Morgan Warneke Content Editor morganwarneke@oakland.edu
Megan Judy Managing Editor meganjudy@oakland.edu
EDITORS
Courtney Blackett Photo Editor courtneyblacket@oakland.edu
Kurt Szymanski Sports Editor kurtszymanski@oakland.edu
Adrian Jimenez Morales Campus Editor ajimenezmorales@oakland.edu
Chelsea Bossert Arts Editor cbossert@oakland.edu
Noah Francis Features Editor nfrancis2@oakland.edu
Mallory Waligora Political Editor mallorywaligora@oakland.edu
MARKETING
Reagan Reetz Marketing Director reaganreetz@oakland.edu
DISTRIBUTION
Rory Strachan Distribution Director
Zachary Oberdier Distribution
REPORTERS
Katie Reid Photographer
Carlee Morgan Photographer
Zachary Oberdier Graphic Designer
Brian Einowski Ads Director ads@oaklandpostonline.com
Moe Del Rosario Reporter
Summer Weathers Reporter
Evan Blanchard Reporter
Nicholas Kablak Reporter
Daniela Cesario Reporter
Matilde Rabajoli Reporter
ADVISING
Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser
gjgilber@oakland.edu
248.370.2105
Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu
248.370.2533
OU STUDENTS Gather around Elliott Tower for 10th anniversary carillon concert.
PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Elliott Tower
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
On Sept. 19, Oakland University commemorated the 10th anniversary of Elliott Tower with a special carillon concert by Dennis Curry.
Perfectly aligning with the golden hour of a clear summer day, alumni, students, and faculty gathered around OU’s landmark to enjoy music, prices and Yates Cider Mill donuts with apple cider.
Donated by Hugh and Nancy Elliott, the tower’s foundations were placed in April 2013. Highlighting its emblematic signature as a community project, Elliott Tower was designed by OU alumni, Delia Rodi, CEO of the architectural firm, Niagara Murano. OU’s first carillonneur, Dennis Curry, was the consultant in the design stage, traveling to the Netherlands for the casting of the bells.
“[The carillon bells] are some of the newest in the world,” Curry said. “They were cast by Petit and Fritsen Royal Bell-foundry. It’s the last carillon that the family made after 16 generations — a 350-yearold company.”
“It was kind of Nancy’s decision,” Curry said. “We listened to some carillons around Bloomfield Hills, we went to the Kirk in the Hills, Christchurch Cranbrook and St. Hugo’s. She said, “Well, they’ve got bells, but the Kirk has a carillon’ and the rest is history.”
The 151-foot-tall structure features a chromatic 49-bell carillon, which separates it from standard bell towers. “The top bell is 24 pounds in the tower and the big bell is 5000 pounds, so the total weight is 30,000 pounds in bronze.”
Curry delighted the audience with a carillon concert with pieces ranging from “Carillon,” composed by Georg Frideric Handel to “Stayin’ Alive” by The Bee Gees.
“My favorite piece to play is the piece I’m playing
at the time,” Curry said. “They’re all challenging sometimes, and I usually pick the repertoire that suits the occasion.”
The occasion comes every Friday at noon when OU carillonneurs play live for half an hour with a program selected by Curry. However, his experience goes back to 1989, when he became a member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America (GCNA) to later become president of the guild.
“I always say it’s medieval aerobics because we had to climb up in these towers and [Elliott Tower] is a fairly short tower compared to Europe,” Curry said. “In Europe, the carillon would be the center of the market square, so it was either in the town hall or the cathedral. So, the towers kept getting taller because the next town wanted to have more bells and taller towers, so I played in places that were over 500 steps to the top.”
At the base of the tower, attendees shared their memories with the structure.
“The first time I saw it was during my orientation,” Jasmin Carmona, a psychology student, said. “I was walking out of the OC, and it all became real, I was actually a student at OU.”
“I actually graduated from here in ‘99, I was originally a Pioneer before we were Grizzlies,” Anne Marie Pino, OU alumni, said. “I brought my mom and dad to listen to the carillon today because my grandmother used to have a carillon in Florida, so it is very nice to hear this again.”
“I feel like Elliott Tower is to OU what the Statue of Liberty is to New York or the Eiffel Tower to Paris,” Alfredo Gomez, a health sciences student, said. “Every time a student walks by it, it’s a symbol reminding them that they are part of a larger academic community. It is an immersive experience of college life.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF COURTNEY BLACKET
PHOTO COURTESY OF COURTNEY BLACKET
Civic engagement at the Hispanic Heritage Month opening ceremony
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off at Oakland University on Sept. 16 with a visit from Deputy Secretary of State, Aghogho Edevbie, to talk about voting rights and responsibilities with students who are voting for the first time.
“Hispanic Heritage Month at Oakland means many things,” Aura Cazares, assistant dean of students and director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, said. “It means celebrating our culture, but it also means that we’re holding hands and locking arms to make sure that we better and enhance everybody’s lives.”
In light of this year’s elections, Edevbie and the social welfare and civic engagement organization, MI PODER, offered resources to avoid misinformation.
“Approximately 36 million Latinx voters are projected to cast their ballots this November in the US, with nearly 370,000 in Michigan alone,” MI PODER said in their infographics. “As the fastest growing demographic, Latinx voters have increasing influence on governmental decisions at all levels … through our participation in civic engagement we can protect our future through our collective power.”
Edevbie explained that Michigan has begun to push for and pass laws that allow easier voter registration for minorities.
“We really want to make sure that people, regardless of their language standards, can still have access to our ballot,” Edevbie said. “We are
actually trying to be more forward-looking as a state because we’ve proposed something called the Michigan Voting Rights Act.”
Passed on Sept. 17, the Michigan Voting Rights Act requires communities that hit a certain threshold to translate voting materials into different languages, Edevbie said. Cazares highlighted the importance of taking advantage of these new initiatives that make voting registration easier.
“We have a lot of issues that we have to overcome in our community as Latinos,” Cazares said. “If we don’t participate in the process, and we don’t have a say in the opportunity to reshape how we live moving forward, then we have to live with the results of the decisions made when other people vote.”
Edevbie also touched on voting registration for out-of-state students, mentioning that OU students
do not have to have a Michigan driver’s license to register. They can present their existing ID as proof of identity to use the absentee voting option. An affidavit form was also listed as a resource in the absence of an ID at in-person voting.
Attendees were also directed to michigan.gov/ democracymvp to sign up to be poll workers. “We always need poll workers all across the state, especially in areas where we’ve increasingly become polarized,” Edevbie said.
