The Oakland Post 9.13.23

Volume 49 l Issue 2 l September 13, 2023

A Trusted Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987.

LETTER FROM EDITOR Welcome to the fall semester PAGE 3

PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT

HILLCREST HOURS

Students outraged at dining hours change PAGE 8-9

WELCOME WEEK

OU welcomes new students to campus PAGE 3

2 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

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

EDITORS

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

WELCOME WEEK Activities to welcome the new students and returning students span across the first two weeks of classes.

MARKETING

PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT

Evelyn Gandarilla Marketing Director evelyngandarill@oakland.edu

DISTRIBUTION Rory Strachen Distributor

oaklandpostonline.com

COPY & VISUAL

ADVERTISING

REPORTERS

ADVISING

Courtney Blackett Photographer

Brian Einowski Ads Director

Anthony Varchetti Reporter

Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser gjgilber@oakland.edu 248.370.2105

Barret Schettler Graphic Designer

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

ads@oaklandpostonline.com

Chelsea Bossert Reporter Chloe Kukuk Reporter Evan Fisher Reporter Kurt Szymanski Reporter Summer Weathers Reporter

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

Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu 248.370.2533

CAMPUS Letter from the Editor: It’s good to be back ARIANNA HEYMAN Editor-In-Chief

For me, nothing beats a Michigan autumn. Every other season just pales in comparison. What can beat crisp morning air, scenic colors on the trees, fall sports, Halloween, cider mills –– the answer is nothing.

Each of my fall semesters at OU has been a highlight. I love walking to class and seeing the campus community at its best. Fall is also a reflective time for me. When I notice the trees changing color each fall, I can’t help but reflect on all of the changes in the past year.

For me, fall has always been a time for new beginnings. The start of a new academic year brings about a new sense of motivation and excitement for the year to come. As I begin my last semester here at Oakland University, I am trying to savor this last fall as a student and appreciate the journey I took to get here and the changes I have seen along the way.

Change is also at the forefront of my mind when thinking about the trajectory of my time and progression at The Oakland Post. Change is a good thing –– and for The Post, I want it to be continually dynamic.

So here are some changes we have implemented since I started my Editor in Chief journey back in the Spring: Our website got a makeover! You all may have noticed our new logo and typeface. The goal was to give The Post a cleaner, sleeker appearance, and we hope the new designs are as aesthetically pleasing for you as they are for us. We switched our tagline too. At The Post, we feel “A Trusted

Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987” summarizes our history, our values and goals succinctly.

We also rearranged our website. After years of oaklandpostonline.com looking like a bit of a crossword puzzle, we rearranged our design to give readers an easier, more pleasurable reading experience. We hope it’s easier to navigate our website now –– at The Post, we want to make sure each article is visible.

We have also implemented some new social media strategies to increase user engagement. That may sound boring, but it isn’t. We’re on TikTok now! Follow us @theoaklandpost Additionally, we will continue to update the OU community on our other social media accounts, which include Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Hopefully, you will notice a new section in The Post. Starting this fall, we will implement a

PHOTO COURTSEY OF ARIANNA HEYMAN

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | 3

political section of our paper. We want to keep our readers engaged in all local, state, national and international political events. We believe it is The Post’s responsibility to educate readers on the ever-changing world around us, and we are thrilled to share this vision by providing political articles that contain research, analysis and viewpoints worthy of publication by our exceptional staff.

After much thought, The Post will be updating its comment policy. Over the past year, we have listened to the feedback provided by our dedicated readers and we are implementing a new comment policy with fewer restrictions. The Oakland Post is a publication that welcomes open discourse, debate and dissent.

Finally, we have adjusted our printing schedule.

Starting this Fall, The Post will only be printing hardcover copies bi-weekly. There will still be new articles each week, but with current trends, we feel a bi-weekly print schedule will allow us to focus more on digital content and save some trees while we’re at it.

As if all of those modifications weren’t enough, I also wish to address a big change I plan to implement, and that’s outreach. We want to hear from you, our dedicated readers and OU community. At The Oakland Post, we want to know what you want us to cover, what we’re doing well and even what we could improve upon. The Oakland Post is here to serve you. My email is editor@oaklandpostonline.com –– I encourage you to send me your thoughts, concerns and ideas.

I hope you will see all of these changes as improvements. While my staff and I work hard to write and publish The Oakland Post, it belongs to all of us.

New students welcomed to campus with convocation, open houses, Welcome Week launch CHLOE KUKUK Campus Reporter

Oakland University’s 2023-2024 academic year was ushered in on Sept. 5 with the New Student Convocation, academic open houses and the launch of Welcome Week.

The events started at 1 p.m. in the OU Credit Union O’Rena with the New Student Convocation.

The theme of 2023’s convocation was “Living Our Best Lives.”

Students sat with others in their major as OU sophomore Cailey Powell welcomed them to campus.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at OU,” Powell said. “I have taken advantage of many opportunities that I wouldn’t have ever thought of…I hope today’s event will inspire you to make the most of your OU experience.”

After singing OU’s fight song, OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz expressed her excitement for the new campus community members and what lies ahead of them.

“College teaches you not just academics,” Pescovitz said. “It teaches you how to learn, how to be open to new ideas, how to be open to new experiences, how to be open to new cultures, and I hope how to be open to new people and new ways of looking at the world.

“You’ve arrived now in a new chapter of your life.

This is a crossroad. You are a part of a brand-new community. And we want you to remember that from this day forward, our hands are extended to you.”

Senior James Mitchell reflected on his experiences in his time at OU. “I know you may be wondering — why did I choose OU? As incoming students, you may be asking yourself the same thing,” Mitchell said. “But the truth is, I didn’t choose OU — OU chose me.

“From this day forward, always remember to keep your head up, no matter what life throws at you,” Mitchell added. “Remember to keep a smile on your face because on OU’s campus — we are here, living our best lives.”

Immediately following convocation, academic open houses were held throughout campus. Students were introduced to the variety of majors and minors available, organizations relevant to their field of study, faculty in their college and fellow students.

Students played a get-to-know-you bingo at the School of Business Administration’s open house, where they had to find a classmate who fulfilled certain traits in the bingo squares. The faculty in the school also spoke to the students about what they could expect.

Finally, the official launch of OU’s annual Welcome Week kicked off at Elliott Tower with free ice cream, presentations from student organizations and music courtesy of WXOU. OU freshmen expressed their excitement for what lies ahead.

