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Standfest” for the “Jim Chatelain: Correcting Past Mistakes” exhibition.
PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT
OU-AAUP requests replacement of Dean of Students
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES Campus Editor
With 92% of the voting faculty in favor of No Confidence, the Oakland University American Association of University Professors (OU-AAUP) calls for the replacement of Michael Wadsworth as Dean of Students.
Of the 436 faculty votes ballots cast by Nov. 1, 402 votes were of “no confidence in the leadership of Michael Wadsworth, OU Dean of Students,” with the remaining 33 votes supporting his leadership.
“After more than a decade of failed policies, procedures and performance that has resulted in a campus more dangerous than ever for faculty and students, and support for students with disabilities less effective and less appropriate than ever, the OU faculty has voted No Confidence in the Leadership of Dean Michael Wadsworth and the Dean of Students Office,” OU-AAUP President Michael Latcha wrote in a message to the University.
The vote of no confidence followed after a threat was posed against a School of Music, Theater and Dance faculty member. On Sept. 18, students and professors reported a student’s misbehaviors through various channels, including the “Report Behavior” system managed by the Dean of Students Office.
“The Dean of Students was provided with a tape recording where the student stated, ‘If I was
a different person, [the Professor] would have been shot on sight … If I was my grandfather, [the Professor] would have been shot on sight,’” the union wrote in a response to the incident.
By Oct. 9, Wadsworth responded that the recording did not pose a direct threat of violence against the professor and a day after, by noon, Oakland University Police Department sent out a campus advisory saying that there was no credible threat. However, at 5:55 p.m. on Oct. 10, faculty unanimously voted not to return to Varner Hall after proper investigations, the Oakland Press reported.
“OUPD sent out an updated advisory stating that the Dean of Students had issued a Persona NonGrata order for this individual banning them from campus pending a hearing,” OU-AAUP wrote. “The inconsistency in this change of policy raises serious questions about the legitimacy of the investigation that led to the noon-time announcement that no credible threat existed.”
A social media post followed on Oct. 17, with a presumed threat to faculty and students attending Varner Hall on Oct. 29. OUPD Chief Mark Gordon did not anticipate taking action on campus that day, the Oakland Press reported.
OU-AAUP also provided rationale concerning the Disability Support Services (DSS) performance, noting problems with the DSS office “erroneously fallen into a pattern of dismissively providing blanket denials for any faculty requesting an
exemption in order to support time-and-a-half students,” the union wrote.
With Wadsworth being interim director of the DSS, faculty encountered problems with the June 2024 grievance settlement’s “failure to notify faculty of their unilateral adoption of an AI classroom recording accommodation to replace previous note-taking accommodation methods,” the union wrote.
Based on these two developments, the union issued a Vote of No Confidence ending on Nov. 8 requiring the appointment of a “professionally trained and fully dedicated” Disability Support Services Director, the professionalization of the behavioral concern processing system and the replacement of Michael Wadsworth as the Dean of Students.
The Oakland Post contacted Wadsworth but received no further response from him.
“University administrators were disappointed to learn that the AAUP chose to pursue this week’s unprecedented and counter-productive no-confidence vote, which, unfortunately, may compromise the ability of the university and its faculty to meet and constructively resolve these and future concerns in a cooperative and collaborative manner,” OU said in a statement.
The union’s Executive Committee awaits the opportunity to discuss these matters with campus leaders, Latcha said, and will also carefully consider further action.
‘The Book of Life’ screening for Día de los Muertos
MATILDE RABAJOLI Campus Reporter
The Habitat hosted a movie night on Nov. 6, showcasing the Fox Animation production, “The Book of Life.” The million-dollar box office cartoon celebrates the beauty of life and the one day that death is famous for: Día de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead.
Earlier fall sunsets dimmed the lights at the Habitat to provide cozy benches for the perfect nook to enjoy the movie with friends. The showing started around 6 p.m., allowing attendees time to get food and enjoy the provided cider and treats.
“I just stumbled across it on my way out of the OC, and then I was like, it was halfway through the movie, and I sat down just to watch a little bit, and then I watched the whole thing because I love this movie,” Ula Tuskenyte, an attendee of the event, said. Although not from a Hispanic background, Tuskenyte explained she enjoyed the movie because it enabled her to enjoy the beauty of the culture and celebration.
The movie itself takes place in the Mexican town of San Angel and revolves around the protagonists Manolo Sánches, Maria Posada and Joaquín Mondragon. These three childhood friends have always had to live for their family’s expectations, but when a love triangle blossoms between them, they have to fight threats from both the world of the living and the dead.
“’The Book of Life’ is a really fun movie because it represents the Day of the Dead, which is the first two days of November, that’s when they celebrated Mexico,” Sara Baylon Chavez, an attendee of the event, said. “And personally, as a person who celebrates that holiday, and is Latina, I love that the school is putting on this movie to at least show a little bit about the holiday, and I think it’s a great way to celebrate with other people who don’t know about the holiday, and I had a great time at the movie and it was super fun.”
Traditionally, the holiday is celebrated by honoring the dead as guests for the night, their favorite foods are often made and left by their ofrendas, an altar or place to honor the dead often decorated with candles and cempasuchil (marigold flowers) and cock’s comb (bright red flowers).
Symbols of the holiday include skulls and skeletons, which are often seen in a sweet baked good called “pan de muerto” or bread of the dead. A similar treat is made in Spain, the “pan de ánimas,” or soul’s bread, which is a ritual that exists for All Saints Day. The two holidays, though only a day apart, are very different. All Saint’s Day is entirely dedicated to religious saints related to the Catholic Church. Meanwhile, the Day of the Dead is the result of Spanish religious customs and preHispanic indigenous funeral rites.
There are many other movies that help encapsulate the beauty of Día de los Muertos — all there to show how Mexico’s culture and traditions have become a
source of joy and retrospection for celebrating life. For more information on Día de Muertos, you can visit the CMI’s Hispanic Heritage Month site, or the Hispanic Aspiring Leaders Organization (HALO) GrizzOrgs.
Students explore at OU’s On-Campus Student Employment Job Fair
MATILDE RABAJOLI Campus
Reporter
Oakland University’s campus offers students many different employment opportunities. Various positions are offered to give students the ability to employ themselves and start learning how to use their education on a smaller application scale.
The On-Campus Job Fair was held in The Habitat on Nov. 6, for a couple hours to give students time to visit and network with all the on-campus job stands present. IT Tech Help, Campus Housing, the Office of Registrar, the Autism Clinic, the Education Resource Lab for Human Services, the Finance and Scholarship Office, the Academic Success Center (ASC) and the Ambassador’s Team were among the departments present at the event.
“I thought the job fair was pretty packed, and a lot of different parts of Oakland came today,” Areeb Kahtar, a sophomore in IT, said. “A lot of job opportunities for students. You know, I think that’s really cool.”
Each stand held representatives who were present to answer any questions students may have. Flyers were passed around to ensure that applications and student resumes could be sent to the proper offices.
“We had a great turnout and were delighted to talk to so many students interested in working with us in the coming semester,” Clarisse Mikami and Nicolas Ronzi, ASC representatives, said.
The Success Center provides students with
a location where they can learn and ask other students for help via tutoring or study groups. The ASC has many resources that offer employment options to students, but one of the highlighted features specifically included in their Job Fair Flyers was that of a Supplemental Instruction (SI) Leader position.
“SI Leaders attend the lecture with the students, prepare materials based on the professor’s lecture, and provide study sessions two to three times a week to practice key concepts covered in class, coursespecific study skills and improve test preparation,” Mikami and Ronzi explained. “The Academic Success Center provides extensive training prior to the start of the semester, and professional development and assistance throughout the semester to help students grow as leaders and understand best practices for the SI program.”
Kahtar emphasized the importance of student employment as a way to improve early postgraduation career development. “Yeah, definitely, because you’re going to be under like a lot of smart real-world
professionals and then they’d help you ease into the real world, after graduation,” Kahtar said.
“We are proud to provide tutors with training and professional development based on the College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) guidelines,” Mikami said. “As a result, they are eligible to become a Level 1 Certified Tutor, which is a great transferable skill to a wide range
of future careers.”
“Additionally, our positions allow them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, communication, professionalism, leadership and teamwork,” Ronzi said. “As a part of our professional development efforts, we also provide frequent coaching through observations and reflective one-on-one meetings to help our student leaders grow and meet their professional development goals.”
For more information on student employment for the OU campus, check out the Academic Success Center and the OU Handshake website.
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
PHOTO BY MATILDE RABAJOLI
OU Ethics Bowl prepares for Central States Regional competition
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
On Nov. 6, the Oakland University Ethics Bowl had a virtual practice competition with the Utah State Ethics Bowl in preparation for the Central States Regional competition.
“Ethics Bowl is essentially a club/competition where individuals debate ethical issues and topics,” Payton Bucki, assistant coach, said. “Today, we had our mock bowl where our team went against Utah State University, and we had a little scrimmage with them.”
For first-time attendees, it almost looks magical. Both teams of four to six participants get an ethical issue and have two minutes to put together an argument to present for ten minutes. Once the clock rings, students conjure philosophical frameworks, transition seamlessly from one participant to the next and connect specific cases with legal outcomes, social trends and hypothetical scenarios.
“We meet twice a week for two hours each day, we usually start in August when we get these ethical cases and we start off by reviewing the cases and just discussing them,” Bucki said. “We start discussing what the cases are about, what we think the main issue of the case is, and then discussing our team’s position on the issue.”
Once clarified that the teams have had months to draft their presentation, it makes sense that they can prepare them without talking to each other, armed just with a pencil and paper. During their
weekly meetings, participants engage in research and discussions to put together logical and cogent arguments that are to be scored by a panel.
“Something that is really beneficial about these discussions is that you’re coming in with people that have taken different perspectives on the case, and all have different ideas,” Bucki said. “So, we are going to end up with some disagreements, and there’s a lot of friendly arguing in Ethics Bowl, but that’s the beauty of it.”
Being a participant for two years and now the graduate assistant, Bucki attested to the challenges and joys of preparing and memorizing 10 presentations for Ethics Bowl.
“The really hard thing with Ethics Bowl is that you can’t take notes in, so everything that you prepare you have to memorize. So, we have 10 full presentations that are in our heads,” Bucki said. “When I was on the team last year, we won first place at that Central States Regional. So, we were there for two days, competing with other teams from across the region.”
Philosophy Professor, Lisa Campbell, explained the merit and joy of the Ethics Bowl beyond the winning of awards.
“Professors, teachers, they love to see what they teach stick and then get applied so that’s what I get to see them do,” Campbell said. “It’s not like a lecture course where maybe they take a test and you see it, but I actually see them put it into practice. And so that’s very rewarding to people who teach.”
This year is the first time in recent years that the Ethics Bowl only has one team, due to a smaller
turnout for tryouts, Campbell explains.
“We’d really like to ramp up recruitment this year and get back to two teams — it makes it a little easier to practice,” Campbell said. “We’re open to all majors, any undergraduate student and that really helps us. The more diverse we can get the better, it gives us more depth.”
The team prepares to go to Marian University, Indiana on Nov. 16. With a recent victory under their belt, pursuing first place is also a way to honor the faculty that have taught and supported them throughout their careers, Bucki explained.
“We did have another ethics school coach last year, his name was Mark Rigstad and he is a professor here, and unfortunately, he passed away last year,” Bucki said. “What was really special about last year’s Central States Regional was that we won that regional, and that was his last competition with us, so we were so proud to give that win to him and then go to nationals that spring and really just honor his memory.”
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Men’s club lacrosse at OU: On the rise
DANIELA CESARIO
Features Reporter
The transition from high school to college can be a big leap, but for some athletes, the Oakland University club lacrosse team offers not only an opportunity to continue pursuing their passion, but also a chance to build camaraderie, hone their skills and leave a lasting impact on the program.
“What inspired me to play lacrosse was my older brother who played in high school,” junior Paul Briggs said. “I didn’t even know what lacrosse was until I watched him play. I had no intentions of playing but little did I know that as soon as I went to high school my freshman year I would be eating, sleeping and drinking lacrosse for the next four years.”
At the collegiate level, the game is faster, the competition tougher and the stakes higher, but playing lacrosse at OU offers a sense of community and teamwork that makes it all worth it. In a sport like lacrosse, where success is often determined by teamwork and chemistry, this sense of camaraderie becomes essential to the team’s overall success.
“In lacrosse 95% of the time, the only people who score the goals for your team are your people on offense,” Briggs said. “But that other 5% of the time
you might get to see sometimes defense running down the field with their 6-foot pole and if they are lucky enough, they will be able to go coast to coast and take a shot on net and maybe even make it and if you can make it everybody goes crazy.”
After a limited experience in high school, the president of the club, Malik Bakari felt the need to push himself further and embrace the collegiate lacrosse experience. The transition to college lacrosse might be challenging, but the rewards are clear in terms of both personal growth and team development.
“I find collegiate club lacrosse to be vastly different from the high school level,” Bakari said. “The pace and athleticism of the game and players is much greater. The commitment is very different as well, while the team builds the same camaraderie, we understand everyone has a life outside of the team. It makes it that much better when we come together for practice or competition.”
The commitment to improvement is evident, as players like Briggs and Bakari are constantly working on refining their individual skills while also strengthening their teamwork.
“My most memorable experience has been the immense growth we have experienced as a program,” Bakari said. “There are some truly talented guys on
Formula SAE: So much more than racing
NOAH FRANCIS
Features Editor
Oakland University’s Formula SAE team, also known as Grizzlies Racing, is a team that designs, builds and competes with a formula style, open-wheel race car, competing internationally in a collegiate design competition. While racing is the main end-goal, there are several aspects that take place before someone touches the wheel. Morgan North, the business director and vice president for Formula SAE, explains how big the main competition is each year.
“The main competition we build for is at Michigan International Speedway,” North said. “It’s hosted, usually at the start of May. Last year we had 115 teams come from all around the world. It’s mainly U.S. based teams, but we had Mexican teams, Brazilian teams and we usually host a Venezuelan team.”
With formula racing, the racing aspect is only one component of the competition, as it is broken down into two main segments: dynamic competition and static competition.
“Dynamic is going to be what you expect, like the car running and doing things a race car would do to see how fast it does certain things,” North said. “There’s a few different events that target specific elements of
the car to test its ability to drive fast, as well as the endurance of the car with a 21-kilometer race around part of the MIS track.”
While the racing aspect is more notable, the dynamic competition only accounts for 60% of the competition, with the remaining coming from static competition.
“The remaining events come from static competition,” North said. “This includes mainly design presentations, in which we get our engineering designs scrutineered by industry professionals, and they award us points by how well we do it.”
Colin Trevino, a junior in the mechanical engineering
the team. Coming off of a few dead seasons with low participation, I am really grateful for the guys that continue to bring this team life. If we continue on this track, we can easily have some record-breaking years.”
With the continued growth of the program, it’s an exciting time for Oakland club lacrosse — and the players are eager to see how far they can go.
For those interested in joining the club or learning more about lacrosse, visit their GrizzOrgs page. To keep up to date on the team or to ask any questions, visit their Instagram page at @oumensclublax.
major, has been a part of the team since 2022. Trevino explains that Formula SAE is active all throughout the year, even during the fall and winter seasons.
“During the fall, we basically come up with our constraints for engineering, because every single year we build a car and race it in May,” Trevino said. “So, during the summer, we’ll test and get our data to make good designs for the next year. During the fall, we’re in our design phase. That’ll go on until between December and February, depending on the group.”
While the team may look like it is for engineering students only, Formula SAE is proud to be open to all majors.
“Because we’re so wide ranging, pretty much any major has a place at the Formula SAE team to do something to help themselves while helping the team,” North said. “It doesn’t really matter who you are. If you have an interest and a skill that you want to develop, the purpose of this club is to prepare you to step into your industry that you’re interested in going to and develop the skills that you’re interested in developing.”
To see if you and your skills are a good fit for the team, and to learn more about Formula SAE, visit their website at grizzlies-racing.org or visit their GrizzOrgs page.
PHOTO COURTESY OF GRIZZLIES RACING
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY MEN’S CLUB LACROSSE
OU students use surveys to tackle common campus struggles
DANIELA CESARIO Features Reporter
As Oakland University students continue navigating their college experiences, many are turning to surveys as a way to gather valuable data on campus challenges, mental health, food options and stress levels.
From freshmen grappling with the transition to college life, to sophomores reflecting on the ongoing pressures of academics and finances, student-run surveys are shedding light on how students are coping with these issues.
Jasmine Huggins, a freshman at OU, is one of many students using surveys to address specific campus concerns. Her project centers around the lack of food options available to students on campus, particularly the absence of a Beyond Juice or similar healthier alternatives.
“The main focus for this survey was seeing how others feel about having more food options available on our campus for everyone, specifically Beyond Juice,” Huggins said. “I chose this topic because this is a real issue that I believe we have. We really
only have three restaurant options on campus and most of them always have crazy long lines so I’m never able to get food at my own convenience. I really wanted to see if other students feel the same way as I do.”
Brendan Danko, a sophomore at OU, focused his survey on stress, specifically the academic and financial pressures students face. His survey includes questions on how students cope with academic demands and the financial burden of college life. While the results have confirmed his expectations, the real challenge has been recruiting enough participants.
“I wanted to create this survey as I know college is stressful for many students academically and financially,” Danko said. “And if nothing else, I want to make people more aware and hopefully give students ways to be able to reduce their stress. I plan to incorporate this survey’s results by having percentages of each question answered to show how students are stressed along with some of the responses in the written questions but making sure it is still anonymous and not using any real names.”
Augmented Reality Center Seminar
NOAH FRANCIS
Features Editor
On Nov. 1, the Oakland University Augmented Reality Center (ARC) held an ARC industry seminar, a discussion led by industry experts and academic leaders on immersive technology, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in the workplace.
Discussion topics ranged from how immersive technology can be beneficial to businesses of any size, to why design matters for a user interface, to modern cybersecurity and safety concerns.
Mohammed Shatit, an Oakland University alumni now working as the mobile robotics application engineer at KUKA Robotics, was a guest speaker explaining immersive app development and gave a step-by-step technical walkthrough on the creation of an immersive application in Unreal Engine 3. Shatit showed that you can build applications using outside resources.
“I built the whole application in one software program in Unreal Engine,” Shatit said. “I didn’t have to go outside the application to do anything, and I didn’t have to use any code. Although you can use C++ with an embed engine, you don’t have to.”
Dr. Khalid Mirza, the ARC founding director, explained several examples of how immersive technology is useful to different types of businesses, since it is relatively low cost and immersive even in an online setting. His recommendation for those
looking to upgrade the workplace with immersive technology, is to get familiar with the technology yourself before trying to use it in a group setting.
“The sooner you get into this technology, get familiar and take your first step, the better for you,” Mirza said. “You can start using this technology on your own, increasing your productivity and discovering new ways to do things which you’re already doing, which is very exciting.”
Ed Volcic, the chief technology officer at KUKA
Danko plans to analyze the survey results by comparing written responses and statistical data on stress levels, aiming to share insights that could help alleviate student stress. The support from professors and classmates is also proving invaluable, offering a sense of community as students work together to better understand and improve the college experience for everyone at OU.
“I want to raise awareness and hopefully provide students with ways to manage stress better,” Danko said. “It’s helped me learn how to use the data I collect and explain it in my writing. I think the creation and analysis of this data helps me as a writer by being able to use data I’ve gathered and put it into writing and being able to explain it.”
For students interested in participating in these ongoing surveys or creating their own, reaching out to professors for guidance and collaborating with peers can be an excellent way to gather insights and make an impact on campus. Whether you’re concerned about mental health, dining options or academic stress, your survey responses can help spark the change you want to see.
Robotics, has successfully done student-involved demos with ARC. At the event, Volcic explained there is a whole other side of the process that isn’t explored as often with the technical aspect of engineering.
“We’re so focused, at least us on the technical side, on the engineering details,” Volcic said. “‘How do I implement something?’ ‘How do I write code?’ But there’s this whole creative element that we don’t always get to explore and work on. The Augmented Reality Center with CCS (College for Creative Studies) and the Oakland University students bringing them together allowed us to explore this inner intersection between technology and that creative space.”
While one can explain the capabilities and possibilities of AR and VR, immersive technology is best experienced first-hand. Located in room 250 of the Engineering Center is the Augmented Reality Lab, a hands-on lab to experience and explore the latest in immersive technology. Whether it is driving in a virtual city, using AR to stack blocks against a robot, or finger painting in the air, the Augmented Reality Labs offers VR and AR demonstrations from General Motors, KUKA Robotics, ABB and LightGuide.
Lab hours are hosted Mondays through Thursdays, where anyone with an interest in the world of immersive technology can walk in and experience AR and VR for themselves.
For more information on ARC’s lab hours and what they have to offer, visit their website at ouarc. org, or follow them on Instagram at @ou.arc.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Celebrating campus beavers Waabi and Sooka at Beaver Fest
MATILDE RABAJOLI Campus Reporter
On Oct. 30, Oakland University’s very own Habitat also became a home for beavers as it hosted Beaver Fest. Students were invited to enjoy hot apple cider, beaver tail funnel cakes and other refreshments while participating in various activities.
Students could decorate tote bags to then take home, participate in a pretzel and frosting dam building competition and win giveaways to commemorate OU’s pair of beavers.
“We’re celebrating the beavers on campus, which have done a wonderful thing, they’ve brought back a wetland in the bio preserve,” Nicholas Skinner, the Director of Sustainability for Student Congress, said. “We just want to raise awareness about them so people know the good that beavers do all around, but also so these beavers on campus can be kept here.”
The Biological Preserve of OU discovered two beavers that have taken residence because one of the most used trails is now underwater. Waabi and Sooka, the names that the Native American Advisory Committee has given to the campus beavers, have begun to build a dam near the preserves.
“Ever since the beavers moved in, they moved into a spot on Galloway Creek just north of the biological preserve and flooded a footpath that we use for our classes, and for the past year, we’ve been basically exploring all sorts of different options for how to live with the beavers,” Tom Raffel, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, said.
As one of the three faculty-based “Beaver Team” members, Raffel also aided in raising money for the Beaver Remediation Fund, which funds the addition of stepping stones to the water-covered trail. Other projects include creating a large enough culvert protective fence
so that the footbridge can be preserved.
The beavers have become infamous for plugging said culverts “in a matter of minutes,” as mentioned by the Beaver Fest event flyer. Having these culverts extended could allow for OU trails and bridges not to be soaked, and for the beavers’ dam not to be ruined.
Students were able to enjoy the event for the three hours it ran and were able to enjoy footage taken of said beavers and that of the surrounding wildlife caught on cameras set up by Dr. Sandra Troxell-Smith.
“I’m surprised we got this many people, I was afraid we wouldn’t get that many people, but we got a good turnout, everything turned out well,” Skinner said as students took pictures at the beaver-photo station and apple cider ran out at the refreshments table.
“I thought it was really fun; I mean, everyone seems to be interacting on campus. It’s a great way to bring everyone together and I just think it’s a cool thing to do in the Oakland Center,” Olivia Massarello, an OU student, said. “I did shout out to Professor Andrea Knutson. She made sure that every class we would look at the beavers, and it was just really fun, so I was super stoked about this event.”
To stay up to date on the latest beaver mischief, visit the OU Animal Behavior Instagram Profile.
PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT
MUSIC IN THE TIME OF
POLITICAL STRIFE
It is the second week of November, meaning election season is finally over. Donald Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States, Republicans also made gains in the House and the Senate.
Along with controlling Congress and the presidency, there is currently a 6-3 conservative majority in the Supreme Court. The red wave that Republicans have been fantasizing about for six years has finally come to fruition.
The country has made its choice, yet we seem to be more politically polarized than ever. The question I am asking — as someone who is interested in contemporary art is what do current artists have to say about this and previous elections in the “Trump-era” (2015-present).
The rise of right-wing hip-hop
Hip-hop has been historically left-leaning, being born out of Reagan-era urban discrimination. Albums such as Public Enemy’s “Fear of a Black Planet” and Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 magnum opus “To Pimp a Butterfly,” signify a historically socially conscious class of listeners. However, the late 2010s and early 2020s have brought forth new perspectives to political hip-hop.
Artists such as Dax, Tom MacDonald and even hip-hop mainstays such as Ye (formally known as Kanye West) have converted over to the political right. Some — such as MacDonald exclusively make content pandering towards right-leaning views.
“Pro-choice, pronouns, pro-love, you’re progressives/But you ain’t pro-gun, no one to protect it/Where the American flags at?/Remember when people would hang those?/They’ve been taken down, they all been replaced with BLM flags or a rainbow,” MacDonald raps on the 2023 track, “Facts.”
These artists are incredibly popular in their circles as well. MacDonald in particular has amassed almost 1.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify along with 4.85 million subscribers on YouTube. Collaborations among these artists are frequent, expanding their circle of influence even more. They rap about topics relevant to their base, such as transgender issues, immigration, racial politics, etc.
Resistance in pop music
Chappell Roan has been everywhere this year; her music is passionately queer and inherently revolutionary. In a time where anti-queer policies are on the horizon and have already arrived in certain states Roan is a beacon of light in a sea of uncertainty.
“So, let’s say it’s working out/You pretend to love his mother/Lying to your friends about/How he’s such a goddamn good lover/Stuck in the suburbs, you’re folding his laundry/Got what you wanted, so stop feeling sorry,” Roan sings on “Femininomenon.”
Roan got into some controversies during the election season, not directly supporting the Harris campaign because of their stance and complacency in the aid of Israel in the war in Gaza. Roan has also directly attacked the Biden administration on-stage in New York.
“We want liberty, justice and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come … That means freedom in trans rights, that means freedom in women’s rights, and … it especially means freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories,” Roan said in June.
Modern punk and intersectionality
Punk has always been seen as revolutionary, however, it is now synonymous with anti-imperialism, anti-racism, anti-bigotry and protesting against injustice.
Bands like IDLES and Soul Glo two of the most revered punk bands of the 2020s take a more noise-driven approach to their sonics. However, both of these band’s lyrics tackle oppression in many forms.
The IDLES track, “Grounds” recorded in 2020 helps bridge the gap between queer and afro-centric revolutionary action.
“There’s nothing brave and nothing useful/You scrawlin’ your aggro sh*t on the walls of the cubicle/ Sayin’ my race and class ain’t suitable/So I raise my pink fist and say black is beautiful,” lead singer Joe Talbot sings on “Grounds.”
Inversely, Soul Glo is a black-led band who also tackles intersectional, revolutionary politics on their track, “Gold Chain Punk (whogonbeatmya**?).”
“The angry n*gga at my core is many things, but not forgetful/He say, ‘The jewels retooled you to make more fools than schools do/Of course you out here now wishing you could do better/You know that you’ve sewn the thread of all you’ve regretted/You know no one calling after ties have been severed.’/¡Y no lo puedo p*to creer!” lead singer Pierce Jordan screams.
Story by Chelsea Bossert
Design by Zachary Oberdier and Dylan Hecker
Photos Courtesy of Getty Images
2024: The revival of pop music
MORGAN WARNEKE Content Editor
My relationship with pop music has always been complicated. Like many people, I once considered it to be one of the least entertaining genres. The radio hits were repetitive, formulaic and quickly grew annoying — you know exactly what I’m talking about. (Seriously, “Shape of You” by Ed Sheeran can only be played so many times.)
Pop stars themselves often felt cookie-cutter, a quality I once enjoyed as a child, but couldn’t stand as an adult. Every aspect of their music and public personas seemed meticulously designed to create endlessly marketable characters.
You may have heard the common argument, “All pop music sounds the same!”
I might have agreed with this in the 2010s, but it’s now 2024, and pop stars decades into their careers have finally made room for exciting new faces, such as Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Reneé Rapp, Charli XCX and Billie Eilish. Although these artists have been building momentum for years, many experienced breakthrough successes this year, putting pop music back on the map.
These artists have redefined the genre by breaking the so-called “pop star curse.” They’re moving away from
predictable, catchy chord progressions and shining a spotlight on subgenres like hyperpop and synth-pop. While they’ve each been in the industry for some time, their recent surge in popularity has brought a wave of new listeners — including me — who are now fully aware of their creative talents and unique styles.
As you prepare for your Spotify wrapped, let’s reflect on some of the most exciting releases in pop music this year.
Ariana Grande’s “eternal sunshine”
After a four-year hiatus, Ariana Grande returned with her most experimental single yet. Starting off in January, she released “yes, and?”— a track that showcases her talent in a way we’re not used to. Love it or hate it, this song is a clear sign of her creative evolution. Unlike her radio-friendly hits, “yes, and?” incorporates ambient textures, layered vocals and an unconventional song structure. To me, it’s an immersive experience that proves she’s not afraid to stray from the familiar pop formulas.
Other favorites from this album include: “intro (end of the world),” “supernatural” and “imperfect for you.”
Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet”
In April, Sabrina Carpenter secured the song of the summer early with her hit “Espresso.” Although this track is about as radio friendly as they come, her newest album features a variety of sounds.
Her brand now leans into tongue-in-cheek innuendos and playful humor — it’s refreshing to see an exDisney star embrace her sexuality so freely. A standout track from this album is “Don’t Smile.” Her soft vocals combined with piano, drums and reverb guitar show a side of her we haven’t heard before, making it one of my personal favorites.
Other favorites from this album include: “Sharpest Tool,” “Bed Chem” and “Dumb & Poetic.”
Charli XCX’s “Brat”
Since the release of “Brat” in June, Charli XCX has been on a six-month streak of immense success, bringing hyperpop further into the mainstream. Her songs lean into a more experimental nature, a catchy and chaotic sound with distorted vocal effects, unpredictable rhythms and electronic samples. In October, she released “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat,” a remix album full of collaborations with a variety of pop artists, such as Shygirl, Lorde, Kesha, Caroline Polachek, Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish and Troye Sivan.
Other favorites from both albums include: “Sympathy is a knife,” “365 feat. Shygirl” and “Everything is romantic feat. Caroline Polachek.”
Are there any releases that stood out to you this year?
‘We
Live in Time:’ Reminding
MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter
“We Live in Time” is a romantic comedy-drama that first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6 and was released on Oct. 11, 2024, in the U.S.
Directed by John Crowley, the film stars Andrew Garfield as Tobias, a recent divorcée who just so happens to step out onto the road at the wrong place at the wrong time. He gets hit by Almut, played by Florence Pugh, as she was driving.
The plot explores the pair’s relationship as they yearn for a peaceful life together but are constantly met with new complications.
The story is told in a nonlinear narrative, but it’s easy to follow and is accompanied by brilliant acting from both Garfield and Pugh.
I followed this film from its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival up until its U.S. release, so my expectations were relatively high. Garfield and Pugh are both also well known for their ability to make any tragic scene feel like a punch to the gut.
And yeah, that did happen.
Both Tobias and Almut felt like real people, and their relationship seemed genuine from start to finish. Each disagreement made you feel like you were
us of what we are not promised in
uncomfortably in the room with them, while each endearing moment felt like watching two friends share affection. You develop a sense of fondness for them.
Aside from the phenomenal acting from both leads, the plot itself is intriguing — but also unoriginal.
“I think it’s a film about two people trying to answer the question meaningfully, which is, what is a meaningful life in the face of a foreshortened life,” Crowley said in an interview with Slash Film.
I was excited for the film because of the rom-com nature and the lead actors. Still, I had a hesitancy because films of this kind have been done numerous times before.
The trope of a romcom having the lead couple’s relationship being cut short because of a fatal illness has been explored already. Films like “The Fault in Our Stars,” “Me Before You” and “A Walk to Remember” all explore and answer the same question posed by Crowley.
Along with this, some scenes feel unnecessarily long or dragged out for sake of capturing the main character’s emotions. They could easily be cut out, as Garfield and Pugh are already exceptional when it comes to conveying emotions with the smallest facial expressions.
Despite all of this, I still found myself truly enjoying several scenes, like the scene where Almut and Tobias
life
find themselves stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and Almut has to give birth in a gas station bathroom.
“It was such an amazing gift to be given that scene to have a go at. Knowing just how incredible it was to read, but also knowing that it had to be incredibly perfect for it to be pulled off,” Pugh said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
The film is definitely a must-watch if you’re a fan of tragic rom-coms or if you’re a fan of Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield. While it doesn’t have anything new to say, it’s still a beautifully done film with authenticity and purpose.
Haley Heynderickx captures the human spirit in ‘Seed of a Seed’
MOE DEL ROSARIO
Arts Reporter
Haley Heynderickx, most notable for her debut album “I Need to Start a Garden” which features her hit single “The Bug Collector,” released her second studio album titled “Seed of a Seed” on Nov. 1, 2024.
The album consists of 10 songs that range from tone and subject matter but are all unified with her unique vocals and instrumentation.
“Gemini” is the first song of the album, and it has a country rock tone to it that almost feels like Florence + the Machine meets Laufey. The song details how indecisive and confusing it feels to be in your 20s with no direction — a feeling that most college students resonate with.
“Foxglove,” track number two, is more indie and country than anything else, but has Heynderickx yearning for a simple existence instead of the bustling anxiety-inducing life she lives. She just wants to be introduced to nature again, but instead accepts that the daydream has died.
Being the titular song, “Seed of a Seed” speaks on the feeling of past generations influencing new generations and encapsulates the theme of the album — albeit by accident.
“‘Seed of a Seed’ is an incubation tune written in
a pandemic rehearsal space — an accident song that you keep working on between others. I didn’t really care for it until Tré Burt said he liked it. It’s funny how some songs don’t hold weight until a friend points it out,” Heynderickx said on Bandcamp.
With a more mellow turn compared to the others, “Mouth of a Flower” is about the unfairness of the give and take of life. Heynderickx compares this concept to both nature and humans, drawing examples from how we share the same greed.
The final line has the repetitive phrase “Oh we take, and we take, take, take” that cements the almost chastise the listeners for taking apart of the greed.
“Spit in the Sink” is about the creative side that people have but that constantly gets squashed by the need to just survive in this world — the people are too tired to write. This song heavily relies on instrumentation and while the delivery is simple, it forces the audience to sit and think for just a moment.
Similar to “Foxglove,” “Redwoods (Anxious God)” is another ode to nature as Heynderickx sings about the yearn to be one with nature. She mentions how in unison humans used to be with nature but are now consumed by the notifications on their phone.
The chorus is filled with vocal and instrumental overlap and creates such a beautiful harmonization that represents the sounds of nature. The song
finishes with how not even the bugs want to talk to humans anymore.
“Ayan’s Song” is a sweet tune with a heavy beat that speaks on how refreshing it is to be in the sun alone. The song ends with Heynderickx’s vocalization before the instruments stop.
Heynderickx appreciates the small details in her life with “Sorry Fahey” and realizes that makes her an adult. From being able to call her parents to her mischievous black cat, she is thankful for her life and everything that comes with it.
“Jerry’s Song” is a semi-love song that compares the subject to beautiful gifts. The singer is the opposite, however, and expresses how she feels she breaks down the subject. However, they’ll continue trying again, together.
“Swoop” is the final song of the album and is about Heynderickx’s grandmother. She brings up the grief of being at her grandmother’s grave and how to artistically capture that feeling, which she is doing so with this beautiful conclusion.
The album goes through a range of emotions and while each song is mellow, they all feel like they carry so much different weight to them. Some songs yearned for peace in nature while others spoke about grief. Of course, the two have to coexist and perfectly unifies this album to represent the human spirit.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
Red wave: Trump wins the presidency
MALLORY WALIGORA Political Editor
Former President Donald Trump has officially secured over 270 votes from the electoral college, making him the president-elect and securing him the presidency.
This win came after a defeat by Biden in the 2020 election. Many didn’t think this win was possible, especially after a 2020 defeat, showcasing a rise from the ashes win.
Trump will be the first former president in over 130 years to return to office for non-consecutive terms. Grover Cleveland was the last to win non-consecutive terms, winning in 1884 and 1892. Trump is also the oldest man elected to the role of president, beating Biden by a few months.
The current electoral count is Trump at 295 and Kamala Harris at 226 electoral votes, according to the New York Times. Other networks have a slightly different count, such as BBC tallying the race with Trump at 301 and Harris at 226. No matter the tally, it is clear that Trump has won.
Major wins for Trump last night were securing the allimportant swing states of Georgia, North Carolina and
Wisconsin. Trump also took the vital, and probably the most important state of them all, Pennsylvania. Trump also won Michigan’s 15 electoral votes. In 2016, Trump won Michigan, but in 2020, the state went to Biden.
Trump is also leading in the popular vote, with over 73 million compared to Harris’s 69 million. Although final votes have not been confirmed, the last time a Republican won a popular vote was in 2004 when George W. Bush defeated John F. Kerry. The popular vote is not what is needed to win the presidency; however, it is notable that Trump has captured the difficult majority, something that Republicans have struggled with in the past.
Trump declared victory on Wednesday morning around 2:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time at his celebration in Florida.
“We’re going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly. We’re going to fix our borders, we’re going to fix everything about our country and we’ve made history for a reason tonight,” Trump said in his victory speech. Harris delivered her concession speech on the campus of Howard University on Wednesday. She urged her supporters to never stop fighting and to remain hopeful.
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say, hear me when I say, the light of America’s promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting,” Harris said.
Trump has been congratulated by various world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“Good to speak with President-elect @ realDonaldTrump to congratulate him on his historic victory. I look forward to working together. From defence and security to growth and prosperity, the relationship between the UK and US is incredibly strong and will continue to thrive for many years to come,” Starmer wrote in an X post.
Trump will be sworn in on January 20 in the new year, officially transferring power from Biden to Trump. As of now, Trump is currently preparing for his transition to the presidency. He has already announced his campaign manager, Susie Wiles, will serve as his chief of staff. Wiles will be the first woman ever to hold the position.
Republicans make gains: Michigan election results
NICHOLAS KABLAK
Political Reporter
On Nov.5, Michiganders voted on various candidates to represent the state to the federal government, represent local districts to the state government, and fill various state offices. Here are Michigan’s results for the 2024 general election.
Presidential
Donald Trump is projected to win the popular vote in Michigan adding the state’s 15 electors to his total count which is now determined to be 295, enough to win the presidency, according to the Associated Press.
Senate
According to the Associated Press, Democrat candidate Elissa Slotkin has won the Senate race for Michigan’s open seat by 0.3%, beating Republican Mike Rogers. Slotkin will represent the State of Michigan in the United States Senate alongside fellow Democrat Senator Gary Peters.
However, the closeness of the race could very likely cause an automatic recount. If this is the case, or if one of the candidates requests a recount, then the results could change.
House of Representatives
Here are the winners of Michigan’s 13 House of Representative seats. These 13 people will represent Michigan in the House of Representatives.
Incumbent Jack Bergman (R ) Michigan’s first congressional district.
Incumbent John Moolenaar (R) Michigan’s second congressional district.
Incumbent Hillary Scholten (D) Michigan’s third congressional district.
Incumbent Bill Huizenga (R) Michigan’s fourth congressional district.
Incumbent Tim Walberg (R) Michigan’s fifth congressional district.
The Republicans are projected to take the Michigan House of Representatives majority. The current Speaker of the House, Joe Tate (D-Detroit), has conceded the Democrat’s loss of the House of Representatives in Michigan.
The Republicans in the Michigan House have named Matt Hall (R-Richland Twp.) Speaker of the
House. In the next legislative season, Hall will replace Tate as the Michigan House of Representatives’ highest-ranking member.
“We have some important issues that we need to work on, and I don’t think we should play it safe. I think we should take risks. I think that we should push hard to get stuff done, even though it’s tough sometimes,” Hall said.
Tate will not be the minority leader for the Democrats, instead, the Democrat caucus has selected Rep. Ranjeev Puri (D-Canton) to lead them in the House.
Significance
With the margins so tight this election, in both the legislature and the presidency Michigan has proven to be a crucial state. As a swing state, Michigan has seen lots of attention during this election cycle.
While Slotkin and the Democrats possibly won the Michigan Senate race, it seems that the Republicans have gotten the better of the Democrats in the United States House. With Barrett’s victory over Curtis Hertel, they successfully flipped the blue 7th district to red. This victory provides the Republicans with an advantage in maintaining their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Despite Slotkin’s apparent victory, the U.S. Senate has still gone firmly into Republican hands. This means the Presidency and likely both chambers of Congress are under Republican control, making the progression of federal legislation along Conservative lines highly probable at the beginning of Trump’s term.
Looking back on the Harris-Walz campaign
MALLORY WALIGORA Political Editor
In light of Donald Trump’s win, it’s important to look back on the past election season to review Harris’s campaign. Some tactics proved to be successful, yet these campaign strategies were not impactful enough to win her the electoral college.
On Jul. 21, when President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Harris was thrown onto the trail in a whirlwind. The following months were filled with an aggressive strategy to build her persona, celebrity endorsements and historical advancements in the race.
Strategy
According to the Harris-Walz campaign, key issues focused on building an opportunity economy, protecting reproductive freedoms and making communities safer from gun violence.
In terms of merchandise, the campaign went viral for a trucker hat. The design pokes fun at hunting gear, a traditionally Republican design: A camo hunting hat with bold, orange lettering. Harris sold over 250,000 in its first 24 hours of its release.
On some occasions, Harris has made use of Trump’s mistakes on the trail. At a Trump rally, Tony Hinchcliffe joked that Puerto Rico is an “island of garbage.” Following this comment, the Harris campaign immediately jumped on this mistake.
“I have long been committed to Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican people. Together, let’s build a better future for both,” Harris wrote on X.
Much similar to her opponent, Harris has also used the podcast strategy to gain voters. Most of her media appearances have targeted more femalefocused audiences. Harris went on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast. She also went on Oprah and The View. This media strategy allows her to put out a more friendly persona in public compared to traditional, more rigid press interviews. In the beginning of her campaign, many criticized her for her lack of interviews.
Memorable Moments
On Nov. 2, Harris made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live, just a few days before the election. In the cold open skit, Maya Rudolph plays Harris in her traditional pantsuit and heads over to a mirror to give herself a pep talk. However, the mirror is not a real mirror, as when Rudolph sits down, the real Harris is looking back at her. The skit pokes fun at her (as most SNL skits do), with Harris asking, “I don’t really laugh like that, do I?”
Following her appearance, NBC filed a notice with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for equal time after backlash from FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr.
Many have cited the presidential debate and the Democratic National Convention (DNC) as two key moments for Harris. At the DNC, Harris officially accepted the nomination for president and was given a platform to speak to the American people uninterrupted.
“I accept your nomination for president of the United States of America. With this election, our nation has a precious, fleeting opportunity to move
past the bitterness, cynicism and divisive battles of the past,” Harris said.
Most Notable Endorsements
Throughout her campaign, Harris has gained a lot of endorsements, specifically from Hollywood celebrities. On Oct. 25, Beyoncé spoke in Houston, Texas at a rally. Beyoncé didn’t sing at the rally, instead, she only spoke, leaving some fans disappointed in her lack of performance.
“I’m here as a mother … Imagine our daughters growing up seeing what’s possible with no ceilings, no limitations … We must vote, and we need you,” Beyoncé said.
Additionally, Taylor Swift endorsed Harris in an Instagram post on Sept. 10. This post was published just after the first, and only, presidential debate between the two current candidates.
“Like many of you, I watched the debate tonight … I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election … I think she is a steady-handed, gifted leader and I believe we can accomplish so much more in this country if we are led by calm and not chaos,” Swift wrote.
In her post, Swift also touched on how she became aware of an AI-generated video of her endorsing Trump, voicing her fear of misinformation. Other endorsements include Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen and Lady Gaga. It’s difficult to tell how much influence celebrities have on the election, but outside support from people with a large following does help.
Trump’s campaign: A retrospective view
NICHOLAS KABLAK Political Reporter
After Presidential-elect Donald Trump’s victory, it is worth reviewing his campaign season. The 2024 presidential election campaign season was long, unique and historic.
Trump first announced his intention to run for president in 2024 on Nov. 16, 2022, effectively campaigning for the presidency since then. Trump’s campaign saw historic endorsements, unique strategies, memorable moments and repeated backlash.
“Together we will be taking on the most corrupt forces and entrenched interests imaginable,” Trump said.
Strategy
Trump utilized numerous campaign strategies to win over crowds of specific demographics and compositions. Trump effectively utilized media appearances to gain coverage.
One noteworthy example was Trump’s interview with Adin Ross who gifted the former president with a customwrapped cyber truck. Ross’s audience is largely male and associated with many hip-hop stars and some highly controversial internet personalities like Andrew Tate.
Perhaps Trump’s largest and most notable podcast appearance was his interview with Joe Rogan on the Joe Rogan Experience Podcast. Rogan is known for longform interviews that give room to get deep into topics, and he comes with an army of dedicated listeners.
Trump also used podcasts to dive into some policies intricately to appeal to high-information audiences. A prime example is his appearance on the All-in podcast — hosted by a panel of Silicon Valley venture capitalists with various political views.
“We had an opportunity to interview the president of the United States, and I think we talked about a broad spectrum of issues I wish we had more time, but I think he answered them precisely,” Chamath Palihapitiya, one of the All-in podcast hosts, said.
Trump also elected to do some combative traditional media interviews. Examples include his appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention, a CNN town hall and his recent Bloomberg interview.
Of Course, Trump also garnered media attention through his famous Trump rallies, having reportedly done over 900 since his original campaign in 2015.
Memorable Moments
Dramatic moments were a hallmark of this campaign season, many of these moments played into Trump’s hand in positive ways, but some were negative for the campaign.
In July, there was the attempt to assassinate Trump in Pennsylvania, leading to a dramatic scene of the president being rushed off stage with a streak of blood on his face while he pumped his fist in the air shouting “fight.” This image was used repeatedly by the campaign and Trump supporters to demonstrate the candidate’s strength and patriotism.
Working to hurt Trump’s campaign were the constant legal trials, litigation and convictions during the campaign season. These trials and convictions effectively portrayed Trump as a criminal — although moments like Trump’s mugshot debatably worked in his favor.
“We didn’t do a thing wrong, I am a very innocent man,” Trump said.
POLITICAL CARTOON
There was also the first presidential debate between Biden and Trump which saw such a poor performance by Biden that it caused the president to drop out of the race to be replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris. While the incredible effect of the debate was more so due to a failure on Biden’s end rather than success on Trump’s end, it was still a profound moment for the Trump campaign.
Most Notable Endorsements
Trump also gathered a unique set of endorsements, moving many of these people into positions of influence in his campaign and even promising many important positions in the federal government.
Robert Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, both exDemocratic presidential candidates, endorsed Trump. Kennedy and Gabbard have been placed on Trump’s transition team and promised different roles in his federal administration.
“Oh, he’s [Kennedy] gonna be a part of it, you know he had a big impact … because he’s very much into women’s health and health, and he’s very much into the environment,” Trump said.
Elon Musk and Rogan endorsed Trump, with Musk going as far as to become a major donor of Trump and founding a PAC to campaign on behalf of the former president. Musk, a highly successful and ultra-wealthy entrepreneur, has reportedly agreed to lead a government efficiency commission in the coming Trump presidency.
“He makes what I think is the most compelling case for Trump you’ll hear, and I agree with him every step of the way. For the record, yes, that’s an endorsement of Trump,” Rogan said, in a post on X.
The 2024 Trump campaign has truly been a historic one. It has seen uniquely radical moments from legal trials to assassination attempts, even support from a Kennedy. The Trump presidency has much to follow.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VANITY FAIR
ART BY AVA GUEST
Melania Christmas tree political cartoon
Women’s basketball drops regular season-opener to Michigan State Spartans
KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Editor
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Oakland women’s basketball team opened their regular season with a loss to the Michigan State Spartans with a final score of 107-42 on the road at the Breslin Center.
The game marks the second year in a row the Golden Grizzlies have opened their season against the Spartans. Additionally, the loss is the largest margin Michigan State has dealt the Golden Grizzlies throughout their history of play.
Maddy Skorupski, a former Spartan, led the Golden Grizzlies in scoring with 19 points while bringing in a team-high five rebounds. Skorupski led Oakland in assists, dishing out two throughout the game.
For the Spartans, Grace VanSlooten was one of six Spartans to reach double digits, leading the team in scoring with 15 points and crashing the boards for a team-high nine rebounds.
The Spartans wasted no time getting ahead in the game’s opening minutes. After making their first two attempts from the field, VanSlooten made it to the line twice, making all four of her attempts as turnovers and early fouls started to pile up for the Golden Grizzlies.
After almost three minutes without a point, Skorupski was fouled by Jocelyn Tate. Skorupski knocked down one of her two attempts for Oakland’s first point of the evening at the free-throw line,
making it a 10-1 game in favor of Michigan State.
As the first quarter continued, the Spartans started to pull away early from the Golden Grizzlies, and Oakland struggled early from the three-point line, missing all five of their attempts from deep. Michigan State closed out the first quarter of play, scoring nine unanswered points for a 31-10 lead over the Golden Grizzlies.
In the second quarter, Oakland continued to struggle offensively, and the Spartans offense remained dominant. Throughout the entire second quarter, the Golden Grizzlies only added eight points to their score, as Oakland went into the break down 58-18.
Come the third quarter, Oakland was able to hang
around with Michigan State for most of the quarter, refusing to let the Spartans expand their lead as Kylie Buckley, Macy Smith and Skorupski found some consistent stretches on offense.
However, despite the Golden Grizzlies’ efforts, they couldn’t cut into the Spartan lead, and Michigan State closed the quarter on an 8-1 run, once again expanding their lead heading into the game’s final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartan’s momentum carried over as the team scored the first six points of the quarter. With an over 50-point deficit, Oakland could not close the gap.
Turnovers proved to be the defining factor in the Golden Grizzlies’ season opener. With 33 turnovers, 22 of which were Spartan steals, Michigan State had an abundance of fastbreak opportunities.
By the end of the game, the Spartans scored 38 fastbreak points. Michigan State was also incredibly efficient after forcing a turnover, as 44 points came off turnovers.
“When you force turnovers, you have ‘advantage basketball’; you’re usually in a situation to create a really good shot,” Michigan State head coach Robyn Fralick said.
Next, the Golden Grizzlies will face another Big Ten opponent, the Michigan Wolverines, on Sunday, Nov. 17. The game will be played on the road and start at noon. It also marks a matchup against former Golden Grizzly freshman of the year Brooke Quarles-Daniels.
OU women’s basketball unleashes spectacular performance against Cleary University
SUMMER WEATHERS
Sports Reporter
In an impressive showcase of dominance, the Oakland women’s basketball team got the win over Cleary University by a commanding score of 95-51.
The game started off tight, with everything tied at 10-10 with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter. Senior guard Macy Smith quickly answered the call with a triple, and from that point on, she was unstoppable.
Oakland established its intent to control the game. With a blend of aggressive defense and fast-paced offense set up by Maddy Skorupski, the Golden Grizzlies built their lead. Their relentless pressure forced multiple turnovers from Cleary, which the team converted into easy baskets. The first two quarters set the tone as Oakland outscored Cleary 53-32, leaving little doubt about their superiority on the court.
Coming back in from intermission, it was the same story. The Golden Grizzlies kept finding ways to win and went on a 15-0 run that further electrified the home crowd. Any attempt made to regroup by Cleary was disrupted. Oakland’s ability to maintain a high level of energy and focus was a key factor in their victory.
The game’s standout performance came from Smith, who lit up the scoreboard and delivered a dazzling display, going 6-10 from three and 8 of 12 from the field. She finished with a remarkable 23 points and achieved her career high.
Each shot Smith made seemed to build on the last, proving her confidence and skill.
“I think just the confidence, not only my teammates but my coaches have for me, too. I always tell myself, keep shooting. If you see one miss, I mean, you are going to see more go in, so yeah, I think the confidence that my teammates have in me is everything,” Smith said.
Fans rallied behind every play for what was themed a “School Day” game.
“It was just fun. I feel like we were so excited to play at home, and this atmosphere is crazy. The kids are having fun, so I’m just feeling good,” Smith said.
Contributing alongside Smith was junior guard
Maddy Skorupski. She ended with 11 points, three steals, five assists and four rebounds. Forward Madison Royal-Davis also put up 11 points, four rebounds and two timely blocks. Jaidyn Elam scored 10 points.
“We made shots. I’m a much smarter coach when the ball goes in. We were 0 for 18 from the three against Michigan State. Today, the ball went in,” head coach Jeff Tungate said. “You know, it shouldn’t be this way, but your defense is better when you’re making shots, and that shouldn’t be the case, but it is, and so when we make shots, it makes a difference.”
Although they did some fine-tuning, Tungate appreciated how his squad came together.
“We tweaked our zone a little bit that we were playing a lot of, and then man to man, we mainly kept the ball in front and rebounded better. Again, I’m still worried about our rebounding; it’s something we’ve got to address and fix, but all in all, it was a great effort, and again, what an unbelievable atmosphere,” Tungate said. “You know, hopefully, all of these kids come back, and we can keep this going.”
What’s Next?
The Golden Grizzlies will suit up and head to Ann Arbor to face the Michigan Wolverines at the Crisler Center on Sunday, Nov. 17. Tip-off is slated for noon. All the action will be broadcasted live on Big Ten Network.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHIGAN STATE
Battered in Boise: Oakland men’s basketball falls on the road to Boise State
EVAN BLANCHARD Sports Reporter
“If you learn to use it right, the adversity, it will buy you a ticket to a place you couldn’t have gone any other way,” now-retired head coach Tony Bennett of the University of Virginia said in a press conference in 2019. The success of the 2018-19 Virginia Cavaliers came on the heels of Virginia losing as the No. 1 seed the year before in March Madness.
Oakland men’s basketball heard a similar message after Wednesday night’s loss at Boise State University (BSU), an 87-43 beatdown that was over almost as soon as it began.
Boise State came out of the gate running and gunning, beginning the game with a dunk followed by back-to-back threes. Another layup and a three gave the Broncos a commanding 13-2 lead as Oakland was forced to call a timeout before the first media timeout.
The Golden Grizzlies stabilized the game for a while, holding the deficit at about 13 points before graduate student Jayson Woodrich hit a three to cut it to 12.
Throughout the first half, fatigue and confusion in OU’s zone defense began to show. The Boise State offense scored easy transition baskets and found easy catch-and-shoot looks, eventually ballooning the lead to 36-16 with four minutes left to play.
Oakland head coach Greg Kampe emphasizes the importance of the last four minutes in the first half
of games. It sets the tone going into the half and can help stabilize a game on the verge of breaking open. The last four minutes were entirely owned by Boise State, outscoring Oakland 16-2. The Golden Grizzlies faced a massive 48-18 deficit at the half.
In games like these, it is important for a team to never give up and continue to fight until the buzzer sounds. Kampe echoed these sentiments at halftime, acknowledging the score but caring more about execution and energy in the second half.
OU began the half by running a play to senior forward Buru Naivalurua, who hit a smooth turnaround jumper along the baseline. After a Woodrich layup, senior guard DQ Cole hit his first three of the game.
Just as Oakland began to show some life, Boise State responded with a handful of layups, two courtesy of preseason Mountain West player of the year Tyson Degenhart. Degenhart used his great size and frame at 6’8″, 235 pounds, to punish Oakland all night, finishing with 13 points and five rebounds. The combination of him with 7-footer Dylan Anderson and 6’8″ O’mar Stanley proved difficult for the Golden Grizzlies to handle.
Credit is due to Boise State’s defense. Oakland was held to just 37.5% on two-point attempts in the game, largely due to BSU’s suffocating size, which tallied five blocks and 33 defensive rebounds. For an offense that prides itself on effective ball movement, the Golden Grizzlies only had two assists in the game while the Broncos racked up 23, with most of them transition throw-aheads.
As shot after shot refused to fall for OU, the Boise State lead kept expanding, as frustration led to missed defensive shifts and wide-open shots for the Broncos. Even on made baskets, the Golden Grizzlies failed to get back on defense, resulting in easy layups or dunks that fired up The Corral, BSU’s student section. As the second half winded down, Oakland found themselves down 87-43, earning them their first loss of the season.
After the shooting prowess of last year’s team, the early-season struggles of the Golden Grizzlies are a little jarring. OU shot 3-26 on three-point attempts, eerily similar to a 2-30 showing against U-M in an exhibition game. Oakland got better looks against inferior competition in Rochester, shooting 8-26 from deep and Defiance, converting 9-32 from three.
A major focus going forward for the Golden Grizzlies must be better shot-making and getting into their offensive sets. Boise State frequently disrupted Oakland’s actions and forced them to make plays with defenders right in their faces.
As mentioned earlier, adversity is a great teacher. With road trips to Illinois and Kansas looming, Oakland must learn from this loss and be ready to grow and take on the next challenges.
College basketball is a marathon, not a sprint; a few losses early in the season do not determine the year’s success. By facing strong competition and testing themselves as a team, Oakland will benefit greatly when February and March come around, just as they did last year.
Golden Grizzlies men’s soccer rolls into postseason on 5-game win streak
KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Editor
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Oakland men’s soccer team wrapped up their regular season with a 3-1 metro-series win over the Detroit Mercy Titans on the road at Titan Field.
The win marks Oakland’s fifth in a row, a feat the Golden Grizzlies haven’t accomplished since 2021. The win also pushed Oakland to the 20-point mark in the Horizon League standings, the highest point total the team has finished with since 2021.
Finishing atop the standings is a massive deal for the Golden Grizzlies. Oakland Soccer Field will now be the site for the semi-final and championship rounds of the Horizon League soccer playoffs, giving Oakland a home-field advantage.
Against the Titans, the Golden Grizzlies dominated their rivals for most of the match. Oakland got on the board first in the 21st minute with a goal from Jack Klomparens. The goal marked Klomparens’s fourth on the season.
At the 29th-minute mark, Milan Dajic gave Oakland some breathing room with a goal. Julian Kanzler and Andrew Darakdjian assisted Dajic’s first goal of the season.
Detroit Mercy got on the scoreboard in the second half with a goal from Guershom Sylvain. However,
the Golden Grizzlies shut the door on the Titans in the 75th minute with a goal from Darakdjian.
With the Golden Grizzlies finishing their season on a high mark, several team members were named to multiple Horizon League awards.
Head coach Paul Doroh was named coach of the year. This comes as no surprise, considering this is Doroh’s first season as head coach of the team. Leading the Golden Grizzlies to the top of the standings in year one under the helm is nothing short of impressive.
“I am truly humbled by this award. I know how hard every coach, team, and staff works around the Horizon League,” Doroh said in a press release. “To receive the recognition of one’s coaching peers is personally rewarding.”
“But I didn’t receive this award alone — my coaching staff and players who did the work on and off the field equally deserve credit for me receiving this recognition.”
Along with Doroh, goalkeeper Alex Flowers was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Year title. Flowers made clutch plays in big games all season long for the Golden Grizzlies.
Notably, Flowers’s ten saves against Cleveland State tie for the most saves among all Horizon League goalies this season. Additionally, Flowers’s nine saves against Michigan State were enough for the second-most saves in a game this season.
“Alex has been a source of confidence for us in goal this whole season. I’m really happy for Alex. He has worked very hard. It is a fitting award for a player that has been consistently performing at the level Alex has,” Doroh said in a press release.
In addition to being Goalkeeper of the Year, Flowers was named to the all-league first-team, with midfielder Carson Ballagh, defender Jace Foster and defender Zachary Townsend joining him on the list.
The accolades didn’t stop there for the team either, as midfielder Abdul Al-rashed was named an all-league second-team selection. On top of that, Foster was the co-winner of the sportsmanship award along with Milwuakee’s David Cox.
Postseason Outlook
The Golden Grizzlies will start their postseason in the semi-final round against the Green Bay Phoenix at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, at the Oakland Soccer Field.
If Oakland defeats Green Bay, the team will clinch a championship berth for the second year in a row and will play the winner of the Robert Morris and Milwaukee game on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Oakland Soccer Field.
In the event the Golden Grizzlies win the Oakland Horizon League championship, the team will clinch a spot in the NCAA Division I men’s soccer tournament for the eighth time in program history.
Oakland swim and dive fall on the road at University of Michigan
EVAN BLANCHARD Sports Reporter
This last Friday, Nov. 8, Oakland University’s swim and dive team traveled to Ann Arbor to take on the University of Michigan (U-M). This meeting marked the 20th time that the two schools have faced off, with the last competition taking place during the 2022-23 season — where Oakland recorded a loss.
Unfortunately, for the Golden Grizzlies, their record against the Wolverines continued to fall this year after a 92-202 loss in favor of the Wolverines. Both the men’s and women’s teams lost with the same score.
The event kicked off with the 200-medley relay. The Wolverine women’s team dominated the event, with all three of their relay squads coming in first, second and third. Oakland’s A-team of freshman Grace Albrecht, junior Isabella Gary, senior Jordyn Shipps and fifth-year Ronja Riihinen finished in fourth.
The result was no better for the men, as the Wolverines earned the top three finishes again. The men’s A-team was comprised of juniors Harry Nicholson, Christopher Palvadre, Micah Scheffer and Charles Brown.
Next came the 1650 free. Again, Michigan’s swimmers came out on top, earning the top four finishes in both the women’s and men’s races. Freshman Kelley Hassett and senior Karel Subagyo came in fifth place for OU in their respective races.
The Golden Grizzlies wouldn’t beat a Michigan swimmer until the men’s 200 free, where senior Jonas Cantrell and sophomore Joey Countryman earned fourth and fifth over U-M’s Matthew Kroll in sixth. It took until the eighth event, the men’s 100 back, for an Oakland swimmer to finish in the top three. Nicholson narrowly missed out on first, only 0.33 seconds behind the first-place swimmer. In the women’s 100 breast, they found similar success. Oakland placed third through sixth,
highlighted by Gary in third place. Standout Shipps earned a second-place finish in the women’s 200 fly.
Both 50 frees were dominated by the Wolverines, securing the top three spots in both the men’s and women’s races. The same rang true for the 1-meter dives as Michigan again held the podium.
In the women’s 100 free, the Golden Grizzlies stood tall and had perhaps their best event of the afternoon, capturing places second through fifth. Riihinen led the way at 52.47 seconds, trailing Michigan’s Christey Liang at 50.5 seconds. Senior Sam Thiessen earned third for OU. The men repeated this success, also finishing second through fifth. Scheffer and Countryman came up at second and third.
This pattern of second through fifth-place finishes continued for the next eight races. It was a remarkable showing of depth and talent for the Golden Grizzlies. Still, there was always one Michigan swimmer in each race just a bit ahead of the pack.
Freshmen Albrecht had a spectacular day; she finished second in the 200 back. Gary also earned another podium finish, getting second in the 200 breast. Hassett impressed with a secondplace finish in the 500 free, and Subagyo kept up a great year with a second-place finish in the men’s 500 free.
In the women’s 3-meter dive, senior diver Ellie Chalifoux fell just short of second place, only 1.2 points behind U of M’s second-place diver. No Golden Grizzly diver for the men finished inside the top six for either event.
Oakland swimmers dominated the 200 individual medley race but failed to capture first place again, settling for second through fifth finishes. Junior Mia
Englender and graduate student Jack Wike earned second for the women and men, respectively.
The black and gold relay teams had a much stronger showing in the 400 free than in the 200 medley relay. Oakland again captured second through fifth place in the women’s event, led by the A-team of Riihinen, Albrecht, Thiessen and Shipps. The men took second through fourth place, with the A-team featuring Nicholson, Brown, Cantrell and Scheffer.
All in all, the score reflected the Golden Grizzlies’ failure to secure first-place finishes and U-M’s domination in diving, the medley relays, 1650 frees, and the 200 frees. There is still much to be proud of in this race; Oakland’s depth was on full display in the event’s second half.
The men’s and women’s teams rebounded nicely the next day, Saturday, Nov. 9, with victories over Grand Valley State University. The swim and dive team’s next matchup will be against Miami University on the road on Saturday, Nov. 6.