To get reliable information on local and national races, students were directed to vote411.org while the Oakland County Bar Association website was recommended to research judicial candidates.
Edevbie concluded the opening ceremony with a reflection on the action steps and results of civic engagement.
“Your county executive in Oakland County is up for election this year, so you might want to vote for your county executive,” Edevbie said. “Counties, along with the state government, get a lot of their funding from the federal government. So, vote for your congressperson who’s on the ballot this year and then that member of Congress might have a little bit more leverage or a little bit more influence if the President of the United States is from the same party that they are. So, you might want to vote for president too.”
“This is a system that can work as long as people are involved and get out there and make their voices heard,” Edevbie said.
For a full list of Hispanic Heritage Month events, visit the Center for Multicultural Initiatives website.
‘And Still I Rise:’ African American History Crash Course
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES Campus Editor
In a Crash Course style, professor Rochelle E. Danquah summarized a semester’s worth of content into a two-hour lecture on African American history analyzing the remains of Jim Crow laws and advancements in civil rights movements in today’s Michigan at the “And Still I Rise” event.
On Sept. 18, Hillcrest’s Collaboration Center became a remembrance site to analyze local history, unroot myths from facts and call for a change in how we interpret history.
Starting with the Black Codes in the British colonies, Danquah moved into an exploration of local residues of segregation in modern times and anecdotal examples to illustrate the extent to which race relations have advanced in Michigan.
“In my college years, it wasn’t a running joke, it was for real, it was ingrained in me — If I’m on I-96 and I get a flat, keep driving, especially if I’m anywhere in the area of Holland,” Danquah said to illustrate the local remains of racial violence.
The story of Ossian Sweet resisting a white mob attack on his Detroit house as the first African American in an exclusively white neighborhood in 1925 was explored to illustrate the reconstitution of the history process aimed at preventing the loss of collective memory.
“All of this needs to be a part of the American experience — America’s history is hard,” Danquah said. “It has its moments when it’s exciting and we
do the right thing. But there also happen to moments where this can be terror on groups and individuals can be subject for the littlest things.”
Danquah also used Sojourner Truth’s famous “Ain’t I a Woman” speech to illustrate how to discern between a myth and a factual retelling of a story.
“How did she have a southern draw and dialect in ‘Ain’t I a Woman’? When she was enslaved in New York by the Dutch,” Danquah said. “She spoke fluent Dutch and her entire life she had a Dutch accent.”
While the example of Sojourner Truth might be harmless in a larger narrative, Danquah explained the importance of historical accuracy.
“There are so many outside places where these stories get distorted — historical fiction books, movies, etc” Danquah said. “Human beings aren’t perfect so it is up to us moving forward to help once again correct the narrative of the past, history is hard but you just can’t continue to teach hero history, we have to take it all, the good and the bad.”
“Events like this highlight the fact that history is really a living experience,” Skyler Janiszewski, an acting major, said. “It’s not just about something being written down in a book and knowing the right answer. It’s about this is how life looked for people at this time.”
After the lecture, some students shared their experiences dealing with the residues of discriminatory laws and practices in Michigan. Izzy Scott, a psychology student, explained how her school district in Ferndale was segregated up until 2016.
“So we had a ‘drawing system’ that basically let all the kids who lived in gentrified, whiter areas go to one school and then kids who lived in poor areas, who happened to be black — including myself, I am mixed — go to another school district.”
Scott explained that Calvin Coolidge School offered a lower quality of education that impacted her and her peers as they weren’t taught properly to read or lacked a comprehensive mathematics curriculum.
“It really robbed a bunch of black students from that [academic] experience, and then [the school district] just completely forgot about them,” Scott said. “So don’t let the past be the past like everyone always says. This happened when I was in fourth grade, so if you say, ‘let the past be the past,’ the past is just gonna repeat and repeat and repeat.”
PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT
PHOTO COURTESY OF ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Hillcrest dining hall changes to mobile ordering exclusively
NOAH FRANCIS Feature Editor
In the fall of 2018, Oakland University’s Hillcrest dining hall was introduced as another buffet styled dining hall around OU’s campus to work in tandem with Vandenberg’s dining hall. Over the years however, changes have been made to the Hillcrest dining hall, differentiating the dining experiences from one another. Starting this semester, the Hillcrest dining hall has become a mobile dining service with made-to-order meals, using the Transact mobile ordering app.
Robert King, the housing director for Oakland University, explains that the changes made to the dining hall over the past few years were a result of the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are still recovering from Covid,” King said. “Prior to Covid, I think we had one of our largest on campus populations. Since our initial tank, we went down to probably around half of those students that live with us and the parameters for managing food on campus were really baked for the parameters that were much higher in terms of students on campus.
King sheds light on why housing decided on exclusively mobile dining for Hillcrest.
“Housing and other campus partners have been trying to wrestle with what we can do to give students something that would also mimic that type of behavior of purchasing food that already exists, and one of the things we looked at was mobile ordering,” King said. “And so if you were to go around halls at the end of the day, you’ll see Uber Eats, GrubHub, and any deliveries all over after hours, and we’re like, ‘okay, so students are very familiar with the concept of mobile ordering,’ and so we thought there’s a way for us to both bring mobile ordering to campus with a very good app development platform and have something that could provide students a bit more access to food.”
With the new dining system being operational for a month so far, King understands that it’s not perfect just yet, and adjustments will be added over time.
“I would love to say that this iteration of it is the starting point for us,” King said. “It gives us a chance to start somewhere. It gives Chartwells, our campus food provider, the opportunity to hear feedback from students, make some adjustments, get the basics down pat, and then from there, add some nuances, maybe they change some menu items throughout the year, and make some adjustments based on student interest.”
Something that is continuing to help the new Hillcrest system is student feedback. King explains how the feedback is helping add additions to the new system.
“In the dining area, you’ll see there’s QR codes that give us your feedback,” King said. “You’ll see them on the walls almost next to the food stations or between stations, and a student could go there immediately and give feedback right there on the spot. As we’re reviewing, because we review weekly, we have some additional data to be able to make updates and changes as we need to.”
King is looking to transform the Hillcrest dining hall into more than a dining hall, but another lounge area such as the Oakland Center.
“When we looked at this concept, it wasn’t just food,” King said. “Hillcrest Hall is a beautiful space for us, and we have food that’s happening in that dining area, but we have board games on the wall over there for people to play and grab games as they want, hopefully keep them in the space.
