delighted when informed OU hosts a ball at Meadow Brook Hall each year.

“It is such a unique opportunity that Oakland University is able to provide,” Miller said. “The students will cherish their memories at the ball for a lifetime.”

Mary Jo Ahern, a Charter Class member, assisted the Charter Class Committee in planning the night’s festivities. The tenacious alumnus has built quite an extensive legacy.

“Both my daughters went to Oakland, and my granddaughter is now a junior at the school,” Ahern said.

“I reside close by the school, right in Auburn Hills.”

According to the Charter Class yearbook, OU’s philosophy was grounded in hard work and scholarship. Students were expected to dedicate one-half of their time to liberal arts studies. This rigorous curriculum was intended to equip students with the capacity for lifelong learning.

The intentions of OU’s founders — Alfred Wilson and Matilda Dodge Wilson — were undoubtedly engrained in the spirits of the Charter Class members. The alumni enjoyed fruitful careers, ranging from teaching to legal work.

As the evening progressed, Charter Class members were invited to the mansion’s ballroom to prepare for dinner. Preceding the meal, OU President Ora Pescovitz provided welcoming remarks. Pescovitz began by recapping the State of the University address she gave earlier in the day.

“If you take the chance to walk around campus this weekend, you will be blown away by how much

it has changed,” Pescovitz said.

President Pescovitz informed the attendees about recent projects completed on campus, the thriving OU Athletics department and the wide array of organizations available to students. She reminded the Charter Class they were the pioneers that made the OU’s successes of today possible.

“Today, Oakland University is no longer a hidden gem,” Pescovitz said. “We are just a gem. Oakland University is proudly a pillar institution in Michigan.”

Pescovitz asked the crowd to spend the weekend taking in the beauty of the current state of the university. She thanked the Charter Class for returning to OU for the weekend and invited the alumni to her home at Sunset Terrace for their 65th class reunion.

Following President Pescovitz’s remarks, the crowd enjoyed dinner as Dominque Daniel, an archivist at OU’s Kresge Library, provided the feature presentation, “Preserving Your Legacy.”

Daniel displayed photos and documents for the Charter Class, encouraging the members to reminisce their memories about their college years.

Following the reunion dinner, Charter Class members were invited back to campus on the morning of Sept. 29 to enjoy a continental breakfast and campus tour. The hour-long tour guided the alumni around campus, allowing them to experience the current state of the much-evolved university.

Following the tour, Susan Hubbard made one last stop at the life-sized statue of Matilda Dodge Wilson.

“She [Wilson] sure made it hard on us, but it was a really rewarding experience,” Hubbard said. “I am proud to have contributed to Oakland University’s legacy as a first-class graduate.”

The Charter Class members and all other OU alumni will be invited back to OU’s campus from Oct. 13 to 14 to celebrate OU Alumni Reunion Weekend.

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FEATURES

8 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

The grizzly gamers of OU NOAH FRANCIS Features Reporter

The concept of esports dates back to the 1980s with competitions for games such as Space Invaders and Donkey Kong. Esports has evolved throughout the years to become a hit phenomenon. As more engaging, competitive games continue to be released, spectators may gather to cheer for esports events just as much as a soccer or basketball game.

Carl Leone has been Oakland University’s esports head coach since March 2020. Leone explains his coaching style as the varsity team begins its fourth competitive season.

“I run five different teams across four games,” Leone said. “We got Rocket League, Smash [Super Smash Bros Ultimate], League of Legends and Overwatch. We have two Smash teams.”

Esports are exciting to watch in person, but platforms such as Twitch have made streaming a more accessible way to view such events. Leone explains why the OU esports team livestreams their matches on the team’s Twitch account.

“We stream two matches a week,” Leone said. “If we have five teams playing every week, that would be madness to try to stream them all. Two a week kind of varies which game we do by the week, but we give everybody their own spotlight.”

Leone goes on to explain how other students can get involved.

“The nice part about the broadcast is that it actually

gives us a chance to have students get involved,” Leone said. “There’s a lot of gamers on campus that can’t really engage or be official members of the team, so we reach out with programs like Rocket League tournaments to engage with those students so they can have a good time and enjoy it.

“Also with the broadcast, it’s an opportunity for students to come in and cast matches, lend their voice and get a little bit of experience if they want to work in esports later,” Leone added.

Leone explains what technology they have access to for the team.

“The Grizz Den upgraded and built out the space,” Leone said. “We have 28 high-end Alienware PCs that

were brand new last year. They’ve got [RTX] 3070s in them, and i7s, which are top of the line at the time and still really good high-end PCs.” While standard computers have relatively good components, Leone mentions how the back-row PCs are even better.

“In the back row, they are 360 hertz, which is a much higher tech monitor,” Leone said. “Our Rocket League players love playing on those. Our philosophy is that we get the highest tech so that our players can just worry about playing at the highest level and not have to worry about tech issues.”

Leone explains how flawless the internet is for teams, even in such a high-traffic area as the Oakland Center.

“The other nice thing is that we’re on gigabit internet here, so we never have internet issues,” Leone said.

“All of these PCs are on their own private network, so nobody else can get on the network. This allows us to do a lot of fun things with the broadcast, but also so that we don’t get DDoS or anything like that. I don’t want to take credit for it because Chris Reid and the Oakland Center pioneered it. I just helped push the vision in the right direction.”

For students interested in following Oakland esports throughout their competitive season or wanting to get involved with the team, visit the team’s OU webpage or Linktree for all of their platforms.

PHOTO BY STANLEY TU

The National Residence Hall Honorary: A re-emerging student organization NOAH FRANCIS Features Reporter

Students living on Oakland University’s campus may want to think twice about tossing their pop-can tabs. For Oct., residential hall front desks will be accepting popcan tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

This competition is hosted by the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), a campus organization that has been reestablished at Oakland University this year.

The NRHH is an organization advocating for the interests and welfare of students living within the residence halls. Pedro Marin, the advisor for OU’s NRHH branch, explains more about what the organization is all about.

“NRHH focuses on two values — recognition and service,” Marin said. “So, we’d like to recognize our campus community and local community, and we’d like to serve our campus community and our local community.”

While the organization has been on hiatus since 2020, the group is making its triumphant return with this charity event. Stephanie Goleski, the president of OU’s NRHH branch, explains more about the event.

“We’re doing a pop can tab drive, and it’s going on from October 1 to October 31,” Goleski said.

“It’s more of a passive program. A lot of people have extracurriculars, so we figured that this would be really great because it’s just a drop-off program. At the end of the month, the hall that has the greatest amount of tabs will win a cider and donut party.”

Pop can tab drives are very popular, as the tabs can

be recycled and turned into a financial sum for each pound collected. The proceeds collected from this event will go towards the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Marin explains what Ronald McDonald House Charities are and how NRHH has been involved with their organization.

“All those donations are being sent to the Ronald McDonald House,” Marin said. “They’re a pretty cool organization that helps children that go through terminal diseases. A lot of other [NRHH] chapters in the region help with Ronald McDonald House through their events, like pop can drives or pop tab drives.