“I’m definitely looking to meet new people and [have] way more experiences,” said Matilda Wagner. “In high school, it’s not really like college — you have a lot more responsibilities and a lot more freedom. It gives you the opportunity to do

what you want to do.”

“Today, I got a lot of experience and a lot of information,” said Gabriella LoRe. “It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s definitely exciting, and I’m looking forward to getting to class, getting into routine and finding all the new student programs that are going on.”

The full list of Welcome Week events can be found here. The festivities will continue through Saturday, Sept. 16.

PHOTO COURTSEY OF COURTNEY BLACKETT

CAMPUS

4 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

A quarter-century of health and wellness: The OU Rec Center celebrates its 25th anniversary EVAN FISHER

Campus Reporter

Oakland University’s Recreation Center celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

Several student organizations attended the event as a part of OU’s annual “Welcome Week,” which takes place from Sept. 5-16.

WXOU, OU’s student-run radio station, provided music for the event. OU’s pet therapy group and the Student Program Board (SPB) also attended.

Greg Jordan, OU’s director of University Recreation and Well-Being, started working for OU in 1996, two years before the facility’s creation. He influenced the Rec Center’s construction and helped to build the department “from the ground up.” He believes the school’s Rec Center is something to be proud of.

“For the size of OU, our Rec Center is very stateof-the-art. The equipment and the facilities are robust,” Jordan said.

Jordan also said the reason why OU’s Rec Center is so successful is because of its employees and the ability of those employees to think on their feet for what the facility needs.

“OU’s Rec Center is the second largest student employer on campus. Students keep us relevant,”

PHOTO COURTSEY OF EVAN FISHER

Jordan said. “The key to these facilities is keeping relevant and up-to-date to 2023 needs.”

Jordan indicated the University of Michigan and Michigan State have both spent around $200 million on their recreation centers in recent years.

OU hasn’t needed to do so because it has been able to be flexible with the needs of those who attend.

The initial investment in the Rec Center and the willingness to make changes have allowed it to

keep up with what other universities offer.

Cheyenne Witcher is a senior at OU and an employee at the Rec Center. She enjoys meeting new people while working there.

“It’s a positive experience to work out in the same place that you work,” Witcher said.

OU’s Rec Center is more than just a fitness facility — it has programs built for student and employee health and wellness as well.

There are over 20 free programs open for registration that students can join during the fall semester, according to the student wellness page on the Rec Center website.

The Rec Center also offers nine free wellness programs for OU staff during the fall.

Department Director Greg Jordan’s favorite wellness group is the therapy dogs.

“Pet therapy is huge. Who’s not going to get happy over petting a dog?” Jordan said.

OU’s Rec Center offers free fitness classes throughout the year, along with its strength and cardio training facilities.

According to the Group X page on the Rec Center website, there are 28 Group X fitness classes available for up to $5, provided you have access to a free student membership.

The OU Rec Center is committed to keeping staff and students healthy.

How WXOU is shaping OU’s music culture CHELSEA BOSSERT

Arts Reporter

On Tuesday, Sept. 5 — a hot and humid night — heat lightning rolled into Oakland University’s athletic fields. Darkness overshadowed much of parking lot P11 and the bonfire pit. The weather looked grim.

However, this did not stop OU students from

PHOTO COURTSEY OF WXOU Students enjoy music provided by WXOU at OUSC Eats & Beats.

dancing the night away to artists like Frank Ocean, Smino, André 3000, Childish Gambino and more.

At one point, there was even a jumble of students line dancing to “Wobble” by V.I.C. The event, entitled OUSC Eats & Beats, was jointly hosted by OU’s Student Congress and WXOU (88.3 FM) — the campus’s student-run radio station.

“We’re the college radio station and DJ every event on campus. You can find us downstairs in the Oakland Center next to The Oakland Post,” WXOU’s PSA director Zachary Oberdier said.

Similarly, on Thursday, Sept. 7, WXOU hosted the event WXOU Social at the Circle — alongside The Oakland Post and Student Video Productions — at Hamlin Circle.

Advertised as an opportunity for first-year students “looking to meet new people” with “popcorn, lawn games and slushies,” this event was populated by many new students excited and willing to put themselves out there.

“I really love the event,” freshman Brandon Owens said. “I love that it’s bringing everyone together, and everyone is having a good time.”

“I thought [the event] was really entertaining. It was a good reason to get out of my dorm for the night,” junior Ethan Lehman said — sharing a similar sentiment.

Thursday night’s event was filled to the — figurative — brim with students dancing to more contemporary hip-hop artists like Drake, Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj.

The atmosphere was noticeably more intimate

compared to Tuesday’s event, with students congregating off to the side to play cornhole, mingle and watch the Detroit Lions game — with live sports commentary by Giovanni Moceri, a member of the sports media team at WXOU. “[Being an independent studio radio station] allows us to be as creative as we want to be. College radio is a place where you can do anything you want,” Moceri said.

And while college radio — and radio in general — is not as popular as it used to be thanks to ondemand music streaming, there is still an audience for the underground.

“Radio is dead, but we’re still here,” WXOU’s programming director Andrew Deacon said.

WXOU is also very vocal about why the radio station is important for OU’s music scene — specifically in how they shape taste and help indie artists.

“We do a lot of stuff with musicians, both local and not. We have music sent in to us [from] various indie bands around the country,” WXOU’s general manager Logan Pizzuro said. “We also do a concert series called ‘WXOU Underground.’”

You can find WXOU at wxou.org, as well as on Instagram at @wxouradio. To get involved, students can volunteer to DJ events on campus, host podcasts and live and pre-recorded radio shows, interview artists and more.

“Music is such a wide landscape, and being able to find your little slice of it and share it with people, that’s what it’s really all about,” Pizzurro said.

FEATURES

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | 5

Committed to engagement: The Board of Trustees Student Liaisons ANTHONY VARCHETTI Features Reporter

With the start of the fall semester and a new academic year barely in the rearview mirror, the 2023-2024 Board of Trustees (BOT) Student Liaisons are wasting no time jumping into their roles.

The BOT Student Liaisons act as the voice of the students during meetings of the Board and serve to make sure the needs of students are addressed when the Board makes decisions. This year’s BOT Student Liaisons, Red Douglas and Payton Bucki, are excited to get to work addressing student concerns across campus and are especially committed to bolstering student engagement this year.

Douglas, a graduate student serving his second term in the position, has noted student engagement at Oakland University has dropped significantly in the post-COVID era, both in and out of the classrooms.

“There are crickets chirping in the classrooms,” Douglas said. “Between classes, instead of hanging out around campus and trying to meet people or engage with each other, people just go sit in their cars.”

Douglas views this lack of involvement as a major detriment to OU and its students, not only socially, but academically. He noted studies show retention of material significantly decreases for students who are not engaged.

Bucki, an undergraduate serving her first term as a BOT Student Liaison, also highlighted student engagement as a main area of concern for the campus moving forward. She stated her main goal is to address the general concerns of the student body while boosting the rate of involvement on campus.

While Bucki and Douglas certainly have bigpicture goals in mind, both made it clear they want to address any concern that could make life easier for the student body, no matter how small the feedback may seem.

Douglas and Bucki have noted their role allows

PHOTO BY LINDSEY SOBKOWSKI

them a direct line to the BOT, which gives them incredible problem-solving potential.

There is one problem, though --- students are not complaining enough.

“Faculty has reached out to us more than the students,” Douglas said. “[We] have a straight line to the president, and it’s a disservice to the student body if they don’t know they can come to us.”

Both Bucki and Douglas believe the BOT Student Liaisons have been under-utilized in the past, even though the position allows the representatives to serve as the voices of the student body at the Board’s meetings. Bucki and Douglas encourage students to approach them with feedback so they can effectively address student concerns in an amicable, productive manner.

According to Douglas, running a university is like running a little city.

“There’s a lot going on, and the concerns of the student body can get lost in the shuffle if they are not brought to the Student Liaisons to be presented to the Board,” Douglas said.

If students have a concern they want to see addressed, one of the best recourses they have is to reach out to Bucki and Douglas at the BOT Student Liaison email, which is BOT-Students@ oakland.edu.

If students want to learn more about the position or are interested in serving as a future BOT Student Liaison, they can learn more at their webpage on the OU website.

A very golden wedding — Grizz visits OU couple at wedding reception CHLOE KUKUK Campus Reporter

When Amanda Greene was planning her May 19 wedding, she knew who to invite as the perfect surprise for her now-husband, Sean Greene — the mascot of the university where they met.

The pair’s reception was marked by a special guest appearance from Grizz. For both, OU became a place where their lives changed — something Amanda wanted to honor.

“I thought it was so special that we both went to Oakland,” Amanda said. “I got really lucky. It was only a week or maybe two weeks before the wedding that I started looking [to invite Grizz] — I called the Friday before the wedding, and they got back to me on Monday.”

“I wasn’t expecting it at all — I was super happy,” Sean said. “That’s where we met and grew a friendship before anything else, and OU was a big part of our lives.”

While the pair were in a relationship for two years before tying the knot, their friendship came first through their shared love of teaching.

“When I was a little girl, I always loved my teachers, and I can specifically remember that I would go back-to-school shopping and get so excited,” Amanda said.

“Almost every job I’ve had in my life has had a teaching aspect,” Sean said. “When everyone asked, ‘What do you want to do in the future?’ I said, ‘Well, I’m good at math and I like helping teach.’ You put two-and-two together and you get a math teacher — and I love it.”

The two were both students at OU’s School of Education and Human Services, a program, Sean said, was tight-knit.

“When you get in the teaching program, you pretty much have all the same classes together,” Sean said.

“I met her in one class and we [became] friends, and then we had all the other classes together. She couldn’t get away from me, and I couldn’t get away from her.”

Their initial meeting took place on the first day of their shared social studies methods course.

Amanda recalls sitting at an empty table, thinking she was the last student to arrive and would have the space to herself. Instead, Sean walked in and sat next to her.

Amanda said she knew even before they spoke that there was something special.

“Since I met him, I kind of just knew something about him,” Amanda said.

One of the stand-out memories of that class that sparked their friendship, Sean said, was Amanda’s interesting snack choice.

“She got out a banana and started eating it with a spoon,” he said. “I looked over and was like, ‘What in the world is this? What are you doing next to me, eating a banana with a spoon?’

“I must’ve said something too loud,” he added.

“Our professor saw it, stopped the entire class — she got a little embarrassed, and after that, that’s when we started talking.”

From then on, the two grew close. They graduated in Dec. 2019, sitting side-by-side at the ceremony.

In 2021, the two had their first date just after Valentine’s Day and got engaged on Christmas Day of the same year.

Now, they continue to share their love of teaching together — they both work within the Pontiac City School District. Amanda teaches 3rd-grade students and Sean teaches 8th-grade students.

Previously, the two worked in different cities, and the change in proximity is welcome.

PHOTO COURTSEY OF SEAN AND AMANDA GREENE After meeting at OU, Amanda Greene surprised her husband Seth Greene with an appearance from Grizz at their May 19 wedding.

“It’s less stressful working in the same district together,” Sean said. “She used to work in Detroit and I worked in Pontiac — I’d have to wait an hour to two hours for her to get home.”

Now, [we work] pretty much down the street from our home that we just bought, and it gives us more time for us.”

Overall, the couple looks forward to spending the time they can together.

“It’s like I get to have a 24/7 sleepover with my best friend,” Amanda said.

FEATURES

6| SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

New Director of School of Music, Theatre and Dance: Dr. Elisabeth Hoegberg PAYTON BUCKI Features Editor

Dr. Elisabeth Hoegberg was filled with nervous excitement when she first saw the position of Director of the School of Music, Theatre and Dance (SMTD) was open at Oakland University. Although the teaching profession has her heart, Hoegberg knew a collegiate administrative position would open doors for herself and, more importantly, the students she will be watching over.

After careful consideration, Hoegberg worked meticulously on her application. The former University of Indianapolis professor spent ample time polishing her lengthy resume.

Hoegberg began her studies at Illinois State University, earning a Bachelor’s in Music History and Piano. She then earned her Ph.D. in Music Theory and M.A. in Musicology from Indiana University.

“After completing my studies, I was an assistant professor of music at the University of Indianapolis,” Hoegberg said. “While there, I taught music theory, which is essentially the language of music.”

Hoegberg was selected to serve as chair of the Department of Music at the University of Indianapolis in 2018. She later served as chair of the Theatre Department there as well.

These teaching and managerial positions strengthened Hoegberg’s affinity for educating college students.

“The positions I held at the University of

PHOTO COURTSEY OF JLBOONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Indianapolis made me feel like I was part of every student’s educational and professional journey,” Hoegberg said.

Hoegberg’s experience as a professional pianist is a standout aspect of her involvement in the art field.

“I began playing piano when I was 5 or 6 years old,” Hoegberg said. “It was — and still is — a great way for me to express my emotions.”

After applying to the SMTD Director position, Hoegberg was invited to Michigan to tour OU. When Hoegberg first visited campus in the summer of

2023, Varner Hall — her potential future workspace — was under construction.

The renovation of Varner Hall left entrances closed, sidewalks blocked and classrooms in disarray. Yet, despite the construction, Hoegberg felt instantly at home when she entered the building.

“There was great energy on campus,” Hoegberg said. “I could tell there was a lot of potential to grow the SMTD programs at OU.” When she learned she would be the new Director of SMTD, Hoegberg was elated.

“When interacting with the public, I could tell Michiganders have great pride for their state,” Hoegberg said. “So I was very excited to move to the Metro-Detroit area.”

Hoegberg enters the position with a bit of apprehension, recognizing it could be difficult to be the representative of so many people.

“There are so many acronyms and administrative matters I need to learn,” Hoegberg said. “It’s really like going back to school.”

When asked what she’s looking forward to for her first year as the SMTD Director, Hoegberg said she is most excited about meeting and interacting with students and staff members.

“My door is always open,” Hoegberg said. “I look forward to meeting MTD students this semester and working with others to grow the school’s programs.”

To learn more about Director Hoegberg, visit her faculty page. To contact Hoegberg directly, email ehoegberg@oakland.edu.

Carpenter appointed interim dean for OUWB CHLOE KUKUK

Campus Reporter

Following the retirement of Duane Mezwa, M.D., Christopher F. Carpenter, M.D., has been appointed Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB)’s Stephan Sharf Interim Dean and OUWB Chief Academic Officer for Corewell Health, effective Sept. 5.

“I’m excited. To be able to follow in [the former deans’] footsteps and continue to build on what they’ve accomplished is really a great honor,” Carpenter said. “I’m hoping to be able to kind of continue in the direction they set the school.”

In a press release, OU’s Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Britt Rios-Ellis, and OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz expressed their confidence in Carpenter’s abilities to head the institution.

“With Dr. Carpenter’s wealth of experience and knowledge in working with OUWB students, faculty and staff, he stood out as a natural fit to lead our medical school as interim dean while a national search is conducted for the next permanent dean,” Rios-Ellis said.

“Dr. Carpenter will provide steady, prudent guidance during the search for a full-time dean of the School of Medicine,” Pescovitz said. “He’s a proven leader with acclaimed expertise and an impressive academic background. His integrity, compassion and record of mentoring medical students are traits at the heart of OUWB’s values.”

Carpenter attended the University of Michigan (UofM) for his medical education and completed his residency in internal medicine at Duke

University. He also completed an infectious diseases fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.

In 2017, he earned a master’s in health services administration from UofM. Having grown up in Rochester, Carpenter has a long history with OUWB and its broader community. He has been a faculty member since OUWB’s inception, even taking part in the search process for the founding dean.

He held the position of Michael E. Maddens, M.D., Distinguished Chair, and serves as a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at OUWB. Additionally, he joined Corewell Health’s William Beaumont University Hospital (WBUH) in 2000, serving as the director of WBUH’s Antibiotic Stewardship Program for 15 years.

Presently, he is WBUH’s Chief and Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine and is a member of the Corewell Health Board.

Aside from his prestigious educational background and extensive professional experience, Carpenter is well-recognized by his colleagues and the broader medical community. He was named an Hour Detroit Top Doctor and was awarded by America’s Best Physicians and Best Doctors in America.

He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

He also served the Michigan Infectious Disease Society. Additionally, Carpenter is a participant in the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine and the Association of Professors of Medicine.

Carpenter said he is eager to get to know more about the students from a perspective other than a professor during his time in the role.

“I’m looking to get to know the students better and hear in their words what’s going on with the

school and what they see and what things we can accomplish moving forward,” Carpenter said.

As interim dean, the goal isn’t to change everything, he said — instead, the goal is to keep moving forward as the search for a dean continues.

“I’m not going to try and turn the world upside down, but I want to make sure we’re progressing in the direction that Dr. Mezwa has set us on,” Carpenter said.

PHOTO COURTSEY OF CHRISTOPHER CARPENTER

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | 7

During the week of Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, OU students were notified the operating hours of Hillcrest Dining Hall would be significantly reduced.

Hillcrest Dining Hall will be open from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. during the week and closed entirely on weekends — too late for breakfast and too early for dinner.

Robert King, the Senior Director of University Housing, stated in an email the choice to slash Hillcrest’s hours came from “data on dining hall patron traffic,” and “the team identified the hours of 11:30-4:30 p.m. as the hours of greatest need in Hillcrest at this time.”

King also indicates the reduced hours at Hillcrest are not meant to stay.

“Our goal is to move toward expanded hours at the Hillcrest location and to create the best operational schedule for our residents,” King said. “We will continue to gather student feedback and monitor foot traffic and will modify hours as needed throughout the year.”

Based on King’s email, students may see Hillcrest’s hours change throughout the year. Whether or not these changes will be any better or worse than the current change remains to be seen.

Students like sophomore Rachel Rossman will be unable to rely on

Hillcrest Dining Hall for two-thirds of her meals. She will instead have to visit restaurants in the Oakland Center (OC) or travel to Vandenberg Dining Hall if she wants more than a convenience store breakfast or any kind of dinner.

“It makes me upset because I’m only realistically going to be able to have one meal per day,” Rossman said.

“There’s a zero percent chance of me having more than one, in fact, since practice doesn’t end until 6 p.m.”

Marc Lacey, a sophomore and the Vice President of the Gaming Guild at OU, feels he’s not getting everything he paid for out of Hillcrest with the recent shift in the dining hall’s hours.

“It’s messed up that we who reside in Hillcrest have to pay the same amount of money while not being able to use what we are being owed 100%,” Lacey said.

Lacey also listed the fact that Hillcrest Dining Hall is more accessible for disabled people compared to Vandenberg as another reason why he’s disappointed with the recent changes.

“Now you’re interfering with people’s disabilities, as well,” Lacey said.

OU Eats has pinned a post on their Instagram reminding students The Hive convenience store has plenty of options for breakfast.

“Meal bundle selections include assorted hot sandwiches, bars, cereals, oatmeal and more.”

Rae Williams, a Graphic Design student at OU, says, “For what [The Hive] offers, it’s good for now. It won’t replace everything [Hillcrest Hall offered for breakfast],” Williams said.

10 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

CAREER AND LIFE DESIGN CENTER Connect with employers during the

FALL CAREER FAIR JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS NETWORKING ON-SITE INTERVIEWS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Career Fair Noon – 3 p.m.

Interviews with select employers 3 – 5 p.m.

Oakland Center Explore your potential in business, liberal arts, human resources, health sciences, natural sciences and nursing.

Learn more and register: bit.ly/Fall_CF23

REECE CHAMBERS took charge of her career exploration by utilizing the Career and Life Design Center early and attending career fairs. Through these proactive steps, she unveiled her true passion for empowering individuals and making a difference in the human resources field, solidifying her path towards success.

ARTS

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | 11

‘GUTS:’ Picking up the pieces on Olivia Rodrigo’s new album CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Reporter

Teenage years are tumultuous. Early twenties are worse.

College, friends splitting up and growing apart, first real jobs, finally discovering who you truly are — these years are bountiful if not stressful.

Born in 2003, Olivia Rodrigo and I are not far apart in age. We are both in our early twenties and we are frankly just trying to survive.

This is what makes Rodrigo’s new album, “GUTS,” so powerful, but it is also what makes it so brittle — the facade can crack at any moment.

If Rodrigo’s debut album, “SOUR,” was a representation of how volatile teenage years and teenage love are, then “GUTS” is an ode to how we pick up the pieces to find out who we are in our twenties.

The album’s first single — and arguably its centerpiece — “vampire,” sees Rodrigo in a relationship with an older man, where he sucks the fame and the youth out of her like the titular “vampire.”

The song’s structure is also incredibly engaging with each pre-chorus and chorus building up the instrumental until suddenly the track is over. This abrupt shift feels like a promising start to where the album will truly take off, but it instead proves to be the high point of the record as the rest falls short.

After that third track, the album has some key moments highlighting Rodrigo’s songwriting abilities.

However, these efforts are still not enough to “wow” me after “vampire” took me on an emotional rollercoaster for three minutes.

“GUTS” is generally a mix of melancholic pop rock, singer-songwriter tracks and pop-punky, energetic rock tracks.

The tracks “the grudge,” “making the bed,” “logical,” “lacy” and “teenage dream” serve as the inoffensive — albeit heartfelt — ballads on the album, while the more punchy “bad idea right?” “all-american bitch,” “get him back!” and “pretty isn’t pretty” are where the album’s creative wings spread.

Those latter four tracks — as well as “vampire,” which shares some of the same influences — point to a rock revivalism also seen with bands like Måneskin, The 1975 and even modern Paramore.

However, this “rock revival” Rodrigo is pushing with singles and deep cuts like these only makes her

PHOTO COURTESY OF LARISSA HOFMANN

ballads more disappointing in comparison.

Tracks like “logical” and “love is embarrassing” display an almost self-aware pettiness by dealing with feelings people sometimes do not like to admit.

“God, love’s fuckin’ embarrassin’/Just watch as I crucify myself/For some weird second string/Loser who’s not worth mentioning,” Rodrigo sings.

Rodrigo’s more serious lyrical matters are heard in tracks like “vampire” and “pretty isn’t pretty,” which meld both amazing instrumentation and great lyrics into a vivid soundscape.

If Rodrigo’s target audience loves poppy, lovesick cry songs, then this album is for them. If they like erratic, dancey pop-punk tracks, then this is the album for them.

However, if Rodrigo wants to progress as an artist while also pushing the pop and rock landscapes to their limits, she should play to her strengths and embrace her more alternative and grungy side.

Overall, while “GUTS” is a step up lyrically and sonically compared to Rodrigo’s previous release, the album still has the fragility to shatter into thousands of heartbroken pieces when dropped.

The album ends with the song “teenage dream” where Rodrigo finishes by singing, “They all say that it gets better/It gets better the more you grow/Yeah, they all say that it gets better/It gets better, but what if I don’t?”

I hope Rodrigo grows and learns from her heartbreak.

She has proven to be one of the few artists in the pop landscape today to be pushing boundaries, and for that, I look forward to hearing what she does next.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

‘Bottoms:’ A refreshingly absurd comedy for queer girls OLIVIA CHIAPPELLI Arts Editor

As someone who voraciously consumes any product of the Rachel Sennott universe, “Bottoms” was one of my most anticipated films of the year.

Directed by Emma Seligman and co-written by Sennott, the film follows two queer high school best friends — PJ (Sennott) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) — who start a fight club, under the guise of self-defense and female empowerment to try to hook up with cheerleaders before graduation.

Before I dive into my review of this masterpiece, it only feels right to pay homage to the lore behind the film.

I was first introduced to the dynamic duo that is Sennott and Seligman through Seligman’s 2020 directorial debut “Siva Baby” — the most anxietyinducing non-horror film I have ever seen, yet also a comedy my soul feels tied to.

On the other hand, I was first introduced to Edebiri as Chef Sydney Adamu from Hulu’s hit series “The Bear” — also the most anxiety-inducing non-horror show I have ever seen that is still somehow categorized as a “comedy” at the Emmys.

The announcement of this cast felt like a mystical meeting of my Letterboxd family all together on the big screen at last, so imagine my surprise when I learned the true origin of this it-girl comedy troupe.

Seligman, Sennott and Edebiri all met as college students at NYU, with Seligman’s original idea for “Bottoms” coming together in 2018 — predating the trio’s separate successes.

Finding out about this felt like the time I discovered that Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield and Eddie Redmayne were all roommates before they found fame — the web in my brain is never-ending.

While the script for “Bottoms” was picked up in 2020 after the success of “Shiva Baby,” Seligman initially had difficulties selling the film to studios due to its unabashed vulgarity and sexuality.

“A lot of the feedback we got over the course of making the movie was, ‘I can’t believe girls are saying this,’” producer Alison Small said in an interview with Vulture.

When I first read this quote, before having seen the film, I truly struggled to think of what in the script could warrant this response, but now I know exactly what they meant — and that is what makes “Bottoms” so good.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARIA RUSCHE

From its synopsis, the film feels like it could easily be any other high school coming-of-age comedy, but Seligman’s commitment to the ludicrously absurd was genuinely shocking in the best way. The film pulls no punches — literally.

“The challenge of trying to keep this absurd tone while also keeping it grounded has been really rewarding,” Seligman said in an interview with MGM Studios.

From literally explosive heists to elaborate lies about juvie to a gigantic football-themed mural of Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” displayed behind the football team’s table at the head of the lunchroom “The Last Supper” style, each frame of the film is filled with hilarious choices by Seligman — even down to the smallest details.

I will spare revealing any major spoilers because I would truly do anything to relive the genuinely uncontrollable laughs and gasps I experienced in that theater again.

While the film is an amusingly exaggerated and satirical social commentary, it is also raunchy, bloody, vulgar and an extremely refreshing take on imperfect female characters — especially queer characters — who often bear the unfair weight of being the perfect model of representation. It is also extremely funny.

In the words of Edebiri at the SXSW premiere of “Bottoms,” “Sometimes we don’t get to be funny we have to, like, give a message, and I think the message is like, we’re funny.”

Rating: 5/5 stars

POLITICS

12 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

A review of the candidates competing in the 2024 Republican Party primary NOAH THOMASON Politics Reporter

The 2024 U.S. presidential election draws ever closer with the commencement of the Republican Party primary. Through a series of debates, Republican nominees will make their case for why they should be the one to face the Democratic nominee for presidential office.

Much like the Republican primary of 2016, the list of Republican candidates is rather large, with 12 candidates in the running. With so many Republican candidates, it’s difficult for many to understand each candidate’s platform.

Former President Donald Trump is currently leading the polls, attracting the majority of Republican support (52.7% on average). Some of Trump’s major actions while holding presidential office include his proposed and unfinished wall on the Mexico-U.S. border and his “trade war” with China that put tariffs on many Chinese goods.

Trump’s controversies led to an indictment hearing for possible crimes committed relating to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and other election interference matters.

Ron DeSantis, Republican Governor of Florida, currently runs behind Trump in popularity in the polls with 13.3% support on average. DeSantis has already made some big changes to Florida, such as signing a bill banning abortion after six weeks and a ban on classroom instructions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

One of DeSantis’s main policy issues is border security, admonishing the number of undocumented immigrants in America.

DeSantis also argues illegal immigration has hollowed out the wages of the American working class due to undercutting from cheaper labor.

DeSantis seeks much stricter policy action in response to immigration, such as forcing asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their claims are being processed and ending the right to citizenship to the children of undocumented immigrants.

The next candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, polling at 7.6% support, is notable for being the youngest candidate at 38 with a unique policy of civic duty voting. This would mean Americans ages 18 to 25 would not be allowed to vote unless they served in the military or held a first responder role for six months or if they had passed a civic knowledge test.

Ramaswamy also declared his intent to shut down the so-called “administrative state” such as the Department of Education and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Nikki Haley is fourth in the polls at 5.8% support.

Haley lists little information on what she supports.

Instead, Haley prefers to reference her past achievements.

Haely has a strong focus on foreign policy.

Throughout her campaign, Haley has harshly criticized China, Biden’s response to the Ukrainian War and the nuclear deal with Iran during the Obama administration.

The next candidate is former Vice President Mike Pence, polling at 4.7% support, who is passionate about expanding federalism to put more control in the hands of states and schools. This would allow states to control how federal welfare is distributed and give land owned by the federal government back to states.

The Republican Party candidates will face off in their next debate on Sept. 27. For more updates on the Republican Party primary, visit the FiveThirtyEight webpage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC NEWS

Everything you need to know about the potential UAW-Detroit automaker strike NOAH THOMASON Politics Reporter

The United Autoworkers Union (UAW) has been preparing for the possibility of a strike happening with the deadline of their contracts with General Motors, Ford and Stellantis, commonly known as the “Big Three,” ending on Sept. 14. The UAW’s President Shawn Fain has made it clear that while their intention isn’t to strike, they will resort to this action if an agreement with these companies is not made by the end of their contracts.

“The goal is a fair and equitable agreement for our members. At the end of the day, if we are not there, there will be a strike,” Fain said.

Some of the UAW’s demands include a 32hour work week with pay for 40 hours, the return of pensions and the removal of tiers of workers, which has new hires making lower wages when hired and gives them a lower maximum possible wage compared to old hires. While there have been many demands from UAW members, President Fain understands not all demands will be met, and he recognizes concessions will have to be made.

This issue of the fast-approaching deadline with no deal has been in part due to what Fain describes as “an illegal refusal to bargain in good faith” from GM and Stellantis. The companies neglected to respond with counter-offers to the UAW’s demands.

With no counter-offers from the Big Three, union negotiations could not commence.

The UAW is demanding a 40% hourly wage increase and a return of cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA). Ford responded with a 9% wage increase throughout the contract and a single bonus instead of the COLA. As each day passes, the chance of a strike happening seems more likely. However, the UAW seems to believe they have the leverage and energy needed to win the impending strike.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL PUGLIANO

The energy from the UAW was palpable during the recent Labor Day parade. Thousands of union workers from different unions participated in the event, proclaiming solidarity in the shared struggle for economic and social justice.

Multiple elected officials in Michigan such as U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Ann Arbor, and U.S. Sen. Representative Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, joined in supporting the UAW’s efforts. This public support has done much to bolster the confidence and spirit of the UAW workers as they face a seemingly inevitable strike.

With the potential strike, there are some concerns about what it could mean for the larger economy of not just Michigan but the U.S. as well. Among those concerned are suppliers who work with these Big Three motor companies.

If the strike were to happen, this could mean a lot of lost business for many suppliers. The strike could halt many systems that rely on the auto industry since trucking makes up a lot of transportation of goods many industries rely on.

While there is a possibility of a strike harming the economy, especially among suppliers or other sectors, the UAW understands all of their demands will not be met, and they have said they don’t want a strike to happen either. At the same time, the Big Three automakers have stalled and have made little attempts to productively negotiate the terms of the contract.

POLITICS

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | 13

Letter to the editor: No Amount of “Civility” Can Erase Snyder’s Legacy CASE-OU STEERING COMMITTEE Contributor

Later this month, on September 18, Oakland’s Center for Civic Engagement will host the inaugural event of its new Dennis Muchmore Public Policy Series. The event, “Breaking the Barrier: The Importance of Civility and Improving Political Discourse” will feature former Michigan governors James Blanchard and Rick Snyder in conversation.

We, the Campus Alliance for Sustainability and the Environment (CASE-OU) Steering Committee heartily support dialogue as a gateway to understanding and human enrichment. However, we do not believe that the colloquy slated for the 18th is poised to fulfill these purposes.

It is not lost on members of CASE nor on the stakeholders of the campus community and people throughout our state that former Governor Snyder adopted policies and engaged in conduct as a state official greatly at odds with the mission of the CCE. The Snyder administration overruled the voters of the state and imposed Emergency Managers on financially distressed cities and school districts, disproportionately depriving majority-minority cities of their right to representative governance, while silencing the electorate on the matter by making the new law referendum-proof.

As a result of this undemocratic system, a Snyder-appointed Emergency Manager for Flint made the decision to alter the source of the city’s drinking water, a decision that resulted in lead contamination and the poisoning of Flint citizens, many of them children who continue to struggle with physical and mental health complications to this day. The Snyder administration initially ignored and belittled appeals of the disempowered residents of Flint to address their concerns over polluted water. By the time redress was belatedly supplied, state officials and the governor’s office had made a mockery of free speech and responsive governance. Indeed, in a 2017 report, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) termed the treatment of the citizens of Flint part of a legacy of “systemic racism.”

Some members of CASE were actively involved in trying to secure clean drinking water for residents in Flint and drinking water at all for residents of Detroit–even to the point of very civilly and politely blocking shutoff trucks and then going to trial to give residents a voice. Those efforts were met with disdain, refusal,

and finally serious damage done to tens of thousands of citizens. For those citizens, the trauma and damage of Snyder’s policies is on-going to this very day. His appearance— unchallenged—will surely be seen by members of those communities as a racist kick in the gut.

Recently, we expressed our concerns over Snyder’s appearance to University and Center for Civic Engagement leadership. Our call was neither for a cancellation of the event nor for the dis- inviting of Snyder.

We asked instead that other speakers who have experienced the effects of Snyder’s policies and been part of the effort to halt those policies be included in the conversation.

However, it appears the event will proceed as originally planned, without those important voices.

It is our position that what happened in Flint (and Detroit and Benton Harbor) is of such a magnitude that those events cannot be allowed to be a mere footnote to an otherwise friendly chat between two former governors, notwithstanding the fact that they represent opposing political parties.

After all, differences in the party affiliation of two former governors pale in comparison to the differences between those with access to the levers of power and those struggling to have their voices heard in matters of public policy. Therefore, for Oakland University to preside over such a conversation as a neutral convener— and for former Governor Blanchard to participate in it—is to treat real-world harms to vulnerable communities as, at best, merely a matter of polite disagreement, or at worst, to tacitly approve the Snyder administration’s devastating legacy.

For all of these reasons, we protest in no uncertain terms giving a legitimating platform to former Governor Snyder. And we exhort everyone in the OU community to join us in working against any attempt to evade or whitewash the damage inflicted by the Snyder administration’s policies.

That damage cannot be erased from the lives of the resident-victims of those policies, with whom we stand. And neither should Governor Snyder be allowed to walk away from the truth of his legacy.

The CASE-OU Steering Committee

14 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

Oakland Athletics: A week in review BROCK HEILIG Sports Editor

Now that classes have started and students are back on campus, athletics are in full swing at Oakland University.

Here’s a look at how the Golden Grizzlies fared in athletics competitions this week (Sept. 3 - Sept. 9).

Women’s Golf Sophomore Bridget Boczar shot a program-best 65 in Sunday’s first round to help Oakland to a second-place finish at the A-Ga-Ming Invitational. The tournament took place from Sept. 3-4 in Kewadin, Michigan.

Oakland’s 877 (+13) total score over the three rounds comfortably put it in second place (by 10 strokes), but the Golden Grizzlies still finished 16 strokes behind the champion Abilene Christian Wildcats, which shot 861 (-3). Bradley (+23), Bellarmine (+42) and Central Michigan (+45) all finished in the top five in the 13team event.

The Golden Grizzlies strong, young core of Hannah Kono (freshman), Olivia Hemmila (freshman), Grace Boczar (sophomore) and Nateda Her (junior) all shot better than +15 over the three-round event.

Oakland will compete in the Mary Fossum Invitational hosted by Michigan State Sept. 17-18.

Women’s Soccer It’s been a rough start to the season for the women’s soccer team, which failed to register a win last week.

Oakland has faced a tough non-conference schedule — including 18th-ranked Northwestern — but it had to settle for a tie on Sunday, Sept. 3 against Illinois State in what was a very winnable match.

Illinois State entered the match winless, but an early penalty by the Golden Grizzlies gave ISU a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game.

The teams traded goals throughout the rest of the game, and Melania Troy scored the game-tying goal in the 71st minute to salvage a tie out of the match.

Oakland’s offense then went cold on Wednesday when it hosted Western Michigan.

The Golden Grizzlies were able to get just one shot in 90 minutes, and the Broncos scored three goals as they asserted their dominance over the home team.

Horizon League play is set to begin on Sunday, Sept. 17 for the Golden Grizzlies, as they host Purdue Fort Wayne.

Men’s Soccer The men’s soccer team has seen its season begin much like the women’s team.

Oakland still has yet to play a home match. This week, the Golden Grizzlies were in Chicago, Illinois to face Loyola Chicago, where they were out-shot, 22-7.

Luckily for Oakland, the score wasn’t as lopsided

PHOTO COURTESY OU ATHLETICS

SPORTS

as the shots may have suggested. The Ramblers only found the back of the net once, but it was enough to take down the Golden Grizzlies, 1-0.

Oakland bounced back with a Horizon League-opening victory over Cleveland State on Saturday at 7 p.m.

Despite only firing off three shots in the first half, OU found the back of the net with every shot and scored all three of its goals in the first half. The Golden Grizzlies held off the Vikings in the second half to secure the victory.

Oakland is set to host Northern Kentucky in its second league match this season on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m.

Volleyball Oakland hosted Eastern Michigan, Kansas City and Chicago State in the Golden Grizzlies Invitational over the weekend. The invitational was a Round Robinstyle, where each team plays three matches, one against each of the other teams.

The Golden Grizzlies opened their invitational against EMU, which it beat 3-1. Oakland took the first two sets (25-22, 25-19), but the desperation of the Eagles led them to a third-set victory (27-25).

The fourth set was all Oakland, though, and it opened the invitational with a 3-1 victory.

Later on Friday night, at 7 p.m., Oakland was bested

by Kansas City, 3-1. Despite winning the first set, 2521, the Golden Grizzlies failed to carry the momentum into the rest of the match.

Oakland couldn’t rebound with a win on Saturday as it let its loss to Kansas City compound.

Chicago State disposed of Oakland in straight sets to finish off the tournament.

The team will take on UT Martin and Southern Illinois this weekend in the Saluki Invitational.

‘It ain’t the same Detroit:’ Lions upset Chiefs in Arrowhead SUMMER WEATHERS Sports Reporter

The Detroit Lions have put the NFL on notice, beating the defending champions in an electrifying season opener at Arrowhead Stadium, securing a 21-20 win.

Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, one of the Lions’ newest additions, has emphasized “It ain’t the same Detroit.” This team is looking super legit, and this win is the start of great things to come.

How the game went The Detroit Lions came out with full confidence, which led to them celebrating at the end zone first after a nine-yard touchdown by Amon-Ra St. Brown on third down. The play was set up by quarterback Jared Goff, who quieted Kansas City fans. Goff’s precision passing is one of the staples for this team, and this is always good news for Detroit.

Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes got his team going, putting them on the board to tie everything up as he moved the ball down the field very quickly to find rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice for the touchdown.

Following the Lions fumbled red zone opportunity, they encountered the full Patrick Mahomes experience, and the Chiefs took hold of the lead and went up at a 14-7 score just before halftime.

Although Mahomes has been recognized as someone who is a dominant force in the league, that

recognition wasn’t too much for Lions’ rookie Brian Branch to handle, with the game-changing play at the start of the third. In his first NFL game, Branch got a pick-six against Mahomes, which evened the game at 14.

This says so much about what he is capable of, especially at such an early start to his career, a big moment like such. Branch was built for this and can

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DETROIT FREE PRESS

be considered one of the steals of the draft.

One Pride Late in the fourth quarter, running back David Montgomery powered his way through a crowded Kansas City defense, sealing the deal.

In the final two minutes of the game, the Detroit defense completely wiped out Kansas City’s game plan and left them rattled, successfully containing Patrick Mahomes.

The Detroit Lions are truly living up to that grit mentality of passion and perseverance in efforts to achieve their long-term goal of winning the Super Bowl.

“I didn’t learn anything. I got verification on what I already knew. This is a resilient team,” head coach Dan Campbell said in his postgame press conference. “It already was a resilient team, and we added pieces to that resilient team. We are built to handle some stuff, and we did that today against a very good opponent.”

The top dogs better make room for these roaring Lions because they have proved they are an offensive powerhouse and are capable of challenging even the most dominant teams. They are packed with devoted fans, a fierce coach, talented rookies and an overall dynamic team.

They’re locked in and ready to bring that same energy to a sold-out Ford Field Stadium this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 | 15 SPORTS OU volleyball falls short, UKMC takes home the win KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Reporter

At the OU Credit Union O’rena on Sept. 9, the Oakland volleyball team battled fiercely against the Missouri– Kansas City Roos. However, the Golden Grizzlies suffered defeat, bringing their season record to 4-5.

“I feel like tonight was frustrating,” OU head coach Krista Rice said. “We made some uncharacteristic errors.

They came at times when Kansas City was pushing back, and we didn’t make adjustments to overcome those.”

OU opened up the first set decisive against the Roos. Although the Roos retained a small lead early, the Grizzlies kept fighting back.

The Roos would eventually go on a 5-2 run, bringing their lead to 13-10.

However, the Grizzlies answered with their own 4-1 run, tying up the game and leading to a Roo timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Grizzlies continued their run, scoring two more points before another Roo timeout.

Following the second timeout, the Grizzlies returned to the court with a lot of energy, scoring three consecutive points and pushing the

lead to 22-17, their largest lead of the night. The Roos responded with their third timeout, but the Grizzlies won the first set with a score of 25-21.

The start of the second set featured a lot of back-and-forth scoring between the Grizzlies and the Roos. UMKC took multiple small two-point leads, but the Grizzlies kept answering, tying the game up at every opportunity.

The stalemate between the two teams finally broke. After some clever offensive sets, OU took their largest lead of the set at 17-15. Despite the OU lead, the Roos pushed back, taking a 21-18 lead before a Grizzly timeout.

After two quick kills by Patti Cesarini and Anna Nie, the Grizzlies returned the game to a tie. However, the Grizzlies tie would not last long, as the Roos went on a four-point run to end the set as victors.

UKMC entered the third set aggressively on offense and defense, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Despite the Grizzlies’ attempts to bring the set closer, the Roos slowly kept improving their lead, bringing the game to 17-10.

After the timeout, the Roos stepped on the gas and never let go. UKMC quickly

took a 21-11 lead, a lead too large for the Grizzlies to overcome, making the Roos the winners of set three with a score of 25-16, leading the match two sets to one.

Entering the fourth set, both teams stayed close in score until the Grizzlies started to pull away with a 15-12 lead.

The Roos responded with a 5-1 run, bringing the lead back in their favor.

However, the Grizzlies swiftly answered, tying the game at 18-18.

Despite this, the Roos kept up the pressure, going on a 3-0 run, giving them a 21-18 lead. Minutes later, the Roos would score match point with a score of 25-21, making UKMC the winners with a final score of 3-1.

“Tonight’s game doesn’t impact our goals for the rest of the season,” Rice said. “We’re taking this loss as a learning opportunity --- we got to get back to work. We have one more match to get better preparing ahead of conference play.”

The Grizzlies will appear next on Sept. 15 at Davies Gym in Carbondale, Illinois, where they will square off with

the UT Martin Skyhawks. In-conference play will begin on Sept. 19 against the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons on the road.

PHOTO COURTESY OU ATHLETICS

FALL PAYMENT DUE DATE OAKLAND UNIVERSITY’S FALL PAYMENT DUE DATE: AUGUST 15 Students who do not pay their balances in full or sign-up for a payment plan (and make the required installment(s)) may be dropped from classes and University housing (if applicable), and may be subject to late payment penalties and registration holds.

If you have questions or are experiencing circumstances that may prevent you from paying your account balance, please contact Student Financial Services at (248) 370-2550. We are ready to support you and help with your financial aid and billing options.

LEARN how to avoid cancellation (drop) at oakland.edu/financialservices/payments-refunds/payments-cancellation

16 | SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

SPORTS

CAREER AND LIFE DESIGN CENTER

Connect with employers during the

ENGINEERING AND IT CAREER FAIR Jobs and Internships • Networking • On-site Interviews

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 IN THE OAKLAND CENTER CAREER FAIR Noon-3 p.m.

INTERVIEWS WITH SELECT EMPLOYERS 3-5 p.m.

Learn more and register at bit.ly/ENG-IT-CF23

crs26011_6.23