“We’re also anticipating, at least maybe getting some more recreational items. So trying to work with the University Center to possibly get a pool table in the space for people to play while they’re waiting. We’re also looking to get ping pong tables, more than just sitting there, studying, grabbing food, but you could drop in and do some of the other things while you’re there. It becomes another, like third space for students to kind of just hang out, if they want to hang out.”
With the implementation of the new dining hall experience, students have had the chance to try the food and the area out for themselves. Freshman Trey Brunckhorst has a fresh take with his first OU dining hall experience.
“It’s really good,” Brunckhorst said. “I like it better than the Vandy (Vandenberg dining hall) food personally, but I also don’t like how I have to think about it 22 minutes at a time to be able to get my food.”
One aspect that gives Vandenberg a leg up on Hillcrest according to Brunckhorst is the dining hall hours.
“Vandy is nice because you can just pop in at any time, and vandy’s open longer,” Brunckhorst said. “One of my main issues with Hilly [Hillcrest dining hall] is that it’s only open on Monday through Friday, and it has really short hours, so that kind of sucks.”
With the food at Hillcrest being made-to-order, the food quality has seen some improvements, but in Molly Cooper’s opinion, the food selection could use some work.
“It definitely gets boring, and it’s definitely limited,” Cooper said. “Maybe a little more fresh food. The food here kind of resembles a mall food court, and there’s a lot of unhealthy foods. I want a little more variety, maybe some fresh food. I don’t really want to be stuck eating pizza and chicken tenders and stuff. I just want more variety and more accessibility.”
With OU housing’s efforts to turn the dining hall into a lounge area, student feedback is important in order to shape the area into a campus hotspot. A big example comes as Cooper’s biggest gripe with using the hall; the music volume.
“For one, I would not want to stand here and study while there’s music blasting,” Cooper said. “Even when I came here with my friends, it’s kind of hard to actually hear the conversation when there’s music.”
While the Hillcrest dining hall system is still in its infancy, the quick reply to student feedback is promising for the future of the dining hall. For those who want to leave their own feedback on the Hillcrest dining hall, text them at 949-763-3189.
Roberta Michel: Sports through a different lens
DANIELA CESARIO
Features Reporter
Professor Dr. Roberta Michel has been teaching since 2013 in both the Honors College here at Oakland University, and the business school. Her honors college course, Social Movements in Sports, explores the powerful intersection of athletics, activism, and social change — inspiring a new generation of students to look at sports through a different lens.
“Faculty have to be growth oriented and look at the ideas in their field,” Michel said. “Looking at the impacts of how big organizations operate such as FIFA, it’s important to look at greater issues as well.”
Michel teaches an interpretation of the global impact of sports, providing her students with the ability to gain an understanding and appreciation for what contributes to these movements.
“I like to see students get excited about what they discovered,” Michel said. “I want students to learn about taking the extra step in more research, and grow intellectually through the process.”
Michel hopes to influence her classes by empowering students to think critically about the broader impact of sports on society, and to see athletes as key figures in driving social change.
“Having a class that takes an interdisciplinary approach to teaching is really what I strive for,” Michel said. “Both the research component and group component are important.”
As a Special Lecturer, Michel feels honored and blessed to have the opportunity to teach both in the Honors College, and in the business school. It can be very overwhelming having to take rigorous STEM courses, the Honors College variety of courses gives a way to still fulfill credits, while enjoying the curriculum.
“I’m incredibly grateful to teach in both the Honors College and the business school,” Michel said. “Each environment offers a unique perspective. In the Honors College, I work with students who are engaged in cross-functional thinking, and we explore the broader social implications of sports. In the business school, the focus shifts to leadership, and the practicalities of organizational behavior.”
Rather than relying on traditional lectures, the discussions in her class push students to explore their own ideas, contributing to a more profound learning experience.
“I really enjoy Dr. Michel’s teaching style a lot,” sophomore Gisele Koods said. “I love how the class is more student driven, rather than listening to a lecture the whole time. Our discussion really drives the class into motion and sets it up for that particular day.”
Michel’s dual role allows her to bring a variety of perspectives into her classroom, from analyzing the history of social movements to exploring how societal issues intersect with business and leadership.
“The whole environment of sports really interests me,” Koods said. “I really love the culture a sport creates. The passion that goes into all different
types of sports all around the world, just makes me want to be involved even more. Being able to learn about it from Dr. Michel is an amazing opportunity I am so thankful for.”
Michel’s interdisciplinary approach, merging social movements with leadership and ethics, will leave a lasting impact on all her students. For more information on Oakland University’s honors college, visit the OU webpage. For more on Roberta Michel, visit her LinkedIn page.
Oakland University’s club football team takes their first win of the season
DANIELA CESARIO
Features Reporter
From the opening whistle, the Golden Grizzlies football club set the tone of their season with their defense and offense working in tandem to control the game, and ultimately secure a victory.
“It felt great,” Head Coach Brett Jacobs said. “A lot of leaders on this team experienced a lot of adversity last season. These returners put in hard work all offseason including team workouts starting in January and summer workouts starting in May. This win was very satisfying, they got to see all the hard work pay off.”
This win represents a turning point for OU’s club football program, which has steadily built a competitive team since its formation. There was a constant rotation of players throughout the game due to limited depth on their roster.
“The fans and support mean a lot to the guys, in our situation going 1-5 last year really affected our crowd presence,” senior Vincent Johns Jr. said. “This year I want to do my best to help the team win because that’s all that matters to me at the end of the day. We have great coaches, they prepared us for this game by breaking down film for us and using that to game sim those same plays within practice
so we knew what to expect.”
The team prepared by putting their focus on practice two weeks prior to the game. The shift in mentality was clear on the field against Lansing. Players weren’t just playing to win — they were playing with a sense of purpose.
“There are obviously still a lot of things to clean up but this game gave us a glimpse of what kind of team we can be, a winning one,” freshman Blake Jahn said. “It is always good to start off with a win, but we are already focusing on our next matchup against Wright State.”
The result of the team’s first game was a more focused, unified performance — a complete contrast to the struggles they faced last year. With a renewed mindset and the momentum of their first win, the team is more confident than ever about the season ahead.
“The team mindset for this game was leaving behind the past,” Jacobs said. “We had to forget things that happened last season and play our game. Vincent Johns and Rockne Jacobs both had great games. Vince was a two way player with 69 yards receiving, 40 yards rushing and two offensive touchdowns, a 107 yard interception return touchdown (an OU club football record), two tackles, and a pass break up. Rockne had 128 yards
passing and two rushing touchdowns.”