“It’s our first time for OU specifically, but it’s not new for NRHH.” Community service events are no stranger to NRHH, as they are also planning on doing a couple each semester. Marin talks about some events NRHH has done in the past.

“Service projects that we’ve done in the past are dog toy making for a local shelter, and we’ve made blankets for people who need access to those blankets,” Marin said. “We also have typically gone into the community as well to do service hours at specific locations, like nursing homes or at soup kitchens.”

While their main goal is to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, NRHH is doing this event to help put themselves back on the map. Goleski explains their main goal as a club.

“We’re definitely trying to get it in people’s heads that we are a club focused on serving the local community,” Goleski said. “We’re trying to really teach people about what we do and how our two biggest things are service and recognition.”

To learn more about the event or donate pop can tabs, visit an OU residence hall front desk. For more information on NRHH and how to join, please visit their website or contact nrhhou@oakland.edu.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUSINESS INSIDER

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 9

State of the University highlights past achievements, future goals On Thursday, Sept. 28, President Ora Pescovitz spoke at Oakland University’s annual State of the University Address at Varner Hall, recognizing the university’s recent accomplishments and subsequent objectives.

Pescovitz began the address by recognizing those in attendance, including OU’s Charter Class, which is celebrating its 60th class reunion this year. She then discussed current priorities, enrollment, budget, rankings and affordability.

success, increase student retention and maintain a safe and healthy campus.

OU also wants to recognize and support its faculty by acknowledging excellence in teaching, community engagement and research.

Pescovitz states the university intends to pursue these priorities through external funding, which reached a record of $28.9 million in fiscal year (FY) 2023. Pescovitz also reported the total annual funding more than tripled, and research funding has doubled since 2019.

CURRENT PRIORITIES Pescovitz listed many priorities for OU this academic OU is also focusing on creating an artificial intelligence year. She said the university wants to improve student task force, as Pescovitz says the university must be ready for inevitable change.

“Under the leadership of Deans Louay Chamra and Graeme Harper, a new task force will consider the impact of AI,” Pescovitz said. “The task force will consider the ethical guidelines, resource allocation and ongoing monitoring and adaptation of this new technology.”

STABILIZED ENROLLMENT

After dealing with the challenges of the pandemic and declining enrollment in recent years, Pescovitz is encouraged by current trends and states enrollment has stabilized at nearly 16,000 students for FY2024.

She is also pleased to report the one-year retention rate for underrepresented minority students (URM) increased by 5%, and the gap between URM and non-URM students has reduced by 5%.

However, Pescovitz remains mindful of emerging trends in higher education, including a decreasing number of high school graduates and an increasing demand for online and hybrid learning.

Pescovitz says OU is committed to understanding the implications of these trends and is acting strategically to mitigate the impact they could have on retention and graduation rates.

STORY BY AUTUMN OKUSZKA | DESIGN BY MEGAN PARKER

BALANCED BUDGET

Despite decreasing revenue due to declining enrollment in previous years, Pescovitz reported the 2023-24 budget is balanced.

The president stated this was made possible due to stabilized enrollment and the second of a three-phase across-the-board 10.4% budget reduction. Phase three will be complete in the current FY. Pescovitz also credited the “Strive for 45” campaign that helped increase state appropriations “floor funding” for OU and several Michigan universities, giving OU an additional $11.5 million in FY2024.

Those who took part in the success of the “Strive for 45” campaign received thanks from Pescovitz.

“Thank you to Governor Whitmer for her leadership, and special thanks to higher education appropriation subcommittee chairs, Representative Samantha Steckloff and Senator Sean McCann, for their passionate support of higher education,” Pescovitz said.

“And thank you to our Vice President of Government Relations, Rochelle Black, for her hard-working team, and thank you also to our trustees and to so many of you who were an integral part of our successful advocacy efforts.”

THE WSJ’S BEST COLLEGES RANKING

On Sept. 6, The Wall Street Journal released a ranking of the best colleges in the U.S. OU ranked 189, the highest among its peer institutions in Michigan, including Grand Valley State University (294), Central Michigan University (313), Western Michigan University (341), Wayne State University (347) and Eastern Michigan University (358). OU is also ranked as the best value for investment among these universities.

Additionally, OU ranks first among public universities in Michigan for enhancing social mobility and ranks second after the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor in preparing students for careers.

AFFORDABILITY

Pescovitz says the balanced budget reflects sound fiscal management, ensuring an OU education is accessible and affordable.

19% of OU undergraduates and 43% of the incoming first-year class will have their tuition fully covered. 74% of incoming first-year students whose family incomes are less than $70,000 will have their tuition covered by the Golden Guarantee, and 57% will have their tuition and on-campus housing covered.

56% of undergraduate students leave OU with no student debt. OU students who graduate with student debt repay their tuition in only one year and seven months — the second-fastest among all public universities in Michigan.

The OU Career and Life Design Center also reports that 72% of graduating seniors find employment within a year, and 86% said they had at least one paid internship.

CLOSING STATEMENT

Pescovitz ended the State of the University address by saying she looks forward to witnessing the next chapter in OU’s history. She believes the campus community will make a difference in the lives of students, faculty, staff and alumni.

“We need look no further than the founder of our university, Matilda Dodge Wilson, for the inspiration to shape the future with a pioneering spirit. Matilda said, ‘To attempt great things is to expect great things.’

May each of us heed her timeless advice,” Pescovitz said.

12 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

Grizz Garments: Now accepting donations PAYTON BUCKI Features Reporter

Grizz Garments, located in the basement of the Oakland Center within the Golden Grizzlies Pantry, is a free clothing service available to Oakland University students. After a temporary pause in accepting clothing donations, the closet has recently begun accepting donations again.

About Grizz Garments Grizz Garments operates in conjunction with the Golden Grizzlies Pantry, making the closet and pantry more accessible for students in need. The Golden Grizzlies Pantry supplies students with food, toiletries and cleaning supplies.

The Grizz Garments closet focuses on providing business casual and business professional clothing to students interviewing for internships or working in a professional setting. However, the closet also stocks spirit wear, graduation gowns, sheets, blankets, shoes, socks and winter gear.

“All items in the closet are available for students to grab — no costs and no questions asked,” Bella Levitt, manager of the Golden Grizzlies Pantry and Grizz Garments, said.

Students do not need to make an appointment to shop at the closet. Shoppers can simply walk into the closet during business hours and take what they need.

After shopping, students must fill out an exit form with the student assistant at the front desk of the pantry.

The form serves as an inventory tracker, so Levitt knows when a closet restock is needed.

“There is no limit on how many times a student can utilize the closet, nor do we set limits on the number of items they may take,” Levitt said. “Students do not need to return the garments.”

Recently, the closet began an “outfit of the week” series. Each week, student workers style the mannequin in front of the Grizz Garments entrance with clothing sourced exclusively from the closet. The weekly outfit project’s purpose is to show OU students that Grizz Garments clothing can be trendy and stylish.

How to Donate Several times throughout the school year, Levitt donates clothing from the Grizz Garments that have been sitting unclaimed for a lengthy period. The clothing is donated to Rochester Neighborhood House.

The purpose of these external donations is two-fold.

FEATURES

“By donating clothing that students do not prefer to the Rochester Neighborhood House, we keep the clothing in the closet trendy and current,” Levitt said. “The external donating also allows us to receive donations to Grizz Garments.”

Now that Grizz Garments is beginning to receive donations again, Levitt points out there are several criteria donators must follow.

“Each piece of clothing should come on a hanger,” Levitt said. “The garments should not be more than 1020 years old. Additionally, clothing must be washed, without holes or stains.”

The Grizz Garments closet hopes to expand its services to include a wider range of professional wear in the future. One initiative Levitt would like to pursue is stocking scrubs in the closet so health science students do not face a financial barrier in obtaining their clinical wear.

For those interested in donating clothing to Grizz Garments, reach out to the closet through email at oupantry@oakland.edu.

PHOTO BY LINDSEY SOBKOWSKI

Associate Dean Dr. Deirdre Pitts receives diversity award ANA GJORGJEVSKI Features Reporter

On Aug. 29, Oakland University held its 2023 Exemplary Employee Award Recognition ceremony wherein Dr. Deirdre Pitts, an associate dean for Faculty and Staff Affairs at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) was an honorary recipient of the Monica E. Emerson Diversity Award.

The award nomination comes with feelings of great pride and honor, according to Pitts.

Pitts has been with OU since starting as a temporary employee in 2010. Just a year later, she was hired on permanently, joining the OUWB School of Medicine.

“I have truly enjoyed working at Oakland University.

It has been a source of both personal and professional growth for me,” Pitts said.

While Pitts has found great joy in her career through building a safe community space where students and faculty could come together and share their experiences, there have also been some hardships.

“The biggest challenge of my career was navigating the social unrest that was initially triggered by the murder of George Floyd during his arrest by Minneapolis police officers on May 25, 2020,” Pitts said.

The tragic event occurred only a few months after she began her role as interim associate dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs and Diversity and Inclusion. The deeply painful and unjust occurrence proved to be a challenge for Pitts since providing moral support to others was a struggle in itself.

Pitts believed this challenging time in her career

helped her grow personally and professionally.

“Ironically, this time was also the most rewarding as I was able to build community,” Pitts said.

Her ability to create a warm and welcoming environment did not go unnoticed. On a drive home from work one day, Pitts received a call that brought her to tears.

This call was from a lifelong friend Glenn McIntosh, the senior vice president for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at OU. “He [Glenn] told me that he had great news and shared that I had won the award,” Pitts said.

Upon hearing the news, Pitts and her mother were moved to tears.

The form of systemic change sought out by Pitts and many of the individuals working beside her is not something that happens overnight.

Progress towards diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) takes courage and strength to fight for, something Pitts has an abundance of. Many lives have been positively impacted by the work of Pitts and her colleagues.

At the award ceremony, President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz encouraged recipients to put their awards someplace special. Pitts decided to place her award in her office in Oakland as a reminder of the collaborative work it took to get to this moment.

Since the beautiful moment she accepted the award, Pitts has received an overwhelming amount of messages from family and friends alike.

“I can’t even count how many ‘congratulations, so proud of you, you’re awesome’ messages I received. It has truly been a humbling experience,” Pitts said.

Pitts continues to make OU a welcoming place for everyone.

Without her hard work and dedication, many diversity programs would not have been possible. Pitts is working tirelessly to maintain a positive change with more inclusivity and compassion.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OUWB

ARTS

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 13

‘Ahsoka’: The journey from Padawan to Master MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter

The Star Wars franchise has never been short of quality television shows on Disney Plus. From their first Disney Plus original series, “The Mandalorian,” to their newest one, “Ahsoka,” the story of a galaxy far, far away expands even further — this time to a different galaxy.

The conclusion to the first season of “Ahsoka” aired Tuesday, Oct. 3, and left the ball in Disney’s court. Spoilers ahead!

Ahsoka — played by a fantastic casting choice in Rosario Dawson — was always an interesting choice for creating a full story, with the 11 combined seasons of 2008’s “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and 2014’s “Star Wars Rebels” seeming to hint at the creation of an eventual Ahsoka led series.

“Because of the epilogue that I did in Rebels.

Definitely, all signs are indicating that there’s a continuation,” “Star Wars Rebels” and “Ahsoka” showrunner Dave Filoni said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

“Ahsoka” follows the titular character’s journey looking for a map that would allow her to search for her missing friend, Ezra — who previously went missing after fighting the final big bad of “Star Wars Rebels,” Thrawn.

In the first minutes, we see the Grey Jedi effectively use her lightsabers for both combat and practical use — a great introduction to who Ahsoka is as a character.

We are also introduced to Ahsoka’s relationship with past characters — or lack thereof. She only interacts with the droid, Huyang, as they merely escape several self-destructing guards on the map.

Throughout the series, relationships mend, bend

and break as the old gang — consisting of Ahsoka, Sabine, Huyang, Hera and Chopper — are tested with new troubles. The group has to decide if searching for Ezra will lead to a dead end and if it’s even worth the risk to be faced with Thrawn once again.

The constant push and pull of Ahsoka and Sabine’s friendship was one of the most gripping aspects of the show, with their training having several callbacks to Luke’s training with Obi-Wan. Some new faces include fan favorites Baylan Skoll and Shin Hati — two former Jedis and current mercenaries working for Morgan Elsbeth. Both are very well-written characters who have also become some of my favorites — with their Master-Padawan relationship outside the Jedi order captivating fans.

However, not much information has been given about these two characters. Their past and how they met remain a mystery, and their future ends on a cliffhanger. The last episode displays how they’re similar in many ways and different in many more, with Baylan deciding that Shin’s training with him is finished, and the two go their separate ways.

Watching iconic characters interact on screen once again felt beautiful to watch. From Hera and Jacen coming to terms with his force sensitivity to seeing C-3PO mention Princess Leia to Chopper’s returning antics, it was a gift to “Star Wars Rebels” fans.

It was amazing to see Ezra’s return and how he fit right back in with the group. It also felt mind-blowing to see Hayden Christensen’s return to Star Wars to reprise his role as Anakin Skywalker.

“When I got the phone call to talk about being a part of the Ahsoka project, I was thrilled,” Christensen said in an “Ahsoka” behind-the-scenes featurette.

All in all, “Ahsoka” was a great addition to Ahsoka’s

character and her arc to becoming a master. Every character was well-written and had a great story arc.

That being said, because the series tried to tackle many plot lines and different character arcs, it ended on enormous cliffhangers for almost every character.

And while yes, it is essential for a show to reel you back in for the next season, it ultimately just didn’t feel like the series had a satisfying ending. Overall, it was a great series but had room for improvement, and I can’t wait to see what comes of it!

Rating: 4/5 stars

PHOTO COURTESY OF DISNEY +

‘For All The Dogs:’ A pitiful attempt at cutthroat anthems CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Reporter

Drake has always been a cultural zeitgeist for many years. His success has been a slow build-up from humble beginnings on the show “Degrassi,” to his early mixtapes, to massive hits such as 2016’s “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling.”

Drake has been critically stagnant as of late, however, “classics” such as “Take Care,” “Nothing Was The Same” and “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” have proven that Drake has it in him to put out cutting edge trap and pop-rap.

Drake’s ninth — gargantuan — album, “For All The Dogs” is amazingly misguided. The album goes for way too many things and is way too scattered to be on the same level as those “classics.”

To start out, “Virginia Beach” is at best, a mediocre opener where Drake meanders over a dark trap beat accompanied by strings and a reversed Frank Ocean vocal sample.

Drake has impressive flows, but lyrically he languishes over exes he has lost. At this point, his lamentation is old.

“Lean in soda, Fanta, fantasizin’/That’s not love you’re in, it’s more like compromisin’/I move

mountains for you, f*ck that social climbin’/Lean into me, lean into me,” Drake sings.

While tracks like “Calling For You,” “FirstPerson Shooter” and “Away From Home” feature intricately constructed beats where classic-Drake’s lyricism shines through, it is not enough to quell the indescribably detached emotional state Drake leaves listeners in.

For the past seven years, Drake has been going through the motions. While not completely isolated from new trends and styles that have moved through hip-hop’s ever-changing landscape, Drake has instead opted to incorporate the worst interpretations of these approaches.

Dancehall tracks that have no personality, sample drill songs without any bite, house tracks with no emotive buildup.

These genres should be fun new avenues for artists to work and grow with, but not Drake. Instead, he opts to ride these trends for a couple of songs — or even for just a short album — and then they get thrown to the wayside.

One of the most captivating and interesting tracks on the record is “Rich Baby Daddy” with Sexxy Red and

SZA, which is an Atlanta bass party-track. The song includes anthemic shouts of “Shake that a**, b*tch, hands on your knees (Ho)/Hands on your knees (Ho), hands on your knees (Ow)” by Sexxy Red. “Rich Baby Daddy” is a fun departure from the moody and mostly disappointing trap soul odyssey Drake takes us on. Tracks like this usually aren’t in Drake’s nature, making Sexxy Red’s inclusion on the hook surprising for me.

Drake’s lyricism and his approach to talking about women on the album isn’t just of content and alpha/beta male talk — it is completely void of self-awareness.

Songs like “7969 Santa,” “Daylight” and “Members Only” demonstrate this possessive and toxic attitude in full force, with Drake rapping, “I don’t like what you did on them trips/I don’t like what you did to your lips/I don’t like you tellin’ just one side/I don’t like the fact you never cry” on “7969 Santa.”

Aside from the lyricism being questionable — if not offensive — on a lot of the tracks, the production stands up. If Drake can ever see past his ego and deliver another classic, it will definitely be one for the books.

Rating: 2/5 stars

ARTS

14 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

OU’s Hispanic Film Festival celebrates diversity through cinema MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter

Just in time for Hispanic Heritage Month, Oakland University’s Hispanic Film Festival is a vibrant celebration of Hispanic culture, storytelling and cinema.

The event brings together students, faculty and the local community to explore the rich tapestry of Hispanic culture. Through a carefully curated selection of films, the festival not only entertains but also educates — ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture.

The film chosen to be shown on Thursday, Sept. 28, was “Tiempo de Lluvia,” directed by indigenous filmmaker Ithandehui Jansen. The film details a raw and emotional story of a small village traditional healer, Soledad (Angeles Cruz), and her city-living daughter, Adela (Alejandra Herrera), as the two have to decide what environment is best for Adela’s son, Jose (Nu Kahnu).

Soledad wants Jose to remain in the indigenous village with her, while Adela wants to bring her son with her to Mexico City. As the film explores both contrasting ways of living, it details the serene but small life that Soledad lives as well as the hustle and bustle of the city that Adela lives in — not to mention her struggle living with Chucho (Harold Torres), her abusive boyfriend.

The film is well-written and beautifully shot — not to mention how it handles such a raw story.

The focus on family and familial bond, love for

your homeland and loss is not only empathyevoking but also thought-provoking.

Another film that was shown on Thursday, Sept. 21, was “La Frontera Infinita,” directed

by Juan Manuel Sepúlveda. The documentary highlights the struggle of immigrants migrating to the United States — an issue central to the film festival’s importance.

“The film festival tries to raise awareness about different issues and realities that concern Latin America,” event organizer and professor Adolfo Campoy-Cubillo said. “The images of Latinos keep changing from being side characters in major productions to becoming the main characters.”

The film festival serves as a great way to introduce more information about Hispanic heritage while simultaneously showing the audience different perspectives — sometimes of those in the same country, as shown in “Tiempo de Lluvia.”

“We were absolutely overwhelmed and had not expected such a turnout for the film. It shows that there is a real hunger and interest for films about local communities,” the film’s writer and producer Armando Bautista said in an interview with L.A. Taco.

It is also critical to note the importance of this film festival for those who are far from their homeland, as the films shown might serve as a reminder — and celebration — of their culture and heritage.

OU’s Hispanic Film Festival will be showing the film, “This Stolen Country of Mine,” directed by Marc Wiese, on Thursday, Oct. 5, at noon in the

Habitat of the Oakland Center.

This documentary explores corrupt leadership, as well as indigenous resistance to the exploitation of their homes in Latin America. Wiese will also be joining the screening for a live Q&A. For more information about OU’s Hispanic Film Festival — as well as Hispanic Heritage Month events — you can visit the 2023 Hispanic Film Fest’s registration page, as well as the Hispanic Heritage Month page on OU’s website.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WHOLE CHILD

‘Love at First Sight:’ The return of the good rom-com OLIVIA CHIAPPELLI Arts Editor

“When in doubt, watch a rom-com” is what I always say, and this time was no different. I love a good Friday night release, so imagine my absolute joy when I saw Netflix was gifting me with my assuredly cheesy fix for the week with Vanessa Caswill’s “Love at First Sight” — released on Friday, Sept. 15.

Starring Haley Lu Richardson — of “The White Lotus” fame — and Ben Hardy — most notably known from 2018’s Freddie Mercury biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody” — the film chronicles Hadley and Oliver’s airport meet cute and their inevitable separation at customs.

While this does sound like the classic setup to every rom-com you have ever seen, there was something different about “Love at First Sight” when I impulsively searched it up on Google pre-viewing: a 75% on Rotten Tomatoes.

I do not lend much credence to Rotten Tomatoes and instead subscribe to the Martin Scorsese philosophy that the review-aggregation website “[has] everything to do with the movie business and absolutely nothing to do with either the creation or the intelligent viewing of film.

“These firms and aggregators have set a tone that is hostile to serious filmmakers…it seems like there are more and more voices out there engaged in pure judgmentalism, people who seem to take pleasure in seeing films and filmmakers rejected, dismissed and in some cases ripped to shreds,” Scorsese wrote in an oped for The Hollywood Reporter.

While it may seem a little too serious to be quoting Scorsese when talking about a silly little Netflix romcom, that is where my mind went, so I don’t know what to tell you.

My beloved romcoms have been ripped to shreds for far too long following their heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and quite frankly, that passing C grade is Oscar-worthy in the modern rom-com genre.

I haven’t heard numbers like that since 2018’s “Set It Up” — holding a groundbreaking 92 percent.

But back to “Love at First Sight.” You know the drill, a missed flight, a dead charger and a broken seatbelt bring our main characters closer and closer together during their flight.

Hadley is flying to London for her father’s wedding and assumes that Oliver is doing the same due to the garment bag he is carrying — more on this later.

The pair fall in love on this flight because what else would happen, but the first significant wrench in their potential forever future comes when Hadley’s phone dies after Oliver gives her his number — a modern tragedy.

Hadley begrudgingly makes her way to her father’s wedding and overhears guests talking about attending a memorial service for Oliver’s mother at the same location he mentioned he was going to for a “wedding” — what are the chances?

Hadley takes this as a cue that she should hop on a bus and make her way to this funeral, but when she gets there, she is shocked to see that Oliver’s mother is still alive and is instead hosting her Shakespeare-themed living memorial.

Hadley and Oliver are reunited, but it can’t be that

easy. They fight and get separated again and then serendipitously reunite after realizing their instant love for each other — you get the theme.

While these tropes and plot devices may sound played out, Jameela Jamil’s omnipresent godlike narrator character was intriguing enough to truly set the tone and make me feel in on the joke.

I loved living vicariously through Richardson and expanding on my airport love delusions in a very “Before Sunrise” way, and I honestly think you will too — admit it.

Rating: 4/5 stars

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 15 ARTS ‘Autumn Variations:’ Why folk pop stays dead in 2023 CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Reporter

With 75 million monthly Spotify listeners, Ed Sheeran is a powerhouse in pop music.

Sheeran has garnered critical and commercial success with each of his releases. With his seventh album, “Autumn Variations,” fans and critics alike seem to be turning on him.

Sheeran burnout for me is nothing new — I grew tired after 2017’s “Divide.” Each song on his subsequent records has left a bitter taste in my mouth — something is wrong. It all feels artificial.

Each song on Sheeran’s latest work, “Autumn Variations,” feels bland and benign. Sheeran’s voice doesn’t change at all, it’s the same register, pitch and resonance over and over again.

The album starts with “Magical,” a snoozer of an opener. The boring lyrics — especially the chorus — repeat infinitely creating a loop of endless, soulless love-dovey sentiment with no emotion backing it up.

Along with the vibe of the song taking an immediate halt, the lyricism on “Magical” is tasteless and repetitive. It features the same lyrics and an uncreative chorus.

“Is this how it feels to be in love?/This is magical, this is magical/Is this how it feels to be in love?/ This is magical, this is magical,” Sheeran sings.

The tracks continue, with highlights being “Amazing,” “Plastic Bag,” “American Town” and

“Head > Heels” — all of which are strong in the sense that an ant is strong. Meaning it can lift and support things more than it seems like it can.

Sheeran’s poor lyricism is not just bad on its own, it is soulless. Ed Sheeran cannot relate to the general populace enough to write a song about love that seems genuine. Most lyrics that he includes in this album are bland, one note and predictable.

“Yeah, I’m tryna feel amazin’/Yeah, but I can’t get out of my way and/Yeah, wish I could feel amazin’/But this is all that I can feel today” Sheeran sings on “Amazing.”

Folk-pop as a genre has long overstayed its welcome.

Having origins in the late sixties and early seventies, original folk-pop groups sang about the wonders of life, love and the human experience — so does Sheeran.

But why does it not work here — having worked 50 years ago? The simple answer is the genre has not innovated, and, frankly, it has gone backward. In the late 2000s to early 2010s, there was an incredible shot at a “folk-pop renaissance” with groups like the Lumineers, Mumford and Sons, and of course, Ed Sheeran.

In time, these group’s influences have subsided — except for Sheeran. Ed Sheeran still has the most monthly listeners out of any folk-pop artist today by a large margin.

There was a shot at some innovation by Taylor Swift in 2020 with “Folklore” and “Evermore,” but like most trends in pop music, she moved on from those and on to synthpop-revival.

The problem with the folk-pop revival is that it would not last — most “revivals” don’t. They burn bright and accrue millions of downloads, streams and purchases

but burn out just as hard.

I’m not sure where Sheeran can go after this to successfully turn his career around critically. However, if he chooses, he can just ride off of his “Shape of You” and “Perfect” success for the rest of his life.

Rating: 0.5/5 stars

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNIE LEIBOVITZ

‘The Nun II’: The resurgence of ‘The Conjuring’ universe ANA GJORGJEVSKI Features Reporter

“The Conjuring” universe has become one of the largest and most well-loved horror franchises of the past decade.

The most recent addition to the universe is “The Nun II,” directed by Michael Chaves. The second addition to “The Nun” series follows Sister Irene (played by Taissa Farmiga), who is asked to investigate the murder of a priest — and once again — put in the direct path of an evil spirit.

Seeing as the whole “Conjuring” universe is interlinked — courtesy of James Wan’s genius in creating these characters — I recommend watching the movies to gain a full understanding of the storyline.

When watching the trailer for this film, I was surprised to notice it seemed much more eerier than its predecessor. The jumpscares felt much more deliberate, and there was a bigger emphasis on the evil at play — Valak.

Valak was first introduced in “The Conjuring 2.” This demon seems to link the Warrens to Sister Irene and the others.

The strongest scenes in this film were the ones including Sister Irene and her current partner in crime, Sister Debra (played by Storm Reid). The use of Sister Debra’s lack of faith, or pressure to have faith, in fighting Valak added the extra connection missing from the first film.

In the first film, the audience is not yet familiar

with Sister Irene — therefore, a large amount of time is spent introducing her, leaving little time to focus on what links her to Valak. Sister Debra’s lack of faith in “The Nun 2” is used as a premise for the fights between good and evil and how this faith comes just in time to save them.

In the end, Sister Debra’s combined faith with Sister Irene saves them all and condemns Valak back to hell (once again).

“I think that having that balance, this epic battle

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

of good and evil is one of the things that is one of those core elements of ‘The Conjuring’ Universe,” Chaves said in an interview with Slash Film.

The violence and gore were the most I have seen

in “The Conjuring” universe. With the addition of shapeshifting creatures and a lot of deaths and fights, I was much more intrigued as to how they would be able to end this year’s long battle.

“It is definitely more violent than what they [the audience] expected from a ‘Conjuring’ movie,” Chaves said in an interview with SFX Magazine.

The final battle scene was masterfully done. It reminded me of the bathroom scene in “It (2017)” and “It: Chapter 2 (2019).” To put it briefly, the blood was very abundant.

While gore may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the battle scene in “The Nun II” left viewers mesmerized.

Without giving too much away, I can only say it was an anxiety-inducing battle between good and evil.

This movie was a great experience. The entire theater was gasping and flinching throughout the night.

As with many movie franchises, we are given a postcredit scene including Ed and Lorraine Warren (played

by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), which leaves the audience impatiently waiting for the next installment of the series.

POLITICS

16 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

Kevin McCarthy removed as Speaker of the House in historic vote to vacate NOAH THOMASON Political Reporter

On Tuesday, Sept. 3, Kevin McCarthy was removed as Speaker of the House after a conflict with far-right members of the Republican Party. While the vote to vacate the speaker position showed most Republicans supporting McCarthy, it was eight Republicans who took issue with the speaker along with the rest of the Democrats that pushed the vote to remove McCarthy from his role over the edge.

This vote to remove McCarthy was building up for a while. Far-right Republicans did not approve of some of his decisions, and McCarthy’s choice to work with the Democrats in the House of Representatives to avoid a shutdown was the last straw. The leader of this vote to remove McCarthy was led by Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz, who has threatened the rule to vacate against McCarthy for months.

This decision to side with the Democrats to avoid a government shutdown was important for McCarthy, even though it meant going against some of his party’s wishes to seek more spending cuts. This would have seen much of the functions of the federal government shut down or severely limited in their capabilities for the duration of the shutdown.

A major focus of the cuts seemed to be about aid to Ukraine, with many Republicans supporting continued aid, although some want to see that aid reduced or removed.

The decision to remove McCarthy as the Speaker of the House is unprecedented as this is the first time in

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATHAN HOWARD/GETTY

With McCarthy gone, it’s uncertain what this will mean for the House Republicans, as the effort to elect McCarthy was hard. With 15 rounds of voting, McCarthy was only elected when he agreed to allow a vote to vacate the speaker role if only one member called for it. Since this happened without the wishes of most of the Republican Party, it is unlikely they have a plan in place to deal with this situation.

Some Republicans voiced their shock and uncertainty for their future, like Arizona Republican Representative Debbie Lesko, who said, “This is a total disaster.” This could mean the House could be a ways away from having a new speaker.

Fears about fundraising for the Republican Party have arisen among some Republicans who saw McCarthy as an important figure for fundraisers. The National Republican Congressional Committee said McCarthy helped them raise $40 million in the last election cycle.

the history of the U.S. the speaker has been removed.

To be elected, the speaker relies almost entirely on their party to vote them in. In the same respect, the speaker would need to have some members of their party vote to have them removed. This has not been attempted or accomplished until now.

The choice for the Democrats to not support McCarthy might be surprising as he worked with them to keep the government from shutting down. From other actions, however, it seemed the Democrats were unwilling to trust McCarthy enough to protect him from being removed.

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POLITICS

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 17

Important takeaways from the second Republican debate NOAH THOMASON Political Reporter

On Sept. 27, the second Republican debate for the 2024 Presidential election was held. Within two hours, the most notable thing was how hard it was to get useful information from listening to the candidates.

One of the major reasons it was difficult to learn anything about the candidates during this debate was because candidates spoke over each other for a significant amount of time. Multiple times, two or more candidates would speak simultaneously, regardless of the moderator’s pleas.

The interruptions were far from the only hindrance to a productive debate from the viewer’s perspective.

Most times a moderator asked a question, it would be met with a response to a previous question, an answer to a seemingly unrelated question, or an answer that only had some vague connection to the question asked of the candidate.

So, what useful information can be gleaned from this debate? While the substance of what each candidate supported was generally like the rest of the candidates, there were notable differences on some issues.

Possibly the biggest substitutive difference on any issue was the support of Ukraine in the war between them and Russia. On this topic, two clear sides were formed between those who believe the support the U.S. gives to Ukraine is important and

those who believe the U.S. should not be spending money on Ukraine.

Candidates who supported aiding Ukraine included South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christi.

The candidates who opposed continuing aid to Ukraine were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Those who supported helping Ukraine did so because they believed it would weaken Russia and saw that as an important strategic goal for the U.S. Pence and Haley also made the argument allowing Russia to invade Ukraine without U.S. support would embolden China to go after Taiwan, as according to Haley, “a win for Russia is a win for China.”

Ramaswamy and DeSantis’s arguments against continuing aid to Ukraine differed somewhat.

Ramaswamy argued aiding Ukraine only deepens relations between Russia and China, and China should be the U.S.’s focus.

“Just because Putin is an evil dictator doesn’t mean that Ukraine is good,” Ramaswamy said. “This is a country that has banned 11 opposition parties.”

DeSantis’s response was harder to follow. He argues that “our own country is being invaded.

We don’t even have control of our own territory.”

It appears DeSantis is arguing instead of aiding Ukraine, the U.S. should be defending itself from

PHOTO COURTSEY OF MARK TERRILL

its own invasion.

Undocumented immigration was a major focus of the debate, with one of the moderators showing a clip of Reagan advocating for amnesty for undocumented immigrants. The general belief of the candidates had very little disagreement, with most saying something along the lines of “we have to secure the border.”

There were many more issues talked about, with some concerning statements from Scott regarding a question about Florida’s school curriculum.

(Contiune on our website)

Future for Armenians uncertain as Azerbaijan takes Nagorno-Karabakh NOAH THOMASON Political Reporter

Over 100,000 Armenians have been displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh region after a recent incursion by Azerbaijani forces. The Azerbaijani forces went into Nagorno-Karabakh after an incident of land mines killing four soldiers and two civilians.

The displacement of those 100,000 Armenians has created discourse on whether this counts as ethnic cleansing.

The Council on Foreign Relations considers the displacement as ethnic cleansing based on the United Nations (U.N.) definition of ethnic cleansing. This is based on the Azerbaijan government’s monthslong campaign to blockade the one-way people and supplies travel from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh, the Lachin Corridor.

In response to allegations of ethnic cleansing, the Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry stated this is “their personal and individual decision and has nothing to do with forced relocation.”

This conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is not the first of its kind, as the conflict started soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union. This was because the two countries were originally part of the soviet union, which had made Nagorno-Karabakh an “autonomous Oblast” within Azerbaijan that was majority Armenian.

Armenia won the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, and the region was de facto autonomous. This saw the creation of the Republic of Artsakh and led to

about one million Azerbaijan residents fleeing the region. In 2020, the Second Nagorno-Karabakh war happened, leading to Azerbaijan controlling a third of the region and a peace deal between the two countries and Russia. This put thousands of peacekeeping troops in the Lachin Corridor to protect the Republic of Artsakh.

With Russia preoccupied with its invasion of Ukraine, it has stood by as the third war in the region took place, leading to Azerbaijan’s complete control of Nagorno-Karabakh and the collapse of the Republic of Artsakh.

The displacement of ethnic Armenians within Nagorno-Karabakh is not the only problem of this

PHOTO COURTSEY OF ALJAZEERA.COM

conflict. It is uncertain if Azerbaijan will stop at retaking Nagorno-Karabakh or if this will result in future conflict in the region.

If there is a future conflict, it’s unlikely Armenia can defend itself. Armenia’s military budget is $1.28 billion compared to Azerbaijan’s military budget of $2.9 billion as of 2022.

Armenia is also relatively isolated geopolitically and geographically as it’s a landlocked country with no reliable way for U.S. or NATO intervention to come through if an invasion of Armenia were to happen. This is because Armenia is bordered by Türkiye, which is allied with Azerbaijan, which also contests the number of deaths and the systemic nature of the Armenian genocide done by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

Russia also appears to be in a state where it is unable or unwilling to help Armenia, and neither Georgia nor Iran are allies of the U.S. or a part of NATO. There is the additional issue that any NATO involvement in a possible future ArmeniaAzerbaijan conflict would be blocked by Türkiye, which is a member of NATO. How Azerbaijan will treat the ethnic Armenian population who has not fled Armenia is another concern. Many Armenians left due to fears of attacks from Azerbaijan or fear of a loss of religious freedom.

Azerbaijan has promised to “protect the rights and ensure the security of the Armenian population in accordance with Azerbaijan’s law.” There are still doubts whether Azerbaijan will uphold its promises to protect its ethnic Armenian minorities.

SPORTS

18 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

Oakland volleyball wins thrilling match against Cleveland State KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Reporter

The Oakland volleyball team defeated the Cleveland State University (CSU) Vikings on Friday, Oct. 6, with a final score of 3-1 at the OU Credit Union O’rena.

“Tonight, I think we just played really hard,” assistant coach Kyle Stahl said. “We stuck to our gameplan and really executed on a high level for the most part throughout the match. Cleveland State is a really solid team, and they did a lot of things that challenged us, and I thought we responded really well to that.”

After some back-and-forth trading between both teams in the first set, the Grizzlies started to gain momentum, going on a 5-0 run, bringing the score to 7-2 in OU’s favor.

After a CSU timeout, the Vikings started to cut into the OU lead. However, the Grizzlies went on a 4-1 run, leading the Vikings 16-11, resulting in another Viking timeout.

Following some more back-and-forth between both teams, the Grizzlies started to pull away towards the end of the set, ultimately winning with a score of 25-18.

In the second set, the Grizzlies continued to cause the Vikings problems. After a 4-1 run, OU took an early 6-3 lead. The Vikings eventually tied it up; however, OU responded with a 3-1 run to bring the lead back in their favor.

The Grizzlies retained their lead, but the next stretch of possession saw CSU battle back as they went on a 6-4 run, cutting the OU lead down to just two points at 22-20.

Following an OU timeout, the Vikings continued to

PHOTO BY KATIE REID

fight back, tying the game 24-24. The Grizzlies called their second timeout of the set as a result.

After the timeout, OU took care of business, winning the night’s second set, outscoring CSU 27-25.

CSU opened the third set with impressive momentum, taking an early 7-3 lead. Throughout the next handful of possessions, the Grizzlies trailed the Vikings 15-10, leading to the first OU timeout of the set.

After a flurry of timeouts from both teams, CSU expanded their lead over OU to 20-13. In response to the growing Viking lead, the Grizzlies called another timeout.

Following their timeout, the Grizzlies cut into the Viking lead, but it wasn’t enough as CSU took set three with a final score of 25-19.

In the fourth set, after a 4-1 run, OU took an early lead over the Vikings. Minutes later, the Grizzlies started to pull away as they expanded their lead to 13-8, leading to several Viking timeouts.

Emerging from their second timeout, CSU started their comeback. The Vikings took their first lead of the set and later expanded their lead to 22-19, forcing an OU timeout.

After their timeout, the Grizzlies went on a miraculous 5-1 run, turning the tables on the Vikings, and took a 24-23 lead.

“Executing at a really high level and staying the course, making sure we’re doing our jobs,” Stahl said on the 5-1 run. “I think we did that really well; we stayed aggressive, and got a couple of breaks, and took advantage of that.

We’re just playing really well as a team.”

CSU eventually tied the match at 25-25, and both teams had a thrilling battle to win the set. Despite the Grizzlies taking the lead first, the Vikings answered, scoring two straight points and taking the lead.

Down 27-26, the Grizzlies tied up the match, and Ainsley Guse followed up with a kill, giving OU a onepoint lead. OU closed things out on the next possession, winning the set 29-27.

The Grizzlies will appear next on Friday, Oct. 13, where they’ll face off against the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin at home.

The 2023-2024 season: NBA’s thrilling return SUMMER WEATHERS Sports Reporter

The National Basketball Association has made a triumphant return for the 2023-2024 season.

One of the most exciting aspects of this new season is the level of talent and competition.

The NBA is overflowing with young stars eager to make their mark. Starting with the number one draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, the versatile player out of France who will be representing the San Antonio Spurs, everyone is looking forward to seeing how well he adjusts to the league.

This year also brought a lot of debating over the top picks as teams weighed their options for the future.

Conversations largely revolved around standout players Brandon Miller, the second pick for the Charlotte Hornets, and Scoot Henderson, the third pick for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Meanwhile, Amen and Ausar Thompson made history by becoming the first twins in the league’s history to be selected in the top five in the NBA Draft.

Ultimately, the 2023 NBA Draft has been one of the most talked about, and closely watched events.

The off-season witnessed some blockbuster trades; one of the biggest trades that shocked fans the most had to do with the three-team trade involving the Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns.

The main feature of this trade was Damian Lillard.

Lillard spent 11 seasons with the Trailblazers and is now teammates with Giannis Antetokounmpo on the Bucks. The Trailblazers received Deandre Ayton and

Toumani Camara. Outside of the teams in the threeteam swap, the Boston Celtics also acquired Jrue Holiday from Milwaukee.

The Phoenix Suns received Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Nassir Little, and Keon Johnson as part of the trade deal. The Suns also landed three-time All-Star Bradley Beal to their roster, the newest addition to the Big Three alongside Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

The Phoenix Suns also named the Lakers’ former coach, Frank Vogel, as their new head coach.

Golden State also made a dramatic move, sending Jordan Poole to the Washington Wizards in exchange for veteran Chris Paul, who originally played for Phoenix.

The Warriors still have their main three: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. Golden State has also received an expansion team in the WNBA, the league’s first addition of a new franchise since 2008.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, who is now the oldest player in the league, will look to continue to dominate and add to his storied career after becoming the NBA’s all-time leading scorer this past season.

James has also been showing interest in representing Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside Steph Curry and Joel Embiid.

There are still questions revolving around Joel Embiid’s teammate, James Harden, and whether or not the league is going to accept his trade request, though Harden was an active participant in the 76ers training camp.

Chet Holmgren has also made his return to the Oklahoma City Thunder following an 11-month absence due to a foot injury.

The Detroit Pistons are also ready to make some noise this season. Cade Cunningham was limited to 12

games last season but is back in action and ready to make his return under the guidance of Monty Williams.

The Pistons re-signed forward Isaiah Stewart to a $64 million rookie contract. In July, they also acquired Joe Harris from the Brooklyn Nets and Monte Morris from the Washington Wizards. Marcus Sasser was also signed to a rookie contract.

The 2023-2024 NBA season is going to be a great year, as it already has been filled with significant player moves, historic contract extensions, rising young stars and the pursuit of individual and team milestones.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAJ MEHTA/USA TODAY SPORTS

SPORTS

OCTOBER 11, 2023 | 19

A tribute to Detroit Tigers legend Miguel Cabrera SUMMER WEATHERS Sports Reporter

Miguel Cabrera, the legendary slugger, is officially retiring from playing professional baseball after 21 years, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and a lasting legacy in the hearts of fans.

Cabrera is one of the most commemorated players in Major League Baseball. Born on April 18, 1983, in Maracay, Venezuela, he showed how talented he was at a very young age. He caught the attention of scouts very quickly, who saw his potential to become a baseball great.

Lucky for Tigers fans, Cabrera was signed to Detroit in 2007 — the beginning of a remarkable era for both him and the Detroit Tigers team.

Throughout his career, Cabrera persistently delivered top-notch performances. He earned multiple honors, including four batting titles, two American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and 12 All-Star selections. He also won the World Series in 2003.

One of Cabrera’s most iconic achievements came in 2012 when he became the first player in 55 years to win the Triple Crown, leading the league in batting average, home runs and runs batted in (RBI). This astounding feat established him as one of the best players in the game.

He makes it very hard for opposing pitchers, and his defensive capabilities at first base prove him to be a multi-talented athlete. Aside from his greatness

on the field, he is about fellowship and has served as a leader and mentor to younger players, aiding in their development to become the best players they can be.

One of his many enduring attributes that endeared Cabrera to his fans was his devotion to the game, which resonated with audiences of all ages, a representation of a fan favorite.

Whether engaging with young fans or actively participating in charity work, his benevolence to the

community and charitable endeavors have left a lasting legacy. Through the Miguel Cabrera Foundation, he has assisted in various causes, including education, healthcare and youth development, and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of others.

He truly is for the people and such a valued figure both on and off the field.

The conclusion of Cabrera’s playing career marks the end of an era in Detroit Tigers’ history. As we bid farewell to Miguel Cabrera, it is impossible not to be filled with appreciation for all the incredible junctures he has given Detroit over the years.

Cabrera’s highlights will be replayed and celebrated for generations to come. He acknowledged while it is hard to say goodbye to the sport he loves, he is excited about the next chapter of his life.

Thankfully, he will still be a part of the Detroit Tigers, working on staff in the front office as a special assistant to Scott Harris, president of baseball operations, as the Tigers rebuild and look toward the future.

Going forward, they will do so with the knowledge they were privileged to witness the career of one of Major League Baseball’s true legends. As always, once a tiger, always a tiger.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MLB.COM

Naveyah Damon: A star’s ascent on the court and beyond SUMMER WEATHERS Sports Reporter

Stepping on the court this year for the women’s basketball team with the promise of greatness is freshman sensation Naveyah ‘Naz’ Damon.

A dynamic and driven athlete, Damon traces her basketball roots back to the vibrant streets of Harlem, New York, where her passion for basketball first began.

“My cousin played for Puerto Rico,” Damon said.

“He played against Kobe and all that, and I used to watch him on TV, and I was like, I want to do that.

He was really an inspiration to me and my family.

“We’re all from Harlem, New York, so you already know we watched him on TV. He made it out, and I just want to make a name for myself and my family just so they know they have somebody that made it.”

Damon’s high school journey took her to Miami Country Day, where she became an accomplished athlete. She was named MVP during her high school tenure and also guided her team to a triumphant state championship victory.

Beyond her high school accolades, the rest of her resume is stacked. She has showcased her skills all over the East Coast. She played AAU for a team called ‘Essence,’ and was also featured in the ‘BallNAcross Borders’ event in Puerto Rico. She also had the honor of representing Team Durant, which solidified her reputation as a standout athlete on a national scale.

Now at the next level, representing Oakland University, her path is a testament to hard work, dedication and passion for basketball.

Standing six feet tall, Damon will be an imposing presence on the court as a guard, possessing natural athleticism and versatility. What truly distinguishes her is not just her physical abilities but her continual determination to excel.

Her work ethic and leadership skills have already

PHOTO COURTESY OF BIJON STIGGER

begun to positively impact the team. She brings a sense of camaraderie, fostering an environment where everyone feels motivated to succeed together.

“I’m super excited. Coach Tungate – he is a great man, and I have a really great team, and I’m really excited with how things are going to go this year,” Damon said. “We’re a family, for real. We have each other’s backs on and off the court, and that’s another reason why I chose Oakland, just because of the family environment, and that’s what will really take us far this year.”

Off the court, Damon is equally impressive.

She is in the honors college, working diligently toward becoming a physician’s assistant, and has seamlessly balanced the demands of her studies and her athletic commitments.

As Damon prepares to take on this new chapter of her basketball journey, she carries with her the hopes and dreams of her family, community and all those who had the privilege of witnessing her talent thrive.

Oakland fans can count on the fact the rising star will be a major factor in elevating the women’s basketball program, all while inspiring other younger athletes to reach for the stars.

SPORTS Women’s soccer battle with RMU ends in stalemate 20 | OCTOBER 11, 2023

KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Reporter

On Thursday, Oct. 5, the Oakland women’s soccer team tied with the Robert Morris University (RMU) Colonials with a final score of 1-1 at the Grizz Dome.

The Grizzlies started off the game strong, maintaining an advantage over RMU. Thanks to some solid passing and exceptional ball control, the Grizzlies were dominant with the amount of time they had possession of the ball.

RMU eventually fought back, eating into the share of the possession from the Grizzlies. Although the Colonials had the first shot attempt of the day, nothing came to fruition, thanks to a congesting Grizzlies defense.

Following the RMU shot attempt, forward Jayna Fraser responded with an attempt of her own. It was the best look at a goal the Grizzlies got in the first half; however, the shot was saved by RMU’s goalie, Brenna Murray.

“I thought we played a fantastic first 30 minutes of that first half where we were really running on all cylinders in terms of keeping the ball,” head coach Juan Pablo Favero said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we got enough bang for our buck for all that possession; we didn’t create enough scoring chances.”

In the final 15 minutes of the first half, the Colonials began to ramp up the pressure on all sides of the pitch against the Grizzlies. Notably, RMU got two shot attempts off compared to OU’s zero attempts in the final 15 minutes.

Heading into the half tied, it was still anyone’s game.

While RMU looked more polished on offense at the end of the half, the OU defense and goalie Julia Zangerl’s effort provided a wall the Colonials could not get past.

At the start of the second half, the Colonials had a slight advantage over the Grizzlies in possession and control of the ball. Additionally, RMU’s defense broke up many of OU’s early offensive attacks, leading to more chances for the Colonials to score.

Just seven minutes into the second half, following some impressive dribble moves from RMU forward Renae Mohrbacher, the Colonials secured the match’s first goal. The Colonials now had the lead over the Grizzlies with a score of 1-0.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OU

After the Colonial goal, a switch was flipped in the Grizzlies offense. Although the Grizzlies had possession of the ball for the majority of the game at this point, the offense applied heavy pressure on the Colonial defense.

“There’s a mentality that we train through a lot of different ways throughout our training sessions, through our sports psychology sessions about mentality and how we want to respond to adversity,” Favero said on how the team responded to RMU’s goal.

The opportunity to score materialized in the 74th minute when the Grizzlies evened up the playing field with a goal from forward Frankie Mudd. Notably, Mudd’s goal marks her third of the season.

In the remaining 16 minutes of the match, both the Grizzlies and Colonials had solid opportunities to take the lead. However, both teams failed to convert their chances at a second goal, and the game ended in a tie.

“The positive is, our possession was the best game of the year in terms of the stats,” Favero said. “The growth area is, how do we make that yield more scoring chances? So, we’ll double down on that.”

The Grizzlies will kick off next on Thursday, Oct. 12, against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on the road. The next home game will be on Sunday, Oct. 15, against the UW-Green Bay Phoenix.