PHOTO BY REAGAN REETZ
Celebrating Queer Youth at Pride Prom
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES Campus Editor
The under-the-sea splendor of the 20th Annual Drag Show did not leave the Banquet Rooms — it was revamped at SAGE’s Pride Prom on April 3.
“So many of us never got a special night to be fully ourselves, which is why we have our own,” SAGE wrote 0n their Instagram account. “Pride Prom is our night to celebrate, be proud and show up exactly how we are.”
The lack of an event dress code was an intentional move by the organizers to welcome friends in comfy pajamas or handmade dresses. If the Drag show is SAGE’s explosive celebration of the LGBTQ+ culture, Pride Prom is the private and cozy celebration with community members, Claire Childers, SAGE president explained.
“It’s my third year coming and it’s pretty good,” Jay, a studio arts student, said. “It’s just a nice way for the community to come together and just like, spread love, have fun, just hang out.”
Jay emphasized that beyond the joy of spending time at a safe space, Pride Prom is important during polarized times as a way to remain together and build community. Ruth Ann, an OCC student attending the event, echoed Jay’s thoughts on community building.
“It’s very important because we don’t really — especially for the younger generations, our generation — get out a whole lot and are afraid to go out to public spaces,” Ann said. “So if we have
stuff like this at contained spaces like Oakland University, OCC and other places, then we feel more safe, because these are areas where we know that not much could go down like at Pronto’s bar in Royal Oak.”
The Queer Student Alliance at Oakland Community College puts on a similar event, the Emerald Gala, to celebrate queer culture, Anne explained. Submerged in all these initiatives, Ann proposed book clubs, art displays and collaborations between OCC and OU to strengthen the community ties.
“When it comes to being around in most places, I’m always the one that people avoid because I’m always dressed in weird all-black clothes, I always got my black boots rocking around,” Garris, a graphic design student, said. “But here it’s always just smiles, and everybody says hi… No one really tries to go out of the way to walk around you, which is really nice, because it makes you feel less invisible.”
Being Garris’ first prom night, they acknowledge that they skipped high school prom due to COVID, an experience shared by other attendees. Garris acknowledged that they may feel lonely sometimes but events put on by SAGE always help to find community, relax and have fun.
Students enjoyed deserts, a soft soundscape of party classics and board games while they catched up with friends before finals and got to meet new people. As part of Pride Month at OU, SAGE and the Gender and Sexuality Center hosted many other celebrations through March, with the prom one of the final events for the semester.
“You realize that you’re not alone, there’s always other people, and it’s always a good place to come to to remember how to smile,” Garris said. “It can feel so much like a time where it feels hard to smile, but [in] a place like this, it’s so hard not to, because it’s always just much fun.”
For more SAGE events, please visit their grizzorgs website or the OU Pride Month website.
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Love and Unity: Oakland University students champion DEI
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES Campus Editor
With crayons on the floor, paint on signs and student voices on the speaker, Oakland University community members championed love and unity under Elliott Tower at noon on April 3.
“[At] Oakland University we can help solve our problems structurally,” Jamie, an OU student who wished his last name to remain anonymous, said. “We can by supporting programs, supporting DEI — whatever we want to call it, I would call it a supportive community if DEI hurts your feelings — and in that, just know your neighbors, know the people in your community, don’t isolate yourself.”
With upbeat music, a sign making station and colored chalk, students gathered to discuss the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), freedom of speech and community building. This comes at a critical time in higher education with renowned institutions like University of Michigan taking actions against student activists and dismantling DEI programs.
“We can either be a school that becomes closer to MSU [Michigan State University] or becomes more like UMich [University of Michigan],” Jamie said. “You might hear that and go, ‘Oh no, we don’t want to go the MSU way, UMich is a prestigious university of Varsity and Ivy, they’re worth inspiring to.’ But in light of recent events, I think we need to chart our own path and make ourselves stand out in a way that is different.”
The university’s Strategic Response Team has been working on determining what DEI looks like at OU. On
April 1, OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz sent out a letter reassuring the campus community of advances in the university’s compliance with the executive order.
“I have asked our Strategic Response Team to conduct a careful, comprehensive review of university programs, policies, scholarships, and materials,” Pescovitz said. “Our goal is to ensure full legal compliance while remaining true to our principles. Where revisions are needed, they are being made quickly and thoughtfully. This is how Oakland leads—with integrity, readiness, and resolve.”
Jamie called for the campus community to keep the Board of Trustees accountable after they made a verbal commitment to DEI in the last BOT meeting.
“It’s our job to kind of push them on that — it can’t just be words,” Jamie said. “We are a campus that supports students and supports safety and supports ourselves; that protects one another, that protects free speech; one that does not allow hate speech on
58 years on-air: WXOU Birthday Bash
MATILDE RABAJOLI
Campus Reporter
Radio Station 88.3 FM, WXOU, held its 58th Birthday Bash at Oakland University. The middleaged station invited artists of all kinds to perform, local vendors and students to participate in a night of festivities.
WXOU is “Oakland University’s campus radio station, providing an important voice for students and the surrounding community. WXOU offers a unique opportunity to learn about college radio, become involved in the operation of a student station and make a distinctive contribution to what is done ‘behind the scenes’ and ‘on-the-air,’” The WXOU official university page states.
The Birthday Bash event ran from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. “We are celebrating the 58th birthday of WXOU, it’s been around a long time,” Joey Hayes, WXOU’s Promotions Director, said. “We got great bands playing. We got, you know, live performers. We got little games, and we got a giveaway going on so yeah, you know, it’s fun just to come here and eat cake with us.”
Local vendors lined the entrance to the Habitat where bands and musicians like Darkhawk, Rickidd CJ, LiViNG AI and Moravian played. Most of them family owned and student led, the vendors sold all kinds of arts and crafts, jewelry and art.
“I like, I’ve been doing art for a long time, so I’ll hop from one medium to another and just do a little bit of everything,” Guadalupe Abalo, an artist and
student, said. “So this is just a pile of what I’ve made throughout the years.”
“I’ve been in a lot of group shows, I exhibited at the Detroit Artists Market downtown before, I recently had an art show at the Brandon mansion,” Daniele Pagano, another OU student and artist said. “This is my first time selling my art here at OU.”
After getting a portrait from Pagano, students could enjoy mini games in between music sets as well as cake to celebrate the radio station.
“We have about 30 radio shows that run throughout the day and night. I run one called Wise Words with Mr. Weed, [Hayes] runs one called Street Scholars,” Matt Weed, the radio’s News Director, said. “Pretty much it’s fair game for everybody. I mean, some people just play music, I interview professors, and I talk with my friends.”
Hayes explained that radio is experiencing a revival, with lots of student-led stations broadcasting local or independent radio shows.
“So Street Scholars is a hip hop R&B radio show where, you know, my main goal is to show people music they may not have heard or music that they may not have heard in a long time, or just underground artist’s music,” Hayes said. “I do interviews with underground artists and people who reach out to me and, you know, give them more exposure.”
Although radio is no longer the prominent media form, these participants and organizers remain hopeful in the world of radio.
“I mean, you can say the same thing about jazz, for example, but it’s like there’s always gonna be those core fans of any given form of media that are just
campus, and one that allows us as students to be happy and healthy.”
At a time of national mobilizations against the current administration’s intervention in academic programs, the health sector and veteran services — to name a few — Professor Andrea Knutson reflected on the power of words.
“Peace is only possible if we can build a society with values that apply to all of us and that each of us feels are conveyed with words that can anchor our lives,” Knutson said. “Maybe it’s life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Maybe it’s diversity, equity and inclusion. I like safety, dignity and peace. Maybe your word is respect, maybe your word is ingenuity or sustainability. Maybe your word is labor or love or living wage … remember these words belong to everyone.”
Unity through inclusion has been a cornerstone of America’s story of freedom, the Professor of American literature and culture explained. Knutson yet problematizes the national value recognizing that many people like Native Americans are still left out of the picture to this day — calling for students to be cautious and intentional in their efforts to bring about equity.
Councilperson for District 3, Mikal Goodman, reminded students that activism doesn’t stop at protests, demonstrations and speeches.
“It is equally as important to make sure that we are doing our part, and that does not mean that everyone has to be out in the streets,” Goodman said. “Sometimes that means doing mutual things. Sometimes that means cooking for people in your community who are not able to do forever so for themselves. Sometimes that means keeping an eye out in your community.”
gonna keep it alive for eons to come,” Eli Sepulveda, Assistant Program Director, said. “People are still writing the same structure of poetry that they’re writing 1000s of years ago. So it’ll be like that, I imagine.”
“Personally, I don’t think radio is dead. I think we as WXOU, we’re trying to keep it alive, as I said out there, we’re gonna keep on chugging for 58 more years, and we’re gonna try and keep OU’s radio station in line,” Weed said. “I want other college radio stations to succeed, because radio is something that’s been around for so long, it can’t just simply die out. We need to keep that alive, and every college radio station needs to do their part.”
For more information about working for WXOU Radio, check out their website and social media. Also, hiring postings have been added on Handshake.
PHOTO BY EVELYN APAHIDEAN
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Three days of trans visibility events on campus
REAGAN REETZ
Marketing Director
On March 31, students celebrating the Transgender Day of Visibility marched across campus in a vibrant display of pride and solidarity. This year’s Day of Action and second annual Trans Visibility March kicked off three days of programming focused on transgender visibility and support, hosted by Oakland University and the Gender and Sexuality Center (GSC).
At OU, Pride month runs from mid-March to midApril, and the transgender visibility events were part of the scheduled activities.
The Day of Action began at 10 a.m. in the GSC office, where students met to prepare for the Trans Visibility March later that day. Throughout the march, Pride flags and signs were held high, as students chanted, “We’re here, we’re queer, we’re not going to disappear.”
The chant was led by Kieran, a graduate assistant for the GSC. His last name has been withheld by request.
“I think reminding people that there is a very large and connected transgender community on campus when they think that their decision making, their comments, their way of interacting with other people doesn’t impact transgender people,” Kieran said. “It impacts us every day.”
Last year’s inaugural march was organized by several GSC leaders, including Kieran, in response to the death of Nex Benedict.
“I was very dominantly impacted by that and
decided to do something about it,” Kieran said.
What began as a response to tragedy has now grown into a new tradition, promoting visibility and support for the transgender community on campus.
The following day, in North Foundation Hall, the GSC hosted the gender affirming resource fair with campus, local, state and national resources.
Designed to connect students directly with professionals without the need for a phone call, several organizations offered resources related to support services, including gender affirming care and gender exploration. Organizations represented included Affirmations, Henry Ford Health, Stand with Trans and the University of Michigan’s Comprehensive Gender Services Program.
Students could pick up informational handouts and giveaway items from each table. There was also the opportunity to check out books from the GSC about transgender identities and experiences.
“It’s about getting these students to come to this event, to interact with these resources in an environment where they’re already comfortable,” Kieran said.
The final day concluded with the 6th annual Tim Larrabee Memorial Lecture featuring Rachel Crandall Crocker, co-founder of Transgender Michigan and creator of the Transgender Day of Visibility, which is celebrated internationally.
The lecture is named in honor of Timothy G. Larrabee, an OU associate professor who advocated strongly for the LGBTQ+ community.
In North Foundation Hall, Crandall Crocker spoke alongside operations director and co-founder of
Transgender Michigan, Susan Crocker. Surrounded by handmade transgender pride posters from the visibility march earlier in the week, Crandall Crocker shared her transition experience and the challenges she faced along the way.
These challenges inspired her to start the organization Transgender Michigan, which provides support and resources for the transgender community, including job fairs and events. The organization also started the country’s first transgender helpline.
“I wanted to make sure what happened to me did not happen to anyone else,” Crandall Crocker said.
Crandall Crocker also shared how the Transgender Day of Visibility began through a simple Facebook post.
During the Q&A portion of the lecture, when asked how the average person can make a difference, Crandall Crocker emphasized that meaningful change can begin with small actions. She advised that the most effective way to make a difference is by speaking up, contacting legislators and making donations.
“I want you to know that you do not need to be perfect to change the world,” Crandall Crocker said.
Following the keynote speech, LGBTQ+ students and allies met to debrief during The Queer Agenda Weekly Meeting, concluding the Transgender Day of Visibility events.
The three days of programming highlighted the transgender community’s presence and support at OU.
“For students to be able to build this empowerment now, and this visibility now, it helps them embrace who they are in the future,” Kieran said.
OU’s Out of the Darkness Walk unites community
REAGAN REETZ
Marketing Director
On April 6, Oakland University hosted an Out of the Darkness Walk in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The walk is a student and community fundraiser designed to raise awareness of the fight to prevent suicide.
This year’s walk had 408 participants and 26 teams, raising more than $17,000.
The event began with a resource fair featuring various organizations. OU representatives were present from Graham Health Center, Grizz Recovery, Student Congress and University Recreation and Well-Being. Other organizations present included CNS Healthcare, Common Ground, Oakland Community Health Network, Root & Bloom Therapy and the Windy Willow Foundation.
There were also activities, including bracelet making, tote bag making and rock painting. The completed rocks were placed in the Hope Garden along the walk route.
Additionally, a memory tent was set up where participants could share messages of hope with the assistance of provided prompts and share photos of their loved ones.
The opening ceremony, led by AFSP Michigan Chapter Board Chair Lisa Matway and committee chair Celeste Huff, began at 1 p.m. Huff talked about her personal experiences with ASFP and what
an event like this means for the community.
“By walking with us today, you honor the memory of loved ones we’ve lost. By walking with us, you’re letting everyone know who struggles that they are not alone,” Huff said during her speech.
During check-in, honor beads of different colors were passed out to show connections to the cause. Every participant received blue beads, representing suicide prevention, and could select other beads, such as green to represent a personal struggle and purple to represent the loss of a relative or friend.
Huff and Matway took turns reading statistics corresponding to each color of honor bead during the honor bead ceremony. As each color was announced, participants raised their beads in the air.
After the opening ceremony, the walk began, led by the top donating team, Kali’s Krusaders. Participants walked past Elliott Tower, along Pioneer Drive and Meadow Brook Road. Students, community members and even dogs walked past sidewalk chalk messages and volunteers holding posters with inspirational phrases.
Andrew Meeseman, a member of Kali’s Krusaders, walked alongside friends and family in honor of his sister, Kali Meeseman.
“It’s nice to have support and know that even though it’s almost been two years, everybody’s still supporting and everybody reaches out,” Meeseman said. “It’s just nice to know that no matter what, they’re always going to be there to help.”
Many walkers had personal connections, including
Shelby Czerniak, a member of the planning committee and co-captain of the Undergraduate Admissions team.
“We lost a community member who had close ties to my daughter, so we are walking in honor of him today as a family,” Czerniak said. “I think it shows students, staff and faculty that no one is alone.”
Others shared similar motivations for walking, including OU student Gus Lesperance Solomonson.
“I’ve known people in my life that have had pretty intense struggles with mental health, and very fortunately, those people are still around,” Lesperance Solomonson said. “To be here and show support for people who are struggling matters a lot to me.”
Huff’s personal connection to the cause motivated her to lead the committee.
“I feel like when I was at my lowest, I found this organization and it was really helpful for me as I was grieving the loss of my dad,” Huff said. “People need to know about the resources and to know there is help available, and that even if you are struggling and you are at the lowest of your lows, there are so many people around you who support you.”
Meeseman echoed that message of hope.
“If you’re able to just try to get to tomorrow, and try to get to the next day and the day after that, things can eventually work themselves out,” Meeseman said. “There’s always love and support like you see here.”
Women’s Oakland Rugby Club seeking more players
SOPHIA CURRAN
Features Reporter
The Women’s Oakland Rugby Club is in search of more players for their upcoming fall season.
The team consists of at least 15 players. The main focus of the game is to run into the opposing team’s “goal area” with the ball without getting tackled. While the season runs from the beginning of September to the beginning of November, they also offer optional conditioning before the season starts. However, the club is currently at risk of not having an upcoming season if there is not a full executive board and team.
Executive member Audrey Stemen is vocal about her support for her team and members.
“I really love the diversity of rugby players and the game’s natural inclusion,” Stemen said when thinking about her favorite aspect of the game.
“Learning such a unique sport is an entertaining challenge and I had full support for every second of it. Rugby is a team sport through and through, which is what makes it so easy to fall in love with.”
During the playing season, there are typically two practices a week. For two hours, players will do exercises and practice games on the OU outdoor fields. In addition, players can also expect team bonding activities to get to know each other better. Games normally occur once every Saturday or Friday evening, however, there is often a flexible
schedule when it comes to the sport, as they understand balancing college can be difficult.
The sport is physically demanding due to requiring a lot of tackling and pushing. Yet even after a tough match, it is customary for club members to socialize and befriend the opposing team.
Taxed and Confused
DANIELA CESARIO
Features Reporter
As Tax Day looms closer, many college students find themselves stressed, confused and racing to figure out how to file their taxes correctly. Between classes, work and internships, taxes become just another overwhelming item on their growing to-do lists. For students filing independently for the first time, the process can feel especially intimidating.
“I didn’t even really know where to start,” freshman Jana Helou said. “There are all these forms, W-2s, 1098-Ts, and I didn’t know which ones applied to me. I just kept Googling ‘How to file taxes as a student’ over and over.”
Some students turn to their parents for help, while others use online platforms like TurboTax or H&R Block, hoping the software will guide them through the maze. Even so, not all situations are simple, especially for students with multiple income sources or those who receive financial aid. Scholarships, part-time jobs and campus employment can all complicate the process.
“I work at a restaurant, tutor on the side, and have a scholarship,” freshman Sophie Miller said. “I had no idea which of those were taxable and which weren’t. It honestly made me scared I’d mess something up and owe money later. I wish they taught us this while still in high school.”
Adding to the confusion is the fact that not all students are taught how to file taxes in high school or even college. Many feel unprepared for the realworld responsibilities that come with adulthood. Some wish universities would offer workshops or resources to walk them through the process step by step.
“I know how to analyze a poem, but no one taught me how to file a tax return,” Helou said. “Even just a quick seminar would be helpful, something to explain what to do and what not to do. I feel like we’re just thrown into it once we hit adulthood.”
Others expressed concern about making mistakes, especially when using tax software on their own. The fear of being audited, underreporting income or forgetting to claim an education credit can weigh heavily. For some, the anxiety becomes paralyzing.
“I kept putting it off because I didn’t want to deal with it,” Miller said. “But the deadline kept getting closer and I realized I couldn’t just avoid it. Now I’ve set aside an entire Saturday to figure it out, hopefully it all goes well, and I can always ask my parents for help.”
Despite the stress, a few students found silver linings. Some mentioned the relief of getting a refund, while others felt a sense of pride in handling the task themselves. Learning how to file, even with challenges, gave them a feeling of independence.
“It was a pain, but now I feel more adult,” Helou
“Matches are intense but an incredible amount of fun. There is a lot of aggression on the pitch but only for the spirit of the game,” Stemen said. “After a match, we typically have a social with the other team’s players and they’re all really wonderful people!”
While the sport is intense, so much positivity can radiate within the team.
“I think girls who have experienced the struggles of other team power dynamics or body image expectations of other sports would find rugby to be very refreshing,” Stemen said.
Executive member Emma LaLonde joined with a background of playing soccer her whole life. She came to love the sport and the versatility it brings out in every player as well.
“Any ‘body’ is really a ‘rugby body’ because of the diverse needs throughout the field with the forwards and backs,” LaLonde said. “We are very inclusive and there are so many benefits of being on the team.”
However, the sport often goes unnoticed due to its lack of popularity in the U.S.
“Although it is growing, rugby is not a very known sport in the U.S. and many people come into college — that being the first experience hearing about rugby,” LaLonde said. “It’s all part of having the team to help you through the learning process.”
For more information about the sport and the club, visit their GrizzOrgs page.
said. “I did it on my own, and I actually got money back. It wasn’t fun, but it was worth it.”
As April 15 nears, students continue to navigate tax season with a mix of frustration, determination and learning. Whether they file early or scramble at the last minute, they’re gaining real-world skills not found in textbooks. And for many, this stressful season is also a rite of passage into adulthood.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WOMEN’S OAKLAND RUGBY CLUB
Anti-Trump ‘Hands Off!’ protests sweep the nation
On April 5, 2025, “Hands Off!” protests took the nation by storm. With over 600 events planned across all 50 states, these peaceful protests had a tremendous attendance, with people lining up around the globe, from Puerto Rico to New York City.
The “Hands Off!” protests serve as a direct response to President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, as well as the policies that they have passed in the first two months of the administration, from the abolishment of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives to cuts in federal funding.
Approximately 500,000 people RSVP’d for the event and gathered in protest in both major cities and small towns. Notably, Washington D.C. had a turnout of 20,000 people, making it the largest one-day nationwide display of public resistance.
These protests are strategically being held the weekend before the SAVE Act will likely be voted on in Congress, which many warned will make it harder for women and minorities to register to vote. They’re also being held right after the stock market plunged as a result of Trump’s tariffs on April 1.
The mission statement is detailed on the official “Hands Off!” website. “They’re dismantling our country. They’re looting our government. And they think we’ll just watch. This is a nationwide mobilization to stop the most brazen power grab in modern history. Trump, Musk, and their billionaire cronies are orchestrating an all-out assault on our government, our economy, and our basic rights — enabled by Congress every step of the way. If we don’t fight now, there won’t be anything left to save,” it reads.
“Hands Off!” also stresses that they are a non-violent protest movement. “We expect all participants to seek to deescalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values, and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events,” the website reads.
These protests were created and led by a coalition of organizations, including civil rights organizations, veterans, women’s rights groups, labor unions and LGBTQ+ advocates such as Third Act, Reproductive Freedom for All and the 50501 Movement.
Protestors march with signs referencing a wide range of the administration’s policies, including the recently imposed global tariffs, Musk’s financial cuts to government agencies and the federal workforce, immigration raids and democratic backsliding. The protests remain ongoing, with goals such as the impeachment of Donald Trump and the removal of Elon Musk from office.
In Europe, protests are also being held by an organization called “Democrats Abroad” in Berlin, Frankfurt, Paris, Lisbon and London. According to The Detroit Free Press,
there were 55 demonstrations in Michigan alone, including Detroit, Lansing, Novi, Troy and Ferndale.
Those who can’t physically attend protests are voicing their support on social media. A gigantic inflatable Trump amongst clever signs has gone viral. Some of the most popular signs include, “You can’t spell hatred without red hat,” “Make American Broke Again” and “But it was the Gulf of Mexico at birth!”
As expected, the movement has gained both praise and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans. “Pointless protesting annoys me. All folks had to do was show up for Harris five months ago,” a viral post on X reads.
As far as the future of the organization, a spokesperson for “Hands Off!” told Newsweek, “This fight is just beginning, and we’re mobilizing to jumpstart the opposition. We are not going to preview actions in the future nor discuss any plans at this time.”
If you are interested in attending events or supporting the
Nintendo Switch 2: How Nintendo shot themselves in the foot
NOAH FRANCIS Features Editor
It’s Thursday morning on April 3, and you are watching the Nintendo livestream their new game, “Metroid Prime 4: Beyond” on their upcoming console, the Switch 2. You decide to take a look at the lively chat, expecting to see comments on how good the graphics look, or how the new mouse controls are neat, but instead, all you see is an online protest, unanimously chanting the same message: “DROP THE PRICE.”
On April 2, Nintendo released its first in-depth presentation about the brand-new Switch 2 console. Showing off a plethora of new games and explaining the new functions and improvements over the original Switch, Nintendo’s presentation showed its audience just about everything — except for the prices.
As console generations become more advanced and games become bigger, gaming companies will charge more for the consoles themselves, as well as the games. As of this current console generation with the PlayStation 5, new first party games have been selling for $69.99.
Nintendo has always had a different way of going about prices, as they are normally seen as the home to the family-friendly consoles, going for more affordable prices than their competitors. The original Switch started at the price of $299.99, with first party
games primarily costing $59.99, with the exception of “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” costing $69.99.
Later on the day of the Switch 2 presentation, Nintendo softly revealed the price of the new console would be $449.99. While the price of the system was enough to make most fans halt in their tracks on their way to preorder the console, the straw that broke the camel’s back was the price of “Mario Kart World” coming out to $79.99 for the digital release, going beyond the industry standard and breaking new ground.
Because the prices were not in the presentation, and information on prices were either in press conferences
or buried in the websites, fans had to actively dig through to find prices, leading to misinformation and misunderstandings about game costs. Despite an enormous amount of questioning from fans online, Nintendo has chosen to remain quiet at this time.
In a podcast between former employees of Nintendo’s communication team, “Kit & Krysta,” Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang discussed the consequences of Nintendo’s decision to stay silent.
“One of the consequences of Nintendo being completely silent in all of this is that they are enabling the story to get out of their hands,” Yang said. “Now there’s going to be misinformation and now you have to do even more work as Nintendo to correct that misinformation.”
In the following “Nintendo Treehouse: Live” events, while Nintendo representatives are playing the recently revealed games over a livestream, fans have collectively gone to the comment section with their outrage, creating a unanimous sea of comments bringing attention to the price increase.
“It’s the thing that you don’t want to happen when you reveal new hardware and new games,” Yang said. “You want people to focus on the cool things that you’re showing about Switch 2, and it becomes a crisis when everyone’s attention is on this whole other thing and it’s giving it a very negative spin.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIT & KRYSTA ON YOUTUBE
Democrats win open seat on Wisconsin Supreme Court
MEGHAN BAREIS
Political Reporter
On April 2, Democrat Susan Crawford was announced as the winner of Wisconsin Supreme Court election by 10 points over Republican opponent Brad Schimel. The opening of this seat was left vacant after Justice Ann Walsh Bradley retired from the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2025 after serving since 1995. Crawford will be serving a 10-year term, ensuring that Democrats keep a 4-3 majority of the Court for at least 3 more years.
Before being elected to the Court, Crawford served as a Dane County circuit judge since 2018. Crawford had significant financial and grassroots support, but her opponent Schimel had the backing of billionaire Elon Musk.
Frequently putting himself in positions of political influence, Musk exorbitantly supported Schimel in his campaign, attempting to buy the Court with millions of dollars. Known for his founding of DOGE, Musk has found himself heavily involved in politics by drastically cutting government spending and institutions.
Musk and affiliated Political action committees (PAC) spent a combined 21 million dollars attempting to flip the court to a conservative majority. America PAC, supported by Musk spent at
least $6 million on vendors who sent door-to-door pro-Schimel canvassers across the state according to the non-partisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
On March 30, Musk held a rally in Green Bay with 2,000 attendees. He promoted $20 to anyone who signed up on his group’s site to knock on doors for Schimel and posted a photo of themselves as proof. His organization promised $100 to every voter who signed the petition against “activist judges.”
The comprehensive amount of money spent on this campaign resulted in 75 million in total spending, making this the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history.
Crawford centered her campaign around being impartial, claiming that “any case that comes before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, I’m going to decide based on the law and not some partisan agenda ... I’m not going to be making any decisions based on my policy views or any kind of political agenda. I’m going to be basing them on what the constitution requires, and the law requires.”
In an effort to push back against Musk’s overwhelming financial contributions, Democrats allocated large donations in efforts to garner public support. The veteran liberal financier George Soros donated 2 million. Billionaire Governor of Ilinois JB Pritzker donated 1.5 million as well.
The huge amount of campaign spending and intense “get out the vote” efforts helped drive voter
turnout to a record high, with over 50% of the voting-age population showing up to vote.
When the results were announced that Crawford was the next Supreme Court Justice, Brad Schimel took the stage at his watch party admitting his defeat. Angry crowds began angrily chanting, and one woman screamed out “cheater,” alluding to Crawford.
Schimel denied that comment fairly quickly saying, “No,” he responded. “You’ve got to accept the results,” he said.
People frequently claim election fraud, but it stands out more now because the country is intensely divided between those who trust political results and those who don’t.
“Today Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections and our Supreme Court,” Crawford said in her victory speech. “And Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price, our courts are not for sale,” Crawford said.
“As a little girl growing up in Chippewa Falls, I never could have imagined that I’d be taking on the richest man in the world for justice in Wisconsin,” Crawford told supporters Tuesday night. “And we won,” she added.
Despite mixed feelings about the results, this judicial race was monumental in many ways.
Breaking down Trump’s recent executive orders
MALLORY WALIGORA Political Editor
President Donald Trump’s recent months in office have been filled with change through executive orders and dramatic government reform. Some of the most notable executive orders include banning transgender women from competing in NCAA women’s sports teams, dismantling the Department of Education and banning Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practices within the federal government.
However, as always in politics, things move fast, and change is rapid. This means there are even more executive orders to break down. Most have been drowned out in the media by other, more newsworthy executive orders listed above. Let’s highlight some of the most recent executive orders.
“Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits”
This action is what most Americans heard of as “Liberation Day” — a day of sweeping tariff hikes, which includes a universal 10 percent tariff on all imported goods. The Trump administration has explained that this policy will help American job growth and strengthen our economic security.
“An America First Trade Policy will unleash investment, jobs, and growth at home; reinforce our industrial and technological advantages; reduce our destructive trade imbalance; strengthen our economic and national security; and deliver substantial benefits for American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and businesses,” the administration said in a statement.
The administration further explained that this action would lead to increased U.S. investment in manufacturing capacity and less reliance on foreign adversaries for production capabilities.
“Large and persistent annual U.S. goods trade deficits have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base; inhibited our ability to scale advanced domestic manufacturing capacity; undermined critical supply chains; and rendered our defense-industrial base dependent on foreign adversaries,” the administration said.
The most notable is the tariff on China, the 20% tariff already in place will add 34%, making it an effective tariff of 54%. This marks a sharp escalation in the global trade war.
If you follow the economy or stocks, you probably know that the U.S. market isn’t performing too well right now. This announcement triggered a sharp drop in U.S. stocks — making the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq have their biggest one-day loss since the start of the pandemic.
Nonetheless, in theory, sell high and buy low. There’s a great sale going on right now for stocks if you’re not scared of a larger, longer recession on the horizon.
“Further Amendment to Duties Addressing the Synthetic Opioid Supply Chain in the People’s Republic of China as Applied to Low-Value Imports”
To put it simply, this order bans shippers from China from concealing shipping contents that are being sent to the United States.
“Many shippers based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) hide illicit substances and conceal the true contents of shipments sent to the United States through deceptive shipping practices. These shippers often avoid detection due to administration of the de minimis exemption,” the administration said.
The de minimis exemption is a loophole that applies to goods worth less than $800. If under $800, these goods are allowed to enter the United States tarifffree. This executive order removes the exemption from shipment from China, the largest source of de minimis shipments.
“These exports play a significant role in the synthetic opioid crisis in the United States,” the administration said.
In addition to the tariff hike explained above, these two executive orders, both released on April 2, mark a key escalation in Chinese-American relations. There is a key distinction between a trade and economic war and an actual land war, however, these two actions are notable in the new Trump administration era of international relations.
“The United States will address its relationship with China under the principles of reciprocity and fairness,” the U.S. Department of State said. “In its bilateral economic relations with China, the United States will place U.S. interests and the American people first and work to end China’s abusive, unfair, and illegal economic practices.”
“Combating unfair practices in the live entertainment market”
Enough about China, let’s talk about Michigan native Kid Rock and Ticketmaster.
“America’s live concert and entertainment industry is the envy of the world. But it has become blighted by unscrupulous middlemen who sit at the intersection between artists and fans and impose egregious fees while providing minimal value. Ticket scalpers use bots and other unfair means to acquire large quantities of face-value tickets and then re-sell them at an enormous markup on the secondary market, price-gouging consumers and depriving fans of the opportunity to see their favorite artists without incurring extraordinary
expenses,” the administration said. “When this occurs, the artists do not receive any profit. All profits go solely to the scalper and the ticketing agency.”
The order calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce competition laws and propose regulations in the entertainment industry, including the enforcement of the Better Online Ticket Sales Act — which prohibits technological control by an online ticket issuer.
On March 31, when the order was signed, Trump invited Kid Rock to the Oval Office.
“Anyone who’s bought a concert ticket in the last decade, maybe 20 years — no matter what your politics are — knows that it’s a conundrum,” Kid Rock said. “You can buy a ticket for $100. By the time you check out, it’s $170. You don’t know what you’ve been charged for.”
Under former President Joe Biden, the Biden administration worked with the FTC to propose a ban on junk fees, such as concert tickets. This executive order illustrates a rare crossover between the two administrations, no matter how different their policies are.
In May of 2024, the Justice Department sued Ticketmaster for running an illegal monopoly over live events.
“Ticketmaster … thwarts competition in markets across the live entertainment industry,” the Justice Department said. “Live Nation-Ticketmaster unlawfully exercises its monopoly power in violation of Section 2 of the Sherman Act. As a result of its conduct, music fans in the United States are deprived of ticketing innovation and forced to use outdated technology while paying more for tickets than fans in other countries. At the same time, Live Nation-Ticketmaster exercises its power over performers, venues, and independent promoters in ways that harm competition.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES
Oakland basketball roster in flux as Mukeba and Gelow depart
KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Editor
Following the departure of four Golden Grizzlies through the transfer portal last week, the Oakland men’s basketball team is set to lose two more players before next season.
At the time of this writing, standout All-Horizon second-team member Allen Mukeba has entered the transfer portal, and freshman Luke Gelow is retiring from basketball due to injury.
Below, you will find out each player’s role in the previous season and what their departure from the team means moving forward.
Allen Mukeba | F | 14.6 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.3 APG
As the most recent Golden Grizzly to enter the transfer portal, there are certainly big shoes to fill following Mukeba’s departure.
Last season for Oakland, Mukeba was critical to the team’s success. Mukeba led the team in scoring and rebounding while also recording the most blocks. Additionally, Mukeba posted the best fieldgoal percentage of any Golden Grizzly during the 2024-25 campaign.
It didn’t take long for Mukeba to establish his dominance in an Oakland uniform, as Mukeba dropped 19 points against the nationally top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in the third game of the season before recording his first double-double of the season against Cleveland State in mid-December.
During the Horizon League tournament, Mukeba also had a dominant stretch, earning an All-Tournament
team selection in the process, averaging 18 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks while shooting 64.7% from the floor through the three games Oakland played in.
Luke Gelow | G | 0 PPG, 0 RPG, 0 APG
Although Gelow didn’t make any appearances for the Golden Grizzlies last season, his departure still stings.
The Oakland offense and zone defense aren’t schemes a newcomer can come in and run with; it takes time to adjust. So, losing a player due to injury who’s spent a season learning how to best fit within the Oakland blueprint certainly isn’t ideal.
Looking Ahead
Before we discuss the holes Oakland will have to fill before next season, it’s essential to consider which players will join this roster first.
Starting with incoming freshmen, twin brothers Donny Yeager and MJ Yeager are committed to the program. Unsurprisingly, the duo of guards dominated together in high school, and they will look to do so at the next level of competition.
On top of the Yeager twins, Oakland will also have junior college product Amarco Doyle join the squad out of Southern Idaho. Last season, the freshman forward averaged 14.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, shooting 52.7% from the field and a blistering 49.3% from beyond the arc.
If we consider Doyle and the Yeager brothers and all of Oakland’s departures, that leaves at minimum three possible open roster spots at this time. Assuming the rest of the team stays intact, there are 12 players currently set to be on the roster next season.
However, the Golden Grizzlies might look to add more than four players ahead of next season.
Per the new NCAA rules, a team is allowed up to 15 scholarship athletes on a basketball roster. While teams of the past usually consisted of 13 scholarship athletes, with two of those spots given to walk-ons, the Golden Grizzlies have a chance to fill those three spots of the roster through the transfer portal.
While the Golden Grizzlies may not have to field as many players through the transfer portal as they did last season, it will be interesting to see how head coach Greg Kampe and the rest of the staff address all of these departures.
Oakland women’s tennis wins both meets on senior weekend
EVAN BLANCHARD
Sports Reporter
Last weekend, Oakland University women’s tennis played Northern Kentucky (NKU) and IU Indy on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The team dominated both matches, bringing its overall record to 7-8 and adding to a four-match win streak.
On Friday, the Golden Grizzlies welcomed the Northern Kentucky Norse to Rochester Hills and promptly defeated them. For those unfamiliar with tennis scoring in college, the matches go like this: three doubles games are simultaneously played. The first team to win two of these matches earns the doubles point. Then, six singles matches are played, with each win counting as a point. The school that reaches four points (best of seven) wins the match.
Freshmen Martyna Piechowicz and Josie Ward formed the first team for OU. It was the first time this season that they played as a pair, and they took care of business. They promptly handled NKU’s Darya Gneidina and Mariajose Hernandez, defeating them 6-1. Piechowicz has now won four double matches in a row, while Ward is on a three-match streak herself.
Sophomores Edie Hammond and Emilia Jarvinen made up Oakland’s second team. Coincidentally, both of them are from Europe: Hammond from England and Jarvinen from Finland. They also dominated the Norse, winning their match 6-2. Hammond and Jarvinen have been paired together now for four consecutive meets, and before the IU Indy game, they had won three straight doubles matches.
The third doubles team comprised of freshman Nisa Bulut and graduate student Warisara “Best” Lee. Bulut and Lee were well on their way to a win, as well, before their game ended early at 5-2 because the other two games had finished.
Oakland’s domination continued into the singles matches. Jarvinen continued her excellent day with a steady win over opponent Ashlee Fisk, while Bulut won her match. Both of them only needed two sets to
secure the Golden Grizzlies’ first two singles points. Hammond fell in a three-set match to Gneidina before Lee picked her up with a dominant two-set win. Piechowicz secured the pivotal fifth point for the Golden Grizzlies in a huge third-set win, giving OU a 5-2 victory over the Norse!
The next day, against the IU Indy Jaguars, it was right back to it. Oakland took their time to honor Lee with her senior day festivities, and then it was time to play. This time around, OU failed to secure the doubles point.
Piechowicz and Ward earned the black and gold’s only doubles victory with an easy 6-1 dub. Hammond and Jarvinen couldn’t take care of business in a 6-4 loss, while Bulut and Lee suffered a tight 7-6 loss against IU Indy’s Hanan Awale and Emma Dell.
With some ground to make up and sitting in a 0–1 hole, OU had to dominate the singles matchups. And dominate, they did. Jarvinen more than made up for her doubles loss with a merciless victory over her singles opponent, winning her sets 6-1 and 6-0. Bulut similarly channeled some frustrations from her doubles loss with 6-0 and 6-4 wins in her match; these two victories gave Oakland the edge over the Jaguars 2-1.
Tara Montreuil, Hammond and Piechowicz all secured singles wins, as well. The only singles loss came from Lee, who couldn’t quite get the win on her senior day. This thorough beat-down in the singles matches helped OU earn its second 5-2 win of the weekend.
Next up for the team is a weekend trip that starts on April 18 and concludes on April 19. The Golden Grizzlies will play the Youngstown State Penguins and Cleveland State Vikings, respectively.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OU ATHLETICS
PHOTO BY EVELYN APAHIDEAN
Oakland baseball drops series 2-1 to Youngstown State
KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Editor
In a three-game series that started on Friday, April 4 and ended on Sunday, April 6, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies baseball team dropped two games to the Youngstown State Penguins before ending the series with a win.
Game 1: Oakland 3, Youngstown State 4
The Golden Grizzlies struck first in game one. After John Lauinger was walked to start the first, Taylor Tomlin grounded out, as Lauinger moved to second. With Brandon Nigh up to bat, he sent a single to right field, bringing home Lauinger to make the score 1-0.
After the Penguins struggled in the early frames of the game, they responded in the fourth inning as Tommy Rover crushed a solo home run to tie things up. Riding the momentum, Youngstown State found some consistency inside the box, recording two more runs in the inning to take the lead, 3-1.
In the sixth inning, Trent Rice stole second and third after notching a single before Tomlin sent him home with a sacrifice fly to left field. Next, Nigh hit a double and Matthew McGann tied things up with an RBI single.
However, the Penguins quickly reestablished their lead in the following inning as Jay Wrona hit
what would be a game-securing RBI single to bring home Garrett Cutting.
Oakland had a shot in the eighth inning to change their fate following a single from Rice and Lauinger getting hit by a pitch. However, the Penguins held on, ultimately winning the first game of the series.
Game 2: Oakland 4, Youngstown State 7
The second game of the series was much more grim than the first, as the Golden Grizzlies trailed the entire game.
After three solo home runs from Youngstown State in the first two innings, Oakland scored two runs in the third after Rice scored on a passed ball and a Lauinger groundout RBI, putting the Golden Grizzlies down 3-2.
Despite the pushback from Oakland, the home runs kept coming from the Penguins, as Eli Brown gave Youngstown State breathing room with a grand slam in the seventh inning, putting the Penguins up 7-2.
The Golden Grizzlies showed some fight in the bottom of the seventh, as Ben Clark scored on a wild pitch and a groundout from Aidan Schuck gave Rice enough time to reach home plate for another run, but the Penguins locked down on defense, not allowing another hit from Oakland the rest of the game.
Game 3: Oakland 15, Youngstown State 5
At the start of the game, Kyle Fossum of the
Penguins hit a home run to give Youngstown State the early advantage. However, after a Tomlin single and a Lauinger hit by pitch, McGann hit a long double to right field, giving Tomlin enough time to score to make it a 1-1 ball game.
Despite the solid start for Oakland, Youngstown State scored a run through each of the first four innings, leaving the Golden Grizzlies down 4-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth.
In the fourth, Oakland really let it fly. McGann started the inning for the Golden Grizzlies as they cycled through the entire batting order, recording five hits and eight runs to give the team a 9-4 advantage.
Now that the Golden Grizzlies were in the driver’s seat, the Penguins managed to tab on a run in the fifth inning thanks to a Jack Johnson single. However, Oakland’s momentum carried over as Griffith hit a two-run RBI double in the fifth and Clark hit an RBI double in the sixth.
With a chance to put the game to bed early, the Golden Grizzlies did just that in the seventh inning. After Rice and Griffith scored following an error from the Penguins, Tomlin hit a sacrifice fly to bring Nigh home, giving Oakland the win.
Next, the Golden Grizzlies will travel to Milwaukee to take on the Panthers in a three-game series that starts on Friday, April 11, and ends on Sunday, April 13.
OU softball earns doubleheader sweep at home over Cleary University
EVAN BLANCHARD
Sports Reporter
It’s been a rough last few weeks for the Oakland women’s softball team. After a strong 4-2 start to the season, the team went 2-16 in their next 19 games, with losing streaks of five, four and seven. With their backs against the wall, the Golden Grizzlies responded, securing a series victory against Green Bay two games to one and sweeping a doubleheader against Cleary University on April 3.
The most significant turnaround has been an increase in runs scored. In their last four games, OU has scored 30 runs, more than any other fourgame stretch so far this season. This offensive surge showed against Cleary in their first game of the day at 2 p.m. at Oakland, as they outscored the Cougars 9-1. Let’s jump in and break down the games.
Game 1: Oakland 9, Cleary 1 Oakland didn’t take long to jump out to an early lead. In the first inning, Alexa Kownacki got things rolling with a single. Teammate Storm Kentros joined her with a walk, putting two Golden Grizzlies on with just one out. After a fly-out, Brooklyn Wyczalek brought the two runners home with a clutch double to center field, giving OU a commanding 2-0 lead.
On the defensive side of the ball, Golden Grizzlies pitcher Maraina Smith was dealing. She struck out three batters across her first two innings and didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. It was just the kind of performance that the struggling pitcher
needed; Smith hadn’t gone a full three innings once this season until this start. As she vacillates between a starting role and a relief role, perhaps the coaching staff will favor her more as a starter after this game’s performance.
In the third inning, Oakland would tack on some more damage. After a Kentros ground out and a Kamryn Troyer line out to start the frame, six consecutive batters would reach base. It was all small ball, too; besides one reach-on-error, each hit was a single. But small-ball worked, driving in four runs to balloon the lead to 6-0 OU.
Smith’s only fault in the game was giving up an RBI double to Cleary’s Jenna Wagenschutz in the top of the fourth. Besides that, she pitched a pretty flawless day. Smith finished with only one hit, one run, two walks, and five punchouts in her five innings of work.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Grizzlies’ offense got back to work. Kenna Bommarito was called on to pinch-hit, and she came in and smoked a double to right-center field. Oakland would finish the inning with four more singles, all in a row. The final score stood at 9-1, ending in a mercy-rule forfeit for Cleary through just five innings.
Claire Loveland, Annabel Power and Wyczalek all had two RBIs for the Golden Grizzlies, with Powers leading the team with three hits. Oakland only had one strikeout on the day, demonstrating their terrific plate discipline and hitting ability.
Game 2: Oakland 6, Cleary 2
The second game of the afternoon was much more of the same. The Golden Grizzlies didn’t wait to
continue their offensive onslaught. They got right back at the Cougars, scoring four runs in an active first inning. Loveland kept up her big day with a two-run double to end the inning as eight different Golden Grizzlies reached base. Not too shabby for the start of the game.
It was Mia Konyvka’s turn to take the mound for Oakland. After a clean first inning, Konyvka showcased her ability to coax ground balls, getting three in a row from the Cougars to end the frame. One run was scored off an error by centerfielder Brooklyn Plitz.
Neither team made any noise until the top of the fourth inning. With one Cougar on and two outs, Gabrielle Monreal singled to right field, bringing Cleary closer at 4-2. OU would bring the lead back up to four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Madi Herrington led off with a double before Plitz singled to put two Golden Grizzlies on base. Herrington would score on a sacrifice fly from Kownacki, and a Troyer single drove in Plitz to tack on an additional two runs.
The Oakland defense and Konyvka proved to be too much for the Cougars’ offense. The starting pitcher finished with a complete game of seven innings, four hits, only one earned run, and three strikeouts. The Golden Grizzlies would prevail 6-2 and cap off a great 4-0 stretch in their schedule.
Next up is an away series at home against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons from Saturday, April 12, through Sunday, April 13.