With the first win under their belt, the team will look to carry this momentum into the rest of the season. The Golden Grizzlies are set to face tougher competition in the coming weeks, but after a commanding start, the team has shown they are ready to rise to the challenge.
If you are interested in learning more about OU’s football club, visit their Instagram page @ footballclubou, where they would be more than happy to answer any inquiries.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LINKEDIN
PHOTO COURTESY
Indie artist
The Magic Bag
event coordinator. A cover of Bowling for Soup’s “1985” was the opening song for the band that also played retro hits like “All Star” and “Stacy’s Mom.” “Beverly Hills” by Weezer was also revamped to have the crowd instead chant “Rochester Hills” during
“My favorite song ever is ‘Stacy’s Mom,’ it was probably the song that inspired this whole set, if not this whole event,” Deacon said. “Something I never liked or thought I’d really get into before was ‘Beverly Hills’ — I wasn’t a big Weezer guy until today.”
Students also reflected on the fascination with retro experiences.
“I would say that the music and nostalgia are some of the reasons why we like the 2000s,” Monjaras said. “It was a time when everything was in its prime of commencement. Classics like Lady Gaga, the reminiscence of our childhood, it all seemed simpler and more colorful.”
“When we were growing up, it was what we were seeing as kids,” Deacon said. “The Wii’s and DS’s — all the game consoles back then — the technology, the music, that’s what was on the radio and TV when we were growing up.”
“It’s the same way our parents were obsessed with the 70s and the 80s, it’s the love for what was around when we were younger,”
As the party concluded, students also expressed an interest in seeing similar thematic events centered around the 80s and the 90s on OU’s campus in the future.
For information about upcoming events, visit WXOU’s Instagram Story by Morgan Warneke Design by Megan Judy
Photos courtesy of Josefine Cardoni and Morgan Warneke
Anna Shoemaker, an indie pop singer-songwriter from Philadelphia, took the stage at The Magic Bag in Ferndale on Sept. 19. Serving as the opening act for Joe P. on his headline tour, Shoemaker started the show with one of her biggest hits, “Fields,” followed by “It’s Depression” and her 2024 single “Close to the Sun.”
Under green and blue strobe lights with nothing but her acoustic guitar, Shoemaker sang about new beginnings and complex emotions. This offered a stripped-back version of songs that were previously performed with drums and vocal effects. I enjoyed hearing the acoustic version because it let us witness her vocal capability — whether she was singing softly like Lucy Dacus or more passionately like Olivia Rodrigo. What led to her decision to perform an acoustic version of each song?
“I just wanted to get back to the way I started out, just me and my guitar … I think before I’m a performer I’m a writer, so it’s nice to bring attention back to the writing,” Shoemaker said.
Not only does she write about difficult emotions, but she has a sense of humor and relatability with the crowd. “This song is about not knowing if you want to get back with someone or if you’re just depressed,” Shoemaker said jokingly before singing “It’s Depression.” This caught the attention and laughter from the audience, immediately breaking the ice and getting all eyes (and ears) on her performance.
While tuning her guitar before singing another song, Shoemaker opened up more. “This is weird, I usually have my band with me,” she said, “but I’m performing these songs the same way that I write them, just in my bedroom with my guitar.” And it’s true — the honesty of her lyrics makes you feel like you’re reading her diary, with a rawness comparable to that of 90s icons Alanis Morissette and Sheryl Crow.
Her set continued with her songs “Hey Anna” and “Holly,” both from her 2023 EP, as well as a cover of “Casual” by pop artist Chappell Roan. The familiarity of these lyrics sparked excitement from the crowd, allowing the audience to sing along and sway to her acoustic version. Personally, I found this to be one of the most memorable moments of the night, the excitement radiated off the crowd and everyone was able to join in for her acoustic cover of the hit song.
She went on to play an unreleased song, but not before giving a very special announcement: her sophomore album is set to be released in the beginning of 2025. When asked about her influences for this album, Shoemaker listed both
Alex G and Kacey Musgraves as artists that were in rotation during the creative process.
“There aren’t any acoustic songs [on the album] but there is a lot of acoustic guitar. I’m really excited about it,” she said.
Her upcoming album is said to be transformative, focusing on exploring mourning and self-discovery while navigating a breakup. With over 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, it’s clear she has found her audience.
CAREER AND LIFE DESIGN CENTER
Connect with employers during the
FALL CAREER FAIR
JOBS • INTERNSHIPS • NETWORKING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
Career Fair
Noon – 3 p.m.
Oakland Center
Explore opportunities in business, liberal arts, human resources, health sciences and natural sciences.
Learn more and register: bit.ly/OU_FCF24
OU students pick their favorite Hispanic movies and shows for Hispanic Heritage Month
MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter
Hispanic Heritage Month takes place every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and is used as a recognition of several Hispanic countries gaining independence, while also being a celebration of Hispanic culture and history.
Media shapes our view of the world around us and, similarly, it can teach us about things we wouldn’t have inquired about otherwise. This can range from different time periods to different cultures. This is why films that detail other cultures and regions of the world are so important.
To help better expand on this understanding, here are some films and TV shows that resonate with Oakland University’s own Hispanic community.
“La Misma Luna”
This film tells a devastating story of a mother and son who attempt to reunite years after the mother leaves him in Mexico with his grandmother to immigrate to the United States.
The conflict begins when his grandmother passes away and the young Carlitos has to make the journey from Mexico to the United States, where his mother is now working as a cleaning lady in California.
“This movie is a tragic yet very realistic story for many who immigrated here or for first gens,” Angel Garcilazo, president of the Spanish Club, said. “I feel like people who aren’t Hispanic or
Jane’s
Latino should watch it because they may not know the struggles that one might go through just to be reunited with their family.”
“El Chapulín Colorado”
A staple television show in Hispanic families, “El Chapulín Colorado” is a comedic series from the 70s that features well-known Mexican actor and screenwriter Roberto Mario Gómez Bolaños Sr. — most known as Chespirito.
El Chapulín Colorado — the titular character — is a superhero who ends up creating more trouble
than solutions, but this comedic premise is what caused the show to gain popularity throughout Hispanic countries.
“‘Chapulín Colorado’ was a show that always brought my family together. Watching it as a family always made my heart smile. It’s a very funny show that brings families together,” said Kayla Rodriguez, a student at OU.
The show’s legacy continues into the modern era, with the character being featured in DCEU’s “Blue Beetle,” which was released in 2023.
“Walkout”
Set in the late 1960s, “Walkout” details a teacher’s role in helping Chicano students protest injustices faced in high schools. The film is based on a true story of the East Los Angeles Walkouts.
“This movie shows the challenges that Hispanic students suffered and the acts of bravery they took to stand up for their rights and that of the generations after them,” student Jasmin Carmona-Almanza said in regards to the film.
Films and TV shows can definitely teach us about cultures we might know nothing about, but it is also important to do our own research. Whether you’re Hispanic or not, anyone can help share the knowledge of culture this Hispanic Heritage Month.
You can find more information on Hispanic Heritage Month events around campus on the Oakland University News website.
Addiction Meadowbrook Amphitheatre show and tourcanceled, tour axed after altercation
CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Editor
Slated to play on Oakland University’s campus at the Meadowbrook Amphitheatre on Sept. 20, 2024, the legendary alternative rock band, Jane’s Addiction’s newest single, “Imminent Redemption,” hit streaming on July 24. Earlier this year, the band also announced a world tour that would include the original lineup of the band, including lead singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins.
The highly anticipated tour would take the band through several U.S. cities — including Rochester Hills, Mich. — but on Sept. 13, Farrell would get into a heated verbal and physical altercation with Navarro which would indisputably complicate things.
A video from their Boston performance on Sept. 13 shows Farrell — while seemingly agitated — body check Navarro and yell in his face. Farrell then approaches Navarro once again but the two are then broken up by security.
The show was inevitably cut short, and the band issued a statement apologizing to concertgoers and canceling their next show the following evening in Bridgeport, Conn. It would be soon after some inner reflection by the band that they would cancel the rest of the tour and put the newly reunited band on a hiatus.
Navarro, Avery and Perkins put out a statement on Navarro’s Instagram, citing Farrell’s mental health issues and a concern over his behavior and personal safety as the main reason why the tour was canned, and the band is now at a stand-still.
“Due to a continuing pattern of behavior and the mental health difficulties of our singer Perry Farrell, we have come to the conclusion that we have no choice but to discontinue the current US tour. Our concern for his personal health and safety as well as our own has left us no alternative. We hope that he will find the help he needs,” Navarro, Avery and Perkins wrote.
Farrell put out his own statement on Instagram shortly after the band announced the split, in which he
solemnly apologizes to his fans and more importantly to Dave Navarro.
“This weekend has been incredibly difficult and after having the time and space to reflect, it is only right that I apologize to my bandmates, especially Dave Navarro, fans, family and friends for my actions during Friday’s show. Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behavior, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle the situation,” Farrell wrote.
While Jane’s Addiction did not make it to Meadowbrook before their hiatus, one can only wonder what their performance alongside their opening acts, Love & Rockets, as well as Crawlers, could have been.
OU rock fans might have missed out on the legendary act coming to town; however, the outdoor season is not over yet. A band that has gotten high praise for their newest album, “Only God Was Above Us,” Vampire Weekend, is coming to Meadowbrook Amphitheatre on Monday, Sept. 23. Another revered indie act, Cults, is penciled in as the opener.
Some SAFAC organizations, including WXOU, Oakland University’s student-run radio station, will have tables at the Vampire Weekend concert.
For more information about upcoming shows at Meadowbrook Amphitheatre, visit meadowbrookamphitheatre.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKLYN VEGAN
The Internet, stan-culture and the world of mass consensus
CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Editor
If you have been on the internet as long as I have, you may have noticed a phenomenon that arose within the last 20 years or so. Twitter (now known as X), Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and other social media platforms have cultivated many unique online communities that discuss popular or niche topics. Within some of these pop-culture communities are overly devoted “stans” — a term that was coined in 2000 with the release of a song from hip-hop artist, Eminem, titled “Stan.”
“Stan” tells a story that many would recognize almost 25 years later — an obsessed stalker fan writes a series of letters to Eminem detailing his admiration for the emerging hip-hop star. The song then goes sour when the fan meets an untimely demise at the hand of his own infatuation with Eminem.
Once a derogatory term, some stans of artists — such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj and various K-Pop groups — wear the label with pride. Like it or not, stans have brought people with similar interests together and their creation can certainly benefit those who are searching for community and a sense of belonging.
A post made on X about the artist Björk has recently gone viral, amassing 6.5 million views (and counting). The post, concisely titled “the realest,” features the outro of the hit song “Pagan Poetry,” where Bjork repeats “I love him, I love him,” over stylized folktronica and avant-garde pop
production. Many have reiterated the original post’s praise for Björk; however, some users have mocked the post, throwing shade at the artist’s voice and the production behind it.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but personally, I draw the line when people refuse to engage with a piece of media and harshly judge it based on a thirty-second snippet. I find it even worse when stans defend their position by postulating artists that not only have less to say but are artistically and commercially hollow.
While some artists have their shining moments, worshiping a musician’s every move, every song, every album is at best, morally questionable. Conversation on the internet is at its best when both parties are engaging in good faith arguments and are willing to gain and lose equally from their discourse. This rarely happens.
Anonymity on the internet — while not always a problem — actively harms any real discussion about art, politics and the inner-workings of the world. It is more beneficial to be open to new avenues of enjoyment with art, while also standing your ground on what you like.
So, shutting down Björk — or any artist’s music — by calling it “terrible,” “tacky” and “plain weird” is super disingenuous and just points to people’s own insecurities about their identity. This op-ed is not just about Björk and pop-music fan-bases. Metalheads and hip-hop fans are big offenders as well. “This isn’t real metal,” “hip-hop was better in the 90s,” and “music today sounds all the same”
are some common arguments you will find on the internet when it comes to music discussion.
Let’s debunk some of these — lots of genres do not sound like their roots and their origins. Jazz during its heyday in the 1940s sounds vastly different from the avant-garde jazz of the 60s, jazz fusion of the 70s and the electronic-infused jazz of today. Does this mean that it is not “real jazz?” Of course not.
Was hip-hop better in the 90s? It’s hard to definitively say. Some rap records were too long, extremely bloated and filled with obnoxious skits — it was a newer form of music, no one really knew what they were doing. Hip-hop today is definitely not perfect, but it shares more in common with the late80s and early-90s structurally than it has differences.
Music today sounds all the same: this is the most egregious point of them all. To be fair, a lot of top 40 pop, rap and country does sound alike. However, this would only matter to people with the most limited view on music and pop culture. Obviously, if you only listened to Taylor Swift, only listened to Beyoncé, only listened to Tate McRae, only listened to K-Pop … everything else will sound like total garbage.
But, when you open your eyes and your ears, get off the internet and experience the world — maybe the stuff that you revere is not that great. Listen to what you like, but don’t ever have idols, because if you shut down something based on your own ignorance — you only have yourself to blame.
Fall Films: The coziest and spookiest movies to watch this autumn
MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter
Leaves have started to change color; temperatures have started to drop, and the morning air is crisp — it is officially autumn. One of the coziest seasons, fall is the perfect time to grab a blanket, popcorn and some of your favorite films.
Here’s a perfect selection of autumn movies to get you in that cozy feeling, as well as some Halloween classics to get you ready for October.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” feels to me like the epitome of an autumn movie.
Director Wes Anderson delivered yet another beautiful film, but this time in stop-motion animation that took approximately four years to make. I believe this was entirely worth it, as the film was nominated for two Academy Awards in “Best Animated Feature” and “Best Original Score.”
The film revolves around Mr. Fox, his family and friends struggling under their human neighbors — both figuratively and literally. It has a simple yet intriguing plot, amazing characters that are easy to love and a great original score composed by Alexandre Desplat.
It stars George Clooney as Mr. Fox, Meryl Streep as Mrs. Fox, Bill Murray as Badger, Jason Schwartzman as Ash, Owen Wilson as Coach Skip and Willem Dafoe as Rat.
“Dead Poets Society”
“Dead Poets Society” is the perfect movie for those who wish they could go to an old boarding school and wear a dark academic wardrobe as they read poetry all day.
Set in 1959, a group of rule-breaking young men who attend an all-boys preparatory school come face to face with a new English teacher who uses poetry to inspire the men to enjoy learning and to follow their true passions.
The film stars the late Robin Williams as John Keating, Ethan Hawke as Todd Anderson and Robert Sean Leonard as Neil Perry.
“Knives Out”
Unlike our previous two calmer movies, “Knives Out” is a mystery/thriller that was released in 2019 and received positive reviews. While the plot doesn’t seem fall-themed, the overall vibe and costume design make it an autumn-worthy film.
Crime novelist Harlan Thrombey has mysteriously died after the night of the Thrombey family reunion following his 85th birthday. It is up to Detective Benoit Blanc to figure out who could’ve been responsible for Harlan’s death — despite everyone being a suspect.
“Knives Out” stars Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc, Chris Evans as Ransom, Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera, Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale and Katherine Langford as Meg Thrombey.
“Hocus Pocus”
Shifting the gears a little closer to Halloween, “Hocus Pocus” has proved itself as a true holiday classic, mixing spooky elder witches with a comedic plot that is truly enough to get anyone already picking out their Halloween costume.
A trio of teens accidentally let out three evil witches who want to become immortal. It’s up to them to save Salem.
The film stars Sarah Jessica Parker as Sarah Sanderson, Kathy Najimy as Mary Sanderson, Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson, Thora Birch as Dani Dennison, Omri Katz as Max Dennison and Vinessa Shaw as Allison.
Hopefully this list is enough to get you into the fall mood — but if not, cider and donuts are always available.
Immigrants are not eating ‘cats and dogs:’ Unpacking Trump’s debate comments
NICHOLAS KABLAK Political Reporter
The town of Springfield Ohio has recently become the focus of media conversation on immigration. Following former President Donald Trump’s claims about immigrant Haitians during a recent debate, the discussion on immigration has taken a turn with the town of Springfield front and center.
What was said and is it true?
During the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, the former president made a claim that Haitian immigrants in Springfield were consuming people’s pets — specifically cats and dogs. Further claims from the Trump campaign and others online claim that ducks and geese were being killed and taken by local Haitian immigrants.
Since these allegations, multiple officials from the Ohio town have come out to say that there is no substantive evidence of these events occurring.
Dispatchers in Clark County, where Springfield is located, received a call that alleged four Haitian immigrants were taking geese. The Clark County Commissioner recently stated that no evidence had been found to confirm these allegations.
What is Harris’ response?
Vice President Harris recently commented on the Springfield story and the claims of the Trump campaign. She called out the comments as divisive, hateful and racist.
“It’s hateful and grounded in some age-old stuff that we should not have the tolerance for,” Harris said.
What followed this?
Following the political attention to the town, a multitude of bomb threats have been made against the city of Springfield. The vast majority of these threats were from overseas and found to be fake.
“We have received at least 33 separate bomb threats … each one of whom has been found as a hoax,” Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said.
DeWine is assuring residents that they are safe, and he is committing state troopers to local schools to ensure people feel secure.
Why was it said?
Many in the media have been quick to point out the little evidence behind the claims about the immigrants. However, Trump’s campaign has been just as quick to defend the allegations, which have come under even more scrutiny following the recent falsified bomb threats.
“If I have to create stories so that the American media actually pays attention to the suffering of the American people, then that’s what I’m going to do,” Vance said. Spreading unverified — and often harmful — stories is a tactic often used by Trump and his administration, and it has led to increased threats and discrimination against minority communities.
Vance claims that his constituents’ reports are enough for him to continue the story, claiming that the media is ignoring his constituents. He claims this is how he and the Trump campaign can make the media report on border policy.
It’s clear that Trump and Vance’s tactic is to turn media attention to the border, even if it’s in a way
that is unfavorable to them. Border security is a key strength in their campaign. This is a tactic that largely worked for Trump in 2016 but has been less effective in recent elections.
The political ramifications are substantial as the border debate becomes the center focus in the media, even if it is in a negative light to the Republican candidate.
What does this mean for Trumps’ border policy?
Trump said that he would do many mass deportations of Haitian immigrants from Springfield — which has raised debates about the ethics of deportation and the border crisis as a whole.
Deportations are typically reserved for those who are in the country illegally, but the vast majority of the residents in Springfield are legal immigrants. Their legal status is contested by the Trump campaign.
“They’re in the country through what’s called temporary protective status. That is when Kamala Harris waved a magical amnesty wand,” Vance said. The temporary protected status program was created in 1990 to grant temporary immigration status to individuals whose home countries were unsafe or in crisis. Former President Obama originally gave temporary protected status to Haitians in January 2010, and President Joe Biden extended their status under his administration.
What’s next?
Trump recently announced that he will soon be visiting Springfield. It is unclear if the rhetoric will take any shift during his visit, or if any more policy information will be released.
Trump faces an assassination attempt … again
MALLORY WALIGORA Political Editor
On Sunday, Sept. 15, former President Donald Trump came close to an assassination attempt while golfing near West Palm Beach, Florida. This is the second instance of an attack on his life in two months. On July 13, Thomas Matthew Crooks shot at a Pennsylvania Trump Rally, injuring the President in his right ear. Soon after the Pennsylvania event, President Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
Ryan Wesley Routh has been identified as the suspect in the Sept. 15 attempt. Routh reportedly camped outside the golf course for nearly 12 hours with a rifle before the attack. Routh was also a public supporter of Ukraine, frequently posting about the conflict on social media.
“I AM WILLING TO FLY TO KRAKOW AND GO TO THE BORDER OF UKRAINE TO VOLUNTEER AND FIGHT AND DIE,” Routh wrote on X in 2022.
While on the golf course, an agent saw Routh armed with a rifle and the agent immediately discharged his firearm. Routh then sped away in his vehicle and was captured and arrested. Trump is safe and unharmed from the incident.
“I would like to thank everyone for your concern and well wishes – It was certainly an interesting day!”
Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Most importantly,
I want to thank the U.S. Secret Service, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw and his Office of brave and dedicated Patriots, and all of Law Enforcement, for the incredible job done today at Trump International in keeping me, as the 45th President of the United States, and the Republican Nominee in the upcoming Presidential Election, SAFE.”
Similar to the reaction to the Pennsylvania event, Democratic politicians have stepped forward, showing their well-wishes for the Republican nominee in a move of bipartisanship.
“I have been briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in
Florida, and I am glad he is safe. Violence has no place in America,” Vice President Kamala Harris wrote on X.
The U.S. Secret Service (USSS) officially released its investigation into the attempted assassination. Ongoing research will continue, and the report will be finalized in the coming weeks. Following Routh’s arrest, the USSS has admitted its failure in protecting Trump.
“It is important that we hold ourselves to account for the failures of July 13 and that we take the lessons learned to make sure that we do not have another mission failure like this again,” Acting Director Ronald L. Rowe said.
On Sept. 20, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a bill that would give Trump the same security protection as the current president. It’s rare that something is passed unanimously in the house – this vote illustrates the support for increased security for Trump from both political parties.
The race will become more heated, polling will fluctuate, and more advancements will develop. Those on Capitol Hill are urging for increased security support for Trump and stronger preventative matters must be put in place for both candidates. No matter one’s opinion on the nominees, proper security must be allocated to ensure a safe campaign season.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VOX
Federal Reserve cuts interest rates
NICHOLAS KABLAK Political Reporter
The Federal Reserve recently cut federal interest rates by 0.5%, changing the national interest rate between 4.75% and 5%. This was done for various reasons and will affect both global markets and the domestic economy by influencing the cost of loans and mortgages, as well as the value of cash, bonds, and stock.
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), part of the Fed, is the central bank in the United States and it is responsible for setting national interest rates. It makes its decision based on a number of factors, such as national inflation and labor markets.
Inflation
Inflation and interest rates have skyrocketed, and interest rates are often kept high in order to curb high inflation.
“Our patient approach over the past year has paid dividends. Inflation is now much closer to our objective, and we have gained greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2%,”
Jerome Powell, the Fed’s chair of the board of governors, said.
The Fed has not achieved its goal of lowering inflation, though it projects that it will be close to
its goal of 2% by August 2025. The Fed feels more secure in national inflation rates making it feel comfortable with the lowering of interest rates.
Unemployment
In recent months, new data has indicated that the labor market is cooling. This means that unemployment is increasing, and job growth has been weaker than previously expected.
By dropping interest rates, the Fed can encourage businesses to take loans, expand their operations and hire more employees. Hopefully, it will be benefiting labor markets.
“As inflation has declined and the labor market has cooled. The upside risks to inflation have diminished and the downside risks to employment have increased. We now see the risks to achieving our employment and inflation goals as roughly in balance,” Powell said.
The Fed made this interest rate cut to better reflect how it sees the economy. Where once it was focusing on inflation, it has now adjusted the interest rates to a more neutral stance because it finds cooling labor markets and inflation to be equally problematic.
Global economy
It is also important to note how interest rates affect the United States in the global market. With interest rates being cut, it is expected that the dollar will depreciate, meaning it will drop in value in comparison to other currencies.
This helps American exporters whose products will now be more competitive in foreign markets; on the other hand, it makes all foreign imports into the U.S. more expensive.
Devaluing of the U.S. dollar in exchange rates is part of the reason why lowering interest rates increases inflation, because domestic demand increases. Since domestic industry is helped by it, it also contributes to decreasing unemployment rates. However, the interest rates still remain relatively high so all of this should be taken with a grain of salt.
Individuals
Beyond the macroeconomic effects of a national drop in interest rates, individuals can expect some noticeable changes as well. The drop in interest rates means any personal loan, from a home mortgage to student loans, could be refinanced in the future to reflect the lower rates.
Simply put, refinancing to a lower interest rate could save individuals thousands of dollars. The Fed has not made any definitive statements on whether or not there are more rate cuts are to be expected.
“We will be making decisions … based on incoming data, the evolving outlook and the balance of risks,” Powell said.
The Fed remains ready to drop interest rates even further or to jack them back up. It all depends on the way the economy responds to the cut.
Golden Grizzlies women’s soccer bested by Robert Morris in Horizon League opener
KURT SZYMANSKI
Sports Editor
In a thrilling Horizon League season debut on Thursday, Sept. 19, the Oakland Golden Grizzlies women’s soccer team fell short against the Robert Morris Colonials at the Oakland Soccer Field.
The Golden Grizzlies opened the match, playing very patiently and conservatively. With most of the team hanging back, the Colonials opened the game the exact opposite of the Golden Grizzlies.
Robert Morris had multiple attacking chances in the first five minutes of the game, backed by their aggression to go after 50-50 balls and whichever player possessed the ball for the Golden Grizzlies. In multiple instances, the Colonials quickly recovered an Oakland pass that was kicked too hard, with no Golden Grizzly chasing after the ball.
In the 10th minute of the match, the aggression from Robert Morris finally paid off. Haleigh Finale received the ball in the middle of the box after a pass from Julia Becerra. In prime position to score, Finale sent the ball into the left side of Oakland’s goal with a strike.
In what looked like a golden opportunity to equalize, Oakland’s Marina Downing connected with a brilliant pass on a free kick for a powerful header just a few feet from the net, but the ball sailed inches wide of the post in a heart-stopping moment for the Golden Grizzlies.
As the first came to a close, the Colonials turned down the aggression, and the Golden Grizzlies’ patience became a huge advantage for the team. In the final 15 minutes of the first, Oakland launched numerous quality attacks on the Colonials. Although none of them resulted in goals, it was clear that the team was eager to turn the tables heading into halftime.
At the half, Robert Morris led Oakland in shots taken, with five coming from Robert Morris and four coming from Oakland. However, the Colonials and Golden Grizzlies remained tied in shots on goal with two each and corners, with both teams taking a sole corner each.
Oakland started the match’s second half with much more urgency than the first. As a result, it did not take long for Oakland to shift the tide. In just the 46th minute, Frankie Mudd put the ball in the back of the net to tie things up 1-1.
Notably, the goal is Mudd’s second of the season and her sixth in a Golden Grizzly jersey.
As the second progressed, Oakland started to play more aggressively on both sides. On offense, nearly the entire team was involved in finding a goal to put the team in the lead, and on defense, the whole team fell back and was involved defensively, thwarting any pushes from the Colonials.
Just as Oakland seemed to gain control, Robert Morris struck again. In the 67th minute, a wellplaced corner kick found Carson Bogan, who positioned herself perfectly and scored with a
header, giving the Colonials a 2-1 lead over the Golden Grizzlies.
With time slipping away, Oakland threw everything into a last-minute push. The crowd erupted as a shot from Melanie Troy hit the back of the net — only for the excitement to be drained as the referees ruled a handball, calling back the goal. The game ended shortly after in favor of the Colonials with a final score of 2-1.
Next on the agenda, the Golden Grizzlies will travel to Wisconsin to continue conference play.
Oakland has a matchup against the Milwaukee Panthers on Thursday, Sept. 26, and a game against the Green Bay Phoenix on Sunday, Sept. 29. Both games will be played on the road.
Hat Trick: OU men’s soccer earns third consecutive win
EVAN BLANCHARD
Sports Reporter
An 0-4 start is long past in the rearview mirror for these Oakland Golden Grizzlies. After a dominant 3-0 victory over the Michigan State Spartans, the Oakland University men’s soccer team has ripped off two more wins and a tie, bringing them to a record of 3-4-1 on the season.
Their most recent win as of Sept. 18 was a nonconference win over Loyola University of Chicago
(LUC). Loyola entered the evening with a record of 1-3-1. Coming from the west bank of Lake Michigan, a brisk 5-hour drive, the Ramblers sought to turn their ugly start around.
LUC went on the attack early, drawing an offside call within the first two minutes. Ben Bischof of Loyola took a shot on OU’s redshirt sophomore goalie, Aiden Smith, but Smith skillfully deflected the attempt away.
There was some physicalness early as both teams fought for every advantage. Oakland earned two fouls and a yellow card within the first 20 minutes of game time; the Ramblers also had two fouls of their own early on.
As the game went on, the time of possession was roughly even. LUC took four shots to the Golden Grizzlies’ three in the first half, but the Ramblers had a big advantage in their four corner kicks to Oakland’s one.
It was halftime with neither team earning a goal, but things were about to get interesting. Right out of the break, Oakland went on the offensive, taking two shots on goal along with a corner kick, but still, LUC remained solid.
It was OU’s turn to be tested. Loyola attempted three corner kicks and two shots on goal in the span of seven minutes. However, the defense of Smith and the Golden
Grizzlies was up for the task; nothing got by them.
Finally, senior forward Lejs Pličanić was able to break the tie with his third goal of the season, assisted by junior forward Kevin Hubbell. Both players started the game on the bench but were nonetheless ready to contribute when called upon.
A tight game such as this always brings an increase in physicality and aggression. Fouls and yellow cards were being handed out left and right. Loyola committed eight fouls in the second to Oakland’s five. The referees gave the Golden Grizzlies three yellow cards in the second half and one to the Ramblers. In a two-minute stretch, junior midfielder Jack Klomparens earned two fouls and a yellow card.
Shortly after, LUC evened the game with a goal from Angel Mendez at 74:19. With only 17 minutes left, the score stood at 1-1.
Fortunately for Oakland, freshman Andrew Darakdjian earned himself a penalty kick, which he squeaked past Rambler Aiden Crawford. The Golden Grizzlies were able to close out the game and earn another hard-fought win with a final score of 2-1.
Up next at home for the Golden Grizzlies is a battle with IU Indy on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Oakland Soccer Field at 2 p.m.
PHOTO BY KATIE REID
Meet OU swimmer Karel Subagyo
EVAN BLANCHARD
Sports Reporter
“I only got into swimming as a therapy for my sinuses as a child,” Karel Subagyo, the senior swimmer from Jakarta, Indonesia, said. It’s just an example of the myriad ways that our lives get sent down certain paths.
For Subagyo, his pesky sinuses just won him a gold medal in the Indonesian National Sports Week competition.
Let’s backtrack, though.
As previously mentioned, it all began with needing to relieve his sinuses. But the love of the game soon sprouted in a young Subagyo, and he began taking lessons and joined a swim club, JAQ Aquatics.
“In 2012, I joined my seniors on a trip to Bandung, West Java, to watch them compete in the national swimming championship,” Subagyo said. “This motivated me to start practicing for races, to be like them.”
It’s the exigency for his drive to compete on the biggest stages which led him to wake up at 3:30 a.m., practice swimming at 4:30 a.m., and then go straight to school at 6:30 a.m. So, while we were all bemoaning the fact we had early mornings in high school at 7:00 a.m., Subagyo already had a full practice before the sun came up.
“Even in my previous university, I had to go back and forth between campus and the pool using a motorbike, riding through Jakarta’s heaviest traffic jams,” Subagyo said.
All the hard work paid off for Subagyo, as he was able to achieve his dream of competing for a swimming program in the U.S. After reaching out to several colleges, he settled on Oakland University, which has a long history of success in the sport. However, the transition wasn’t seamless.
“I think, just like most international students, there is a degree of cultural differences that I experienced during the first weeks in the U.S.,” Subagyo said. “But I found the swim team to be very welcoming, and they made me feel very comfortable during my first days.”
However, he would have to wait to compete until this year. Subagyