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OU partners with Uwill for campus mental health resources
MATILDE RABAJOLI Campus Reporter
The mental health support network, Uwill, and Oakland University partnered to launch new virtual features to help students recognize and work on campus mental health.
Michael Wadsworth, assistant vice president of Student Affairs and Diversity and Dean of Students, was central to connecting OU with the services provided by Uwill back in Winter 2023.
“A 24-hour response line was the first step with Uwill,” Wadsworth said. “It allows all enrolled students to be able to call this crisis line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a mental health crisis.”
After almost a year of having the UHelp service implemented, the university has started a new program — UMatch. “The biggest feature is you’re signing up to talk with a therapist one-onone,” Wadsworth said. Uwill provides licensed individuals to meet and help students in any way they need.
“When students go to sign up … they can select preferences based on ethnicity, gender, language…” Wadsworth said. The feature of giving students a choice in who they will be opening up to allows for many to feel more comfortable about the process.
“With Uwill all of their personnel are fully licensed, and that option of the languages … we thought made them win out over others,” Wadsworth said.
Wadsworth explained that Telehealth
Appointments wouldn’t be very different from an in-person session. “That initial appointment is going to involve the therapist and the student sort of getting to know each other, establishing rapport ... Setting expectations, maybe ground rules of how the interactions will occur,” Wadsworth said.
Students have reached out through not only the UHelp line but also through the UMatch feature. “This new service with the three sessions has only been up and running for a week and the Counseling Center said they’ve had a couple people that have
PHOTO COURTESY
utilized it,” Wadsworth said.
In financial terms, Wadsworth and Nicole Bolk, a financial services worker, said that the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships applied for a 60 by 30 grant. The almost $300,000 received was split between various departments at OU such as the Food Pantry, Student Emergency Relief Fund, Graham Health Center Health, OU Counseling Center emergency fund and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
The grant allows OU to provide Uwill for students as a new way to have a choice of where to seek help. “But now there’s more funding in [the counseling office’s] emergency fund to help students who need that more, but don’t have the money to pay for it,” Wadsworth said. “They also have some general wellness things on their app as well, for meditation and mindfulness.”
The Uwill website has a multitude of features that can allow students to navigate healthier coping mechanisms and ways to think about their mental state individually.
Staff and faculty have also been involved and instructed in the use and dissemination of Uwill services so that when a student asks for help, they are part of the safety network at OU.
The Uwill website is now ever-present as a resource for the student body, Wadsworth said. “Let us help you deal with these things so that you can focus on school and not have to think about this all the time,” Wadsworth said.
Food, crafts and dancing at El Festival del Barrio
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
El Festival del Barrio was the latest addition to the Hispanic Heritage Month roster of events that brought together various cultural experiences, music and food from Latin America to Oakland University.
Hosted on Sept. 27 by the Hispanic Aspiring Leaders Organization (HALO), the tabling event had posters, food and arts and crafts stations representing different Hispanic countries.
“People are going to come and they’re not going to sit and listen to a lecture that we give on different countries,” Josh Newberg, president of Sigma Delta Pi, said. “They want to come and actually see the culture, hear about it and do activities related to the culture. It is through those activities when they’re actually learning.”
Mexico brought in emblematic candies like Duvalin and Pulparindo, also crafting baleros, a national toy. Panama’s table featured an infographic poster and Mola coloring books to represent the Indigenous traditions of the Guna people.
“It was pretty fun, people were enjoying the music and everything, so I think it went pretty well,” Antonio Beltran, a computer science major, said. “People were helping each other, which was really cool and we got to meet people from around the world, so you learn new things and it’s just a great way to meet new friends.”
The Dominican Republic table crafted Muñecas Limé, Dominican faceless dolls, while rain sticks
were built out of recycled materials at the Chile table.
“One of the challenges, a big one, was that the event was held outside,” Jenna DeVoogd, president of HALO, said. “So, you kind of tend to keep our fingers crossed that it wouldn’t rain or anything.”
With a small chance of rain, the Milagro Folkloric Ballet Company and the Wayne State University Folkloric Ballet Group took center stage at Elliott Tower to showcase traditional Mexican dances and instruct attendees on the “zapateado” dancing style.
“It really brings attention to the minority on
campus, which is Hispanics,” DeVoogd said. “There’s not a lot of Hispanic organizations either, there’s only a couple, so showcases like this really give people a sense of community.”
Peruvian ceviche and pan dulce — varied baked sweets — were also brought to the event after the dancing showcase. Newberg explained that complications with food were part of the learning process involved with hosting new and ambitious events.
“This is the first time we’ve ever done this, and it was kind of hard figuring out where to go and how to even get started,” Newberg said. “We had a few meetings to plan out what we actually wanted to do — food, dancing showcase, tabling — and then we had to fill out forms and ask for help.”
The small festival was co-hosted by the Spanish Club and the Center for Multicultural Initiatives, organizations that helped with coordination and tabling.
“I came here just to check it out and ended up helping on the Mexico table,” Beltran said. “It was pretty fun to see people helping out because of the wind. It worked out nicely at the end.”
Ecuador, Spain, Argentina, Honduras and El Salvador were the remaining countries featured in the festival with plans of growing in future years. DeVoogd concluded the event highlighting the importance of representation on campus.
“[The festival] shows the community that we do see you, we know you guys are on campus and we just want to have events and activities that represent,” DeVoogd said. “We hope that we did that with this — showed [them] that people do care and that representation is important.”
OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND POST
Reliving family traditions at Oakland University’s Bowling Club
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
On Thursday and Sunday nights, the first-ever bowling club at Oakland University revives family traditions and emerging sports careers with lifelong bowlers and first-time participants.
For two years, Avon North Hill Lanes has been the location of the Bowling Club at OU’s weekly bowling meets, where attendees get a discount on two games in a non-competitive atmosphere.
“When I graduated high school I was getting Oakland information and everything ready so I was thinking ‘Is there a bowling club here?’” Jason Hollaway, a computer science major, said. “I’ve been bowling for about 15 years, so I’ve been in leagues since I was little but the last time I was in a league was my freshman year of high school.”
A majority of attendees echoed Hollaway’s story — lifelong bowling enthusiasts with family ties to the sport.
“I’ve been bowling since I was a child,” Hayle Monjaras, an education major, said. “Me and my family would go every Sunday to bowl and it became a regular family activity — that’s where my love for bowling came from, it’s a nice thing to do and have fun.”
“I went to the Beats and Eats with [a friend], and that’s how I met Ari — she told me about the bowling club,” Anderson said. “I was kind of interested because every time that my grandma would come from Arizona, we
would always go bowling, so that would be our fun thing.”
With a record score of 290, Paul Dedenbach, one of the club’s star players also mentioned a recent resurgence in bowling among his family.
“Last summer my grandparents did a thing where, I think it was twice a week, we gathered with all the cousins to go bowling,” Dedenbach said. “ I had to change my bowling style because my fingers didn’t fit any of the balls and that has got me back into trying really hard.”
After scoring five consecutive strikes, Dedenbach explained his plans of joining a competitive league.
“Everybody in my family says I should join a league right now,” Dedenbach said. “I don’t really have the
time or the money for it, so I’m probably going to wait either until I graduate college or over the summer.”
Whether it was an Instagram post, a quick browse through GrizzOrgs or at tabling events, all attendees first connected to the club thanks to its president, Arianna Thompson.
“I’d be on campus and people would come up to me and be like ‘Hey, are you the president of bowling club?’” Thompson said. “So it’s cool to see people know who I am and know about the club. I’ve heard positive feedback.”
Like the majority of the members, Thompson’s intention for the club resonates with family traditions and a life-long story with the sport.
“The reason why I created the club is because of my granddaddy, he’s the person that taught me how to bowl,” Thompson said. “When I first transferred here [to OU], winter 2021, I was on GrizzOrgs and I was talking with my mom. I told her ‘Mom, they don’t have a bowling club,’ so my mom actually helped me create the bowling club.”
The weekly group photos on the club’s Instagram profile attested to the community building fostered by Thompson and the student organization.
“I love meeting new people all the time and I love making the club that everybody loves,” Thompson said. “I want to build a community where all of us are very nice and supportive of each other, and that it is such a positive environment — so bowling is perfect for that.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND POST
Tennis Club at OU: Serving a fun way to enjoy the fall
NOAH FRANCIS Features Editor
As the fall season is upon us, the weather is becoming just right for Oakland University students to wear a flannel, go on a jog around campus or try out one of OU’s most welcoming self-made club sports: the Tennis Club.
Vincent Griest, the vice president of the Tennis Club, explains how students can try the sport out even before paying their dues.
“We have the normal club team and anyone can join, as long as they pay the $100 dues for indoors,” Griest said. “But while we’re outdoors, anyone can show up.”
As long as the team is on the outdoor tennis courts, newcomers are welcome to pick up a racket and learn from some of OU’s best.
“In the beginning, we have drills for new members that want to haven’t picked up the tennis racket before,” Griest said. “We’ve had multiple people who picked it up, and they’re still here, paying their dues.”
While the club is beginner friendly, the club is for tennis players of all skill levels, from those who want to compete in tournaments, to those who have yet to touch a racket.
“It’s for all skills and skill levels,” Griest said. “It’s for the lower skill levels and the higher skill levels. Anyone and everyone is allowed to participate.”
One aspect that is special to Griest is the community of the club.
“We’re here to make friends and have fun,” Griest said. “I’ve had plenty of wonderful experiences of meeting new people, meeting friends, and having hangouts since we do a lot of stuff over the summer too.”
For members who grow to be more committed to the sport, they can step into the court and try out for tournaments throughout the season.
“We try to get two to three tournaments every semester, and we do tryouts for those tournaments at least two weeks before,” Griest said. “We do tryouts not only based on match play, but based on if they do their volunteer hours, if they participate, and if they come to tennis often. It’s not only based on skill, it’s based on whoever shows up and helps out with the team.”
Outside of practices and tournaments, the OU Tennis Club is planning several fundraisers scheduled for the end of each month. One such fundraiser is the fastest serve fundraiser.
“We’re going to do a fastest serve fundraiser, so whoever has the fastest serve will get a certain prize,” Griest said. “The first serve is always going to be free, and then $5 for unlimited serves.
This fundraiser will also be featured in the team’s own tournament, Grizz Bash, on Oct. 26 to Oct. 27 on the OU courts.
“We have a whole bunch of teams that have already mentioned they are interested,” Griest said. “We have Ohio State University, we have Michigan University, we have Wayne State, Detroit Mercy and more. These are all the club tennis teams though, not the actual D1 teams.”
For more information on the OU Tennis Club, follow the team’s instagram page, @ tenniscluboaklanduniversity, or visit their GrizzOrgs webpage.
Kresge Library double feature: Two new historical collections a nd their significance
DANIELA CESARIO
Features Reporter
Oakland University’s Kresge Library has been a part of the University since 1961, and is increasingly growing its collections. One new collection offered is the Gaylor Collection.
“The Gaylor Collection is a really phenomenal, unique collection,” student assistant and OU junior Edgar Havard said. “What makes it so valuable is because it is queer literature, and a lot of it was considered queer pulp fiction. Some of them even have annotations from queer people in the 80s.”
The collection, named after its founder Robert Gaylor, is more than just a compilation of rare books and manuscripts. Gaylor, who began his tenure at Kresge Library as a reference librarian in 1965, devoted 37 years to the university in various roles, including Associate Dean for Public Services and Archives Librarian.
His passion for preserving queer voices started in the 1960s when LGBTQ+ narratives were often marginalized and censored. By the early 2000s, he had donated most of his collection to the library, ensuring that these invaluable resources would be
accessible to future generations.
“My job is mainly to work on outreach, because not many people know about it,” Havard said. “There aren’t really many in the world that are like it, the fact that we have it at Oakland University is quite impressive.”
The Gaylor Collection features a wide array of queer literature, from early 20th-century novels and poetry to more contemporary works. Its highlight, however, lies in the queer pulp fiction of the mid-20th century — a genre that, while often overlooked, played a critical role in shaping LGBTQ+ identity and community. These novels, with their lurid covers and sensational plots, were often the only representation available to queer readers at a time when mainstream media largely ignored or misrepresented their lives.
“In order to access the collection it’s actually very simple,” Harvard said. “Just ask the front desk and they can direct you. Sometimes we have the librarian that stays downstairs and facilitates while you’re down there. She is happy to direct people and let them see it right away.”
The Gaylor Collection is just one of the many special collections at Kresge Library that the
staff and students hold dear. Another standout is the Sustainability Collection, which focuses on environmental literature and resources aimed at encouraging a deeper connection with nature.
“My favorite is definitely the Sustainability Collection,” said senior Katie Kraemer. “It’s very different; libraries don’t usually have collections like it. It’s all about nature and things that tend to make you want to go outside.”
This collection includes books, journals, and multimedia resources on topics ranging from climate change and conservation to sustainable agriculture and green technology. It’s a go-to resource for students across various disciplines who are looking to integrate sustainability into their studies and daily lives.
“Another interesting resource this library offers that not many know about is the interlibrary,” Kraemer said. “If we don’t have a book, you can request it and we can get it shipped from anywhere in the world.”
For more information about the Kresge Library’s resources, go to their webpage at library.oakland. edu for more about their different collections.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY CLUB TENNIS
Grit & Goals: The heart of Oakland University’s Women’s Club Lacrosse
DANIELA CESARIO Features Reporter
In the heart of Oakland University, the Women’s Club Lacrosse Team is carving out a name for itself both on and off the field. With a mix of seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers, the team is more than just a group of athletes — they’re a family united by a shared passion for the game and a drive to make their mark in the collegiate lacrosse scene.
“The team dynamic has been great,” freshman Mackenna Fauteux said. “We’ve had a couple practices now and we’re starting to jump into game-like drills and it’s been awesome. Right now we’re in the offseason, so we only have two practices a week. For me it hasn’t put a burden on the time dedicated to school work and it’s been nice to just slowly dive back into all things lacrosse.”
Having coached lacrosse for four years, and her second year coaching at OU, Head Coach Allyson Hart has a clear vision for the team this year.
“Coming from being a player on the team not too long ago, the coaching has definitely evolved even with just a short time,” Hart said. “I’ve needed to understand how I can accommodate not only the players who have been there a while, but also including and working with the new girls who may have not played as much or haven’t played. Finding the balance on making everyone happy has been the key to coaching.”
By working hard in the fall and learning how the team can work together, it will set them up for success during the season in the spring.
“Another main goal of mine is always trying to spread the game,” Hart said. “Seeing if we can get more players and more people to get on board with coming out, working hard and playing/loving the game of lacrosse.”
For many students, the club offers a unique opportunity to continue playing a sport they love while balancing the demands of college life. It’s a chance to remain active and competitive without the intense pressure often associated with varsity sports.
“I have been playing lacrosse for eight years,” freshman Maddie Loken said. “Playing in college is definitely different from high school because it is way more aggressive, and in college, you have way more opportunities and rules such as running through the crease and playing defense with your stick horizontal.” Loken, like many others, appreciates the freedom and flexibility that comes with playing on a club team. In a sport known for its intensity and competitiveness, Loken draws strength from her personal journey, using it to fuel her passion for lacrosse.
“The best way I prepare for games is by listening to a playlist I used to listen to with my dad, before he passed away,” Loken said. “My dad passed away in January 2022 due to stage four pancreatic cancer. We always listen to the same couple songs before a game so I tend to do the same thing.”
For any questions or to learn more about the women’s club lacrosse team, their instagram is @ ouwclublax or email them at ouwlaxclub@gmail.com for more information.
Friday the 13th turned from scary to nostalgic at Oakland University with Y2K Night. Live music, retro outfits and vintage cameras took over Elliott Tower to commemorate the late 90s and early 2000s.
Hosted by the campus radio station, WXOU, the party included a DJ set by KARMEL, a Y2K outfit contest, cup pong tables and a live music set by The Rodri-bros.
Some students shared their thoughts on the most iconic Y2K aspects such as fashion, music and visual atmosphere.
“[The] first thing that came to mind was neon colors and ‘The Sweet Escape,’” Sydney Dochscader, a freshman, said. “That’s why I brought a Y2K tie with tech stuff I got from my dad.”
“It would definitely have to be the patterns, only patterns like cheetah print scream 2000s” Hayle Monjaras, a junior, said. “Prints were such a staple to the Y2K fashion. Also, music, what better way to remember the nostalgia of the 2000s than with the music?”
While bedazzled belts, cheetah prints, baggy pants and analog cameras were mentioned as staples of the Y2K experience, there was an almost unanimous consensus that the emblem of the late 90s and early 2000s was none other than Britney Spears.
event coordinator. A cover of Bowling for Soup’s “1985” was the opening song for the band that also played retro hits like “All
BeGolden Magazine’s first fashion pop-up stand
Story by Matilde Rabajoli
“One of the most iconic things about the Y2K fashion is the creativity,” Monjaras said. “There [were] so many accessories, so many fun colors and patterns that were played with, people expressed themselves in so many different ways.”
Design by Megan Judy
After attendees grabbed refreshments, the Rodri-bros started their live music set, led in vocals by Andrew Deacon, WXOU
Photos courtesy of BeGolden and Courtney Blackett
On Sept. 25 and 26, the Oakland University BeGolden Fashion Magazine held a fundraising pop-up stand to invite students to thrift donated clothes.
From selling sweaters and accessories like hats and purses, to copies of their magazines, the sample sale held various attractions for the stylish population of OU students. All items available at the pop-up sale were generously donated by general body members of BeGolden including writers, editors, page designers, models, photographers and stylists.
“I think it’s great that there are a bunch of people doing this on campus. I was thinking about joining way earlier.” Donovan Sharp, a freshman student, said after purchasing a BeGolden issue. “I personally am interested in magazines, I have a Thrasher collection at home.”
The club’s first magazine issue was published in Winter 2023, and the club has been growing ever since. Said issue featured winter trends, explored the loss of personal style through social media and profiled campus initiatives like Grizz Garments to present students with campus initiatives based around fashion — as well as personal thoughts.
“I didn’t know that they had this until I walked past it.” Donovan Sharp added. The location of the pop-up stand under Elliott Tower proved to make the stand a hot spot on campus on both days it was open.
“I thought it was so fun.” Hayle Monjaras said while holding a pair of vibrant graphic T-shirts and a new jacket, her newest purchases. “I like fashion. I feel like [the pop-up sale] is very inclusive.”
The club’s executive board members Madison Siewert and Olivia
Chiappelli conducted the sales at the outdoor thrift stand since the club planned on using the event to fund the online publishing for its next issue coming in December of this year.
“It’s a good way to get everyone on campus involved … and see who has hobbies in common.” Madison Siewert, BeGolden’s president, said.
“OU hasn’t done any clothing pop-ups like this,” Siewert said, at the first campus fashion sample sale to date. Similarly, BeGolden is the first student-organized fashion magazine to be published with OU.
The magazine’s latest issue included articles on the ethics behind fashion in our modern day era, trends that are ever-present for the seasons and how to accommodate them into one’s style, and the evolution of clothes throughout the decades. The issue also featured a photo shoot with OU men’s basketball players Isaiah Jones and Osei Price on the heels of their historic March Madness run.
The pop-up sale, however, allowed the magazine to establish a physical presence on campus that could include all OU students in a creative way while also spreading awareness of the publication.
“You only see this on the internet … they only ever do [pop-up-sales] in California.” Monjaras said.
Many attendees said they were surprised by the existence of the club and that such a modern hobby as thrifting and fashion was being marketed on OU’s campus.
The pop-up sale resulted in a fun, new activity that brought OU students together through their common interest in fashion.
For more information on the next BeGolden fashion magazine issue, check out their social media page @begoldenou and keep an eye out for the December 2024 Issue.
Echo Cognito hosts open mic night
MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter
“Dancer, Lover, Musician, Swiftie, Poet, Queer, Daughter, Intelligent, Woman, College Educated, Neurodivergent, Disabled, Chef” and other identities greeted guests who attended Oakland University’s Echo Cognito open mic night on the evening of Sept. 24, 2024.
Echo Cognito is a themed literary journal which focuses on a new theme every year — this year being identity. Although the journal was established in 2014 originally by Honors College students, it was revived in 2023 by club president and founder, Grayson Hershey.
“We publish different types of art and written work that are within that theme to guide people because, like, I want to submit to literary journals but it’s very daunting to just make up new work on the fly so we hope with themes it could help guide people,” Hershey said.
Open mic nights are an opportunity for writers and artists to display works they’ve otherwise not been
able to in front of an audience. It’s a celebration of creativity and expression, and for Echo Cognito it is an observance of identity.
The night’s event displayed some work that fit into the journal’s theme “Echo Cognito: An Anthology of the Human Heart.”
The open mic was open to anyone and everyone who wanted to participate — not to just those who are a part of the club. In fact, club members encouraged the audience to read any work regardless of if they had written it.
Writers’ work spanned from a quick five minute play about a circus crew struggling to make ends meet which results in the characters finding a new meaning to the word family to poetry and short stories of understanding appearances and masks.
It truly felt like those who went up were confident in their work, and rightfully so. These pieces challenged what identity is and what it meant to them and you could feel passion as they read each word off of their pages.
For those who were unable to attend but would love to get their work out there as well, Echo Cognito
is a club anyone can join at any point.
“We do plays, short stories, poems, photography, any other type of art that you can take a picture of and slap in a book,” Hershey said in regards to what goes into the journal.
“As long as a student can write a piece that has something to do with their identity or how they fit into their identity or how they don’t fit into their identity then we accept it,” Malena Pugliese, Echo Cognito vice president, added.
The open mic had an atmosphere that felt incredibly warm and welcoming and overall uplifting as a club where members and non-members alike celebrated their work together.
“I like to think that people want to have a place where they can talk about things that they couldn’t somewhere else,” Vice President Malena said, “I think this is the place to do that.”
For more information on Echo Cognito you can visit their Grizzorgs or head to Instagram at @echocognito. For submission information and guidelines you can visit their website. Submissions are open until Dec. 1, 2024.
‘SOPHIE:’ The problem with posthumous releases
CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Editor
On Jan. 30, 2021, electronic music producer and pop-music icon, SOPHIE, died following an accidental three-story fall from her rooftop in her Athens home. Sophie Xeon, simply known as SOPHIE, was a pioneer in the hyperpop genre — along with artists like A.G. Cook and 100 gecs.
Tackling SOPHIE’s discography post-death is a challenging task to say the least. One must understand not only her impact as an electronic music producer, not only as a pop-music auteur, but as a symbol in the trans and queer community of being unapologetically yourself.
Six months after SOPHIE’s death, her brother, Benny Long, revealed that her sophomore record — aptly titled “SOPHIE” — was nearly complete at the time of her passing. Long announced that “SOPHIE” was to be finished with help from other pop music artists.
“The idea SOPHIE and I discussed many times was to do one abstract experimental album and then a pop record — this was going to be the pop one — and to keep going on that cycle for years,” Long told PaperMag in 2021.
SOPHIE’s vision, carried by Long after her death, was a grand one. Her music inevitably pushed the boundaries of what a “pop” record could be — it is a legacy that many other artists have acknowledged in recent years.
Kim Petras, the first transgender artist to win the
Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for Sam Smith’s “Unholy,” dedicated her Grammy acceptance speech to SOPHIE.
“SOPHIE especially, my friend who passed away two years ago who told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, SOPHIE. I adore you and your inspiration will always be in my music,” Petras said at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
This leads us to “SOPHIE,” the posthumous sophomore record produced and released by SOPHIE’s family. Released on Sept. 25, 2024, “SOPHIE” had a boatload of expectations behind it — but does it live up to them?
To understand this, one has to be familiar with the legacy of posthumous releases.
Labeled as “cash-grabs,” “greedy,” “cheap” and “artistically hollow,” major labels and the families of those who died often blindly put out these posthumous records without care of the recently-passed artist’s original vision. Popular examples of this include multiple posthumous Juice Wrld and XXXTentacion records, as well as “Closer” by Joy Division and “Made In Heaven” by Queen.
While some of these releases can be good — a beautiful mix of old and new ideas from an artist’s almost complete vision — most are not. Common critiques mentioned earlier almost always apply to posthumous albums, and while there are exceptions, they are few and far between.
“SOPHIE” is not one of those exceptions.
The whole record, aside from the production, is completely absent from what makes SOPHIE,
SOPHIE. Her vocals are nowhere to be heard, the soul of the record is essentially gone — it’s barren.
This means that other vocalists needed to pick up the pieces, however, they did not do a good job. Guest artists like Kim Petras, BC Kingdom, Jozzy and Juliana Huxtable give poor imitations of what SOPHIE’s vocals traditionally are. This — mixed with production that aims to be more sparse and ambient — leaves a sour taste with most listeners.
The best tracks on “SOPHIE” are those where vocals and production are not endlessly layered on top of each other, where the listener is suffocated by auto-tune, blaring bass hits and niche synth lines. Tracks like “Intro (The Full Horror),” “The Dome’s Protection,” “Berlin Nightmare” and “Exhilarate” are the best examples of songs that toe the line between overbearing and respectful.
The worst offenders are “Reason Why,” “Live In My Truth” and “Why Lies.” While the tracks use decadent pop production that SOPHIE would have loved, without her vocals they just feel empty. SOPHIE is gone, and with her, electronic music will never be the same.
SOPHIE’s peers and successors, including Charli XCX, Cook, 100 Gecs, Petras and many other hyperpop as well as electronic artists, owe a majority of their success to the genius pioneer of art that SOPHIE was.
While her music is not the same without her spark, one can only dream of a world where she got to continue her passion — in a world where she could be uniquely SOPHIE.
Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Short n’ Sweet’ tour sells out in Detroit
MOE DEL ROSARIO
Arts
Reporter
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” tour stopped in Detroit on Thursday Sept. 26 for a sold-out Little Caesars Arena. This was the third stop on her 20242025 tour.
Sabrina Carpenter is a 25-year-old singer being labeled as one of the top breakout artists of the year. Despite this being a huge year for her, she’s been in the music industry for nearly a decade.
Carpenter’s debut album “Eyes Wide Open” was released back in 2015 while the singer was still on Disney’s “Girl Meets World” and featured songs like “Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying” and “The Middle of Starting Over.”
“Short n’ Sweet” was released on Aug. 23 and reached Platinum after being on top of the US Billboard 200 chart. “Taste,” “Bed Chem” and “Good Graces” quickly became some of her most streamed songs.
The tour has been highly anticipated by fans around the world following the release of her album — the crowd was not left disappointed.
The concert began with an animated video of Carpenter which cut to her being called up on stage while still being in a bathtub, an entertaining sight to see. Other videos in between songs were more animated clips and infomercials that felt like a sitcom met Barbie’s Dreamhouse.
Carpenter went through her setlist with energy that matched from the start of the show all the way to the end. While Carpenter started on Disney, the innuendos and short jokes in between songs and in songs creates a new persona from the singer.
Her setlist consists of 21 songs and one surprise track.
1. “Taste”
2. “Good Graces”
3. “Slim Pickins”
4. “Tornado Warnings”
5. “Lie to Girls”
6. “decode”
7. “Bed Chem”
8. “Feather”
9. “Fast Times”
10. “Read your Mind”
11. “Sharpest Tool”
12. “Opposite”
13. “because i liked a boy”
14. “Coincidence”
15. “Spin the Bottle (surprise song)”
16. “Nonsense”
17. “Dumb & Poetic”
18. “Juno”
19. “Please, Please, Please”
20. “Don’t Smile”
21. “Espresso”
Carpenter selected her surprise song for Detroit by playing a game of spin-the-bottle. However, she then ignored the song chosen by the bottle and instead went with “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer.
Surprise past songs included “Mamma Mia” by ABBA in Columbus and “That Don’t Impress Me Much” by Shania Twain in Toronto.
The Barbie-like singer reflected on performing in Michigan as she recalled her time performing at the Pike Room in Pontiac, which had a capacity of 250 guests — much smaller than the limit of 19,000 people at Little Caesars Arena.
As a fan of Sabrina Carpenter, it’s amazing to see how she’s gone from performing at smaller venues like the Crofoot and Masonic Temple in Detroit in 2023 to selling out Little Caesars Arena just a year later.
The show ended with a final pre-filmed video of Sabrina Carpenter bidding goodbye to concert goers and reminding them to visit the merch table along with a series of jokes.
The overall atmosphere was lively and energetic, and Sabrina Carpenter has a great stage presence that can catch the attention of fans and even those who aren’t familiar with her music. The theme is well thought out and entirely captivating.
The “Short n’ Sweet” tour concludes in Milan on March 26, 2025. For future tour dates and updates, you can visit her website that creatively resembles an early90s magazine theme.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES/MARLEEN MOISE
The importance of media literacy in the age of misinformation
MORGAN WARNEKE Content Editor
Media literacy — the ability to use critical thinking when consuming media — has become an absolute necessity in our digital age. “Fake news,” although an overused and sometimes laughable term, has become a big problem in the current presidential election. Propaganda and advertisements have always been around, but they have rarely caused such a national divide.
The biggest source of misinformation often comes from targeted algorithms, 15-second clips on social media and campaign commercials. Everywhere you look (including your neighbor’s front lawn), someone is telling you why their opinion is right and yours is wrong. Even the candidates themselves are making false and exaggerated claims to push their own agendas.
For those with limited knowledge of politics, this quickly becomes overwhelming and confusing, and many people are discouraged from voting at all. I’m going to break down some ways that you can get news that’s as unbiased as possible, so that when election day comes, you can make a decision that you’re confident in and opt out of the never-ending game of “he said, she said.”
Seek out multiple sources
It’s become increasingly obvious that certain publications are geared towards left-wing or right-
wing audiences, most notably CNN and Fox News. Seeking out multiple sources at once will help verify facts, understand different perspectives and point out misinformation.
When analyzing a piece of media, you may want to ask yourself: Are they reliable or do they leave out information? Are they funded by organizations that might sway their interests? Do they cite verifiable sources?
DO NOT get all of your news from social media
Social media is notorious for spreading
misinformation at the speed of light. Information online is almost always cut down and completely void of context — it’s like playing Whisper with thousands of people.
Whether you get your information from posts on X, Facebook or by scrolling on Instagram reels, it’s important to remember that it’s all part of an algorithm that is designed specifically to get you to interact with it — this means that it doesn’t matter if the information is exaggerated, biased or simply untrue.
You may want to consider downloading Ground News, an app that allows you to filter out bias in news and analyze multiple sources at once. Or you can discover publications that are reliable via AllSides Media Bias Chart. Some examples are Forbes, News Nation and The Wall Street Journal.
Think for yourself (and others)
It’s easy to go along with the opinions of others, especially when it’s what you were taught to think. Don’t be afraid to branch out, ask questions, do your own research and form your own opinions. You’re ultimately making a decision about something that will affect your healthcare, education and rights for years to come.
However, don’t vote only with your particular needs in mind. Reflect on your loved ones who may be affected by certain policies — especially when it comes to equality and inclusivity. You are contributing not only to your own future, but to the future of those who you care about. Vote responsibly!
Israel bombs Lebanon: Prospects of a regional war in the Middle East
NICHOLAS KABLAK Political Reporter
Israel recently launched a series of airstrikes into Lebanon. The Israeli government was targeting a number of Hezbollah assets in the country as the regional situation in the Middle East becomes more unstable with every passing event.
Israel has already killed multiple top Hezbollah members, and the death toll in Lebanon is estimated to be over 600.
Recently Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said in an announcement to the people of Lebanon that the war was not with them but with Hezbollah. Interestingly, the announcement was in English.
Israel claims that Hezbollah is storing arms in civilian homes and is using them as a base of operations. The Israeli military’s goal is to destroy Hezbollah’s infrastructure near the northern Israeli border and to keep Hezbollah far from Israel for the protection of Israeli citizens.
“We will do whatever we need in the next stages in order to prevent the threat of Hezbollah,” Daniel Hagari, Israeli Army spokesperson, said.
All of this is in context of the recent turmoil in the Middle East, with the war in Gaza and recent altercations with Iran. The prospects of Israeli conflicts growing into a wider regional conflict now seems likely.
Israel also has recently hit Hezbollah by detonating pagers on the militant group in a specialized operation.
Israel’s army chief, Herzi Halevi, has stated that the recent attacks were done to prepare for a possible ground invasion by Israeli troops into Lebanon.
The repercussions of an Israeli war with Hezbollah would be brutal and there are many indications to suggest that Hezbollah would be significantly more lethal than Hamas, with whom Israel has fought its most recent war.
Hezbollah has significant funding, preparation and weaponry. This is also evident by Hezbollah’s record in fighting Israel in 2006 in which the militant group did significant damage to Israeli units.
“If we can deal with a ceasefire in Lebanon … there’s a desire to see change, I mean, in the region,” President Biden said in an interview.
Although the president has been floating a ceasefire, the Israeli government has rejected the concept and has no intention of slowing the fighting.
“The report about the purported directive to ease up on the fighting in the north is the opposite of the truth,” the office of the prime minister said in a post on X.
On top of this, multiple nations have recently hammered out a cease-fire proposal for Hezbollah, Lebanon and Israel. Amongst those who signed the cease-fire deal, many expressed that they were optimistic about its prospects.
Despite the optimism, Israel has continued its strikes on Lebanon.
The U.S. has been sending troops to the region to “augment” the American troops already in the region CBS reported. The Pentagon has claimed that the reason for this is not to aid Israel in Lebanon.
“When it comes to U.S. forces in the region, it is for our own force protection and should we need to come to the defense of Israel … we’ve positioned forces to do that,” Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokesperson, said.
As the possibility of retaliatory attacks on Israel increases, it is clear that the United States will be covering the cost of the defense of Israel. This is much like how the United States acted during Iran’s recent drone strikes.
With the increase in violence, it is unclear how the situation in the Middle East will develop.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
Rome and the US: How will the US fall?
NICHOLAS KABLAK Political Reporter
A republic dominates the world, is ruled by institutions that often falter, has a culture spread wherever its influence extends and has constant political conflict. Two nations fit this description: the United States of America and the Roman Republic.
What Americans can learn from this ancient nation could change the course of the U.S. and potentially save the country from future chaos or collapse.
Oftentimes the U.S. is compared to Rome, more often than not in respect to Rome’s collapse. But in truth, Rome could be said to have fallen many times, with the ancient nation seeing numerous transformations all the way into the 15th century.
What is meant by this comparison? At one point in Rome’s history, it went from a robust, though oligarchic, republic to an authoritarian empire. Experiencing this after a long series of political violence, wars, civil strife and societal turmoil.
This period is known as the late Roman Republic. It is the Roman Republic at this stage that the United States ought to be compared to. The two nations share similar institutions, world dominance, economies, cultural influence and struggles.
Institutions
The Roman Republic had a complicated system of government that was created and amended over a long period of time. This system was created after the overthrow of a monarch and had a system of checks and balances to keep power out of the hands of one ruler.
Rome is very similar to the U.S. in this regard, which employs similar checks and balances and was also inspired by the removal of a monarch. Importantly Rome also had what was called “The Assemblies,” which was a political institution that allowed citizens to directly elect government officials and enact laws.
These institutions including the Roman Senate, which functioned more in an advisory capacity, would become enveloped in bribery and political corruption, leading to a broken political order that served only the elites of Roman society.
The beginning of the end for the Roman Republic was when two populist reformers known as the Gracchi brothers tried to institute reforms for the good of the common people. The Gracchi brothers would become victims of political violence and institutional backlash.
This event began the breakdown of Roman political norms and was the first of many instances of political corruption leading to violence. Rome’s institutions closely resemble America’s in many ways. The decay of these institutions should come as a warning to the U.S. which is also witnessing a rise in apparent corruption.
Power
The Roman Republic saw constant military expansion. It had strong incentives to keep its military machine turning, eventually leading to its complete dominance of the Mediterranean and becoming the region’s sole superpower.
The Romans had a firmly held belief that they fought their wars for the sake of security. The Romans felt that all their expansion and conquest was merely
so they could enjoy peace. A mindset that many Americans will recognize.
Military dominance is another area where Rome and the U.S. are alike. Being a sole superpower and being pulled into constant conflict because of an expansive empire brings a whole host of pressures to a nation.
At the time of the late Roman Republic numerous men, driven by wealth and ambition, pursued unnecessary wars and conflict. These actions would be a large part of the internal and external turmoil that the republic would face as it came under the rule of an authoritarian.
Again, this should come as a warning to the U.S. not to pursue unnecessary conflict and to avoid overexpansion.
Economy
The Roman Republic saw its founding as a nation of land-owning citizens. This relatively small disparity in wealth between the wealthy and poor was one of the nation’s greatest strengths.
Over time this disparity would grow, and the late Roman Republic would see the rise of ultra-wealthy oligarchs. This is a trend that is observable in the U.S. This massive disparity in the Roman economy drove many citizens into urban environments, swelling the number of urban poor. It was these changes in economic conditions that would lead to the rise of the Gracchi and the subsequent turmoil of their deaths. Again, America should seek to learn from the Romans and seek to alleviate these disparities to preserve the nation.
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Fifth time’s a charm: Ishiba selected as Japan’s next prime minister
MALLORY WALIGORA
Political Editor
On Sept. 27, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan conducted its 2024 presidential election to choose the next leader of the ruling party. Shigeru Ishida was chosen as the party leader, making him the next prime minister of the country. This system is similar to the prime minister of the United Kingdom’s Parliament, the leader of the party that wins is the prime minister.
LDP is currently Japan’s largest and strongest political party, and it has held strong power since its formation in 1955. In fact, LDP has held continuous power with a few exceptions since its formation. It is well-known for its pro-American foreign policy and protecting business interests.
Notably, LDP played a large role in making Japan an economic powerhouse following World War II. Today Japan holds the fourth largest economy in the world, with a $4.11 trillion GDP. Many have referred to this rapid economic growth as a “miracle.”
Shigeru Ishiba previously served as the Defense Minister of Japan, and he is considered to be a defense policy expert. It’s no doubt that in the era of nuclear weapons and instability, his expertise will prove to be useful. This was Ishiba’s fifth bid for the position of prime minister, and his wishes have finally been granted.
Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi was a close second choice. She would have been Japan’s first female prime minister. Takaichi is also a member of LDP and proves to have a similarly impressive resume.
Ishiba wants to clean up his party — a reference to the past of LDP. Corruption scandals have plagued the party within the past years, with executives being replaced and politicians resigning.
“We ought to be a party that lets members discuss the truth in a free and open manner, a party that is fair and impartial on all matters and a party with humility,” Ishiba said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE GUARDIAN
A major focus of Ishiba’s policy is improving Japan’s external security. With Russia, North Korea and China all within close proximity of Japan, Ishiba has stressed the importance of stronger security.
In fact, on Sept. 25, North Korea tested multiple ballistic missiles to the eastern waters toward Japan in a military operation. Another test occurred earlier this year in January, threatening both South Korea and Japan.
“We strongly condemn North Korea’s missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,” South Korea’s military said in a statement in reference to the recent missile test.
In August, Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida officially stepped down following poor approval ratings. Although a successful and prominent leader on the world stage, public opinion soured following inflation and scandals within the government.
“As the ruling party, I hope for the LDP to earn the trust of the people and lead a dignified path in advancing its policies with the people’s understanding and sympathy,” Kishida said while announcing his decision to step down.
As international relations in Asia continue to escalate with the threat of warfare, Ishiba steps in as a fresh pair of eyes for Japan. Many are hopeful for a new start for LDP leadership.
Women’s soccer splits road games against Milwaukee, Green Bay
EVAN BLANCHARD Sports Reporter
This last weekend, Oakland University (OU) women’s soccer went on the road to Wisconsin to play the Milwaukee Panthers and the Green Bay Phoenix. It’s a road trip that every Horizon League school makes. The Golden Grizzlies would split the weekend games, losing to Milwaukee but winning at Green Bay.
Thursday, Sept. 26: 1-0 loss at Milwaukee
The Panthers went on the attack against the Oakland defense early. Milwaukee attempted three goals and took three corner kicks in the first nine minutes of action, but OU sophomore goalie Julia Zangerl and the defense remained solid.
Junior forward Frankie Mudd took a shot of her own early in the first half but was deflected by Milwaukee’s goalkeeper Parker Donahugh. Outside of a few more attempts by the Golden Grizzlies in the half, the Panthers largely controlled the game in the first 45 minutes. They had nine shots compared to Oakland’s three in the first half, and there were nine corner kicks to none.
Zangerl did an excellent job defending OU’s net. She had four saves and was key in keeping the Golden Grizzlies fighting.
Coming out of the break, the Panthers fired off five goals and a corner kick, all inside the first
eight minutes of the second half. A big problem in the game was controlling time of possession. Milwaukee put much more pressure on the Golden Grizzlies than the Golden Grizzlies put on them.
All that pressure culminated in three quick fouls for OU, including a yellow card on Lisa Kazandjian at the 57:45 mark. Brooke Blackstock’s foul soon after gave Milwaukee’s Kayla Rollins a free kick, which she knocked in past Zangerl, making it a 1-0 game for the Golden Grizzlies.
Feeling the pressure, Oakland ripped off three attempts at a goal, but Donahugh was up for the challenge, saving three goals within ten minutes. It would be OU’s last real run at tying the game, and Milwaukee earned a hard-fought win over the Golden Grizzlies.
These offensive frustrations are nothing new on the season. This was their fourth loss of the year where the score was 1-0. There were also two ties, one to the University of North Dakota, 1-1, and the other to the Bowling Green Falcons, 0-0. Throw in a 2-1 loss to Robert Morris, and you have a large majority of games that could’ve swung the Golden Grizzlies way if they could just knock in a goal or two.
Sunday, Sept. 29: 1-0 Win at Green Bay
The team badly needed a pick-me-up after the disappointing loss to Milwaukee. The team spent the previous day in Milwaukee, taking in the city and enjoying each other’s company.
“Being able to spend a day in Milwaukee helped make the connections on and off the field stronger,” junior Shannon Brown said. “It allowed us to create our own entertainment while on an away trip, and not necessarily keeping our focus on soccer 24/7.”
Both teams came out of the gate physically, with seven fouls happening in the first 17 minutes. The Phoenix controlled the game on offense early on, mirroring the struggles that the Golden Grizzlies faced against Milwaukee.
That Oakland defense kept coming up big early on, though. In the first 24 minutes, Green Bay got off six shots, with four of them being saved by Zangerl.
Late in the first half, after Oakland was mostly forced to play hard defense all game, the Golden Grizzlies finally got their opening. Brown knocked in a goal off an assist from junior forward Marina Downing, making it a 1-0 Grizzly lead.
“Our team needs to continue to be hungry for goalscoring opportunities and finishing the chances that we do get,” Brown said.
The second half saw Oakland with a stretch of pressure on the Phoenix, attempting four shots in about six minutes, although none found their mark. Freshman midfielder Thai Quallich attempted two of them. Green Bay goalie Mallorie Benhart kept the Phoenix in the game, staying steady in the net with three saves in the second half.
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A’ja Wilson named unanimous WNBA MVP in a record-breaking 2024 season
SUMMER WEATHERS
Sports Reporter
Las Vegas Aces’ star A’ja Wilson received the prestigious 2024 Unanimous MVP award, which solidified her legacy in women’s basketball.
Wilson was embraced by all of her teammates and head coach Becky Hammon the moment she received the phone call from WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert on this historic accomplishment. After hearing the great news, she expressed so much gratitude for what was a celebration of their collective journey and successes.
“I cannot thank you all enough. I hope you guys understand how much you mean to me. I hope you guys know that this trophy is nothing without y’all,” Wilson said. “We’ve been through the wringer — and we gonna continue to go through the wringer — but one thing y’all don’t ever have to worry about is A’ja going anywhere.”
“I am forever grateful to be y’all teammate. Y’all have given me so much strength. Y’all have given me so much love, so much power, and I hope I can do
the same for you guys. So, thank you guys from the bottom of my heart. This truly means a lot.”
Not only was this achievement well-deserved, but it came at such a pivotal time — when the WNBA was gaining a lot of recognition and popularity. In light of this momentum, Wilson made headlines throughout the 2024 regular season when she notably:
Became the all-time scoring leader of the Las Vegas Aces franchise
Made history by becoming the first player to record five consecutive games with 20 or more points and ten or more rebounds — a feat that proves her consistency in the league
Joined Diana Taurasi in a category for the most 40plus points games in WNBA history
Had an all-around impact on the game, becoming the first player in WNBA history to score 35 or more points while filling the stat sheet with ten or more rebounds and more than five steals
Celebrated the rare accomplishment of a 20-point and 20-rebound game against the Seattle Storm
Established a league record for the most games
with at least 25 points and ten or more rebounds
Became the first player to exceed more than 1,000 points in a single season
Achieved the highest total amount of rebounds in a single season
Notched eight 30-plus-point games and 10-plus rebounds in a single season
Wilson stands as only one of just two WNBA players to have ever received the unanimous MVP honor. This goes to show that she is truly a dominant force in the league.
The back-to-back champion and now a three-time MVP has developed a reputation as someone who can get things done at the highest level. Now, as she continues to perform, she does so while inspiring young athletes to pursue their dreams, just as she has done.
Fans across the league, including some other basketball greats, are excited to see what this remarkable athlete will accomplish next. Her impact on women’s basketball will definitely be felt for years to come.
Kevin Beers unplugged: How the voice of Oakland sports navigates game day
KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Editor
Oakland University PA announcer Kevin Beers has a voice nearly every student who’s attended an Oakland sports event can recognize on the spot.
However, while many would assume Beers’s preparation for a game day starts at one of Oakland’s different sports venues, such as the OU Credit Union O’Rena, the Oakland Soccer Field or even the Oakland Baseball Field — it doesn’t.
Typically, Beers’s game day starts at a Mobil gas station. Grabbing snacks, specifically strawberry Twizzlers and Munchos potato chips, are necessary for any game day.
“I think it’s critical, actually,” Beers said regarding getting snacks. “That might be overstating it just a little bit, but you do stuff like that because everybody tries to create a family atmosphere. That’s one way I can do it. It’s a very simple thing, and I’m older than everybody, so I can put on my dad hat and so forth. Munchos and Twizzlers it is.”
After getting some snacks, you would think Beers jumps into a warm-up routine to get his voice ready, but with so many years dedicated to the business, it’s no longer necessary.
“I used to, but I’m about to start year 20 as men’s basketball PA announcer, and so honest to God, my voice is — I don’t know if you can call it callused or whatever, but it’s just always ready, it seems like,” Beers said.
With a ton of experience under his belt, Beers
also has no issue keeping the energy levels high on game day. Between his lifelong love for sports and the atmosphere of Oakland sports events, it all comes naturally to him.
“There’s no secret sauce; it’s just kinda me. It’s probably annoying for some people that I’m always up, but I think it plays well for the role of a PA announcer,” Beers said. “There’s something about this atmosphere, too. I was raised a sports kid, so there’s something about this atmosphere, no matter what the sport, that can kind of get your motor running.”
All of that doesn’t mean being a PA announcer doesn’t come without its challenges. On Friday, Sept. 27, when the Oakland volleyball team faced off against the Milwaukee Panthers, Beers found himself in a situation that tested his ability to be sharp behind the booth.
“There were some things that the officials were calling and doing, and I don’t have a clue what they’re doing and what they’re calling,” Beers said. “I can’t exactly help the audience understand it because I don’t know what the heck is going on.”
“There’s times like that in just about any sport. I’m a basketball guy, so basketball I can usually get, but there are lots of challenges. If I look down for two seconds to look ahead and see what I have to read in the next media timeout, there’s going to be something I missed on the court.”
On top of some of the challenges Beers faces during the game, he recognizes the responsibility of being Oakland’s PA announcer. It’s not just delivering the right calls — it’s about ensuring the attention stays where it belongs — on the athletes themselves.
“That’s one important thing for a PA announcer. I know I do the ‘you can’t do that!’ and ‘for the dunk!’ and ‘kill!’ in volleyball. That’s not to spotlight me, that’s to spotlight the stars, and that’s the student-athletes.”
After the final whistle blows and the game comes to a close, Beers’s work isn’t done quite yet. The builtup adrenaline that comes with high-stakes games can sometimes make it challenging to unwind.
“If Oakland wins in overtime and there’s 3,000 people here and it’s a night game, I’m up until after midnight,” Beers said. “If the game is recorded, then sometimes I’ll watch it, and then that will help me decompress and go to bed then, finally.”
Reflecting on his long tenure with Oakland, Beers can’t help but express the cemented connection he and his family have built with the university.
“It’s been gratifying for one thing. Mostly, there’s always something really cool about it, and one of the coolest things is how my family adapted. We adopted Oakland. It literally is part of our family.”
Even after two decades, Beers remains humble and positive, recognizing that mistakes are part of the job, no matter how seasoned he is.
“20 years in, I think I can say there probably has not been a mistake that a PA announcer could make that I have not made,” Beers said. “I’ve just about run through all of them. I’ve doubled up and tripled up and done a bunch of them many times over.”
“I’m blessed to be so positive. Mistakes don’t get me down.”
Detroit Tigers make playoffs for the first time in 10 years
EVAN BLANCHARD
Sports Reporter
On Aug. 10, the Detroit Tigers were 55-63 and sat ten games outside the AL Wild Card. They had a 0.2% chance of making the playoffs.
Since then, they have gone 31-13, the best record in MLB in that stretch.
Dreams do come true.
The Gritty Tigs, as the city has so affectionately taken to calling them, are riding a wave of youth all the way to the playoffs. Detroit has the youngest active roster in the league, and only two out of their 28 active players on the roster have postseason experience.
Numerous Tigers rookies have been called up late in the season, such as shortstop Trey Sweeney, catcher Dillon Dingler, second basemen Colt Keith, third basemen Jace Jung, second basemen Andy Ibanez, left fielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and right fielder Wenceel Perez.
As far as winning streaks go, this one has been powered by some incredibly clutch hitting and phenomenal bullpen play. In the last 30 days, the Tigers have the third-best ERA in MLB, sitting at 2.72 behind the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Guardians.
Having an elite bullpen is a very important trait for championship teams. Detroit’s bullpen is led by Jason
Foley, who leads the team in saves with 28. Foley is flanked by excellent set-up guys in Will Vest, Brant Hunter, Tyler Holten, and so many other great arms that manager A.J. Hinch can choose from.
Led by the red-hot play of outfielder Riley Greene and designated hitter Kerry Carpenter, these Tigers are motivated and ready for their Wild Card series.
The Keys to Beating the Houston Astros in the AL Wild Card series
Detroit got matched up with Houston for the best-ofthree Wild Card series. The Astros have been the top dog in the AL for years, winning numerous pennants and titles over the last decade. It’s only fitting that the Tiger’s era of success will begin with the possibility of the Astro’s downfall.
How can the young Tigers knock off the perennial powerhouse of the American League?
1. Win pitcher Tarik Skubal’s start. Skubal just secured the pitching triple crown this season and is the favorite to win the AL Cy Young award after the season. Whenever he starts a game, the Tigers have their best shot at winning. With him slated to start the first game, Detroit cannot afford to lose with the best pitcher on the planet on the mound.
2. Limit slugger Yordan Alvarez’s damage.
It is unclear if Alvarez will even play in this series as he is recovering from a knee injury and failed to
make the trip to the Astros weekend series against the Guardians; if he does play, the Tigers must pitch around him.
He boasts a .308 average with 35 home runs and a .959 OPS and is an incredibly clutch player. On three occasions during the Astros’ 2022 playoff run, he hit a home run in the sixth inning or later while his team was trailing, which gave them the lead.
3. Stars must be stars.
If the Gritty Tigs are going to make a run, it will be on the backs of the team’s stars, Greene and Carpenter. These two homegrown talents have the most home runs and the highest OPSs on the team.
Carpenter may not get the start in the first matchup against Houston’s Framber Valdez, a lefty, as Hinch usually doesn’t play Carpenter against left-handed pitching. He only has 28 at-bats on the year against lefties, with a measly .408 OPS. If his number gets called later in the game when Houston goes to a righty reliever, Carpenter must be ready.
As the Tigers prepare for their first playoff appearance in a decade, the atmosphere at Comerica Park will be positively unmatched. I predict a 2-1 series win for the Tigers, with the Yankees waiting in the AL Divisional Series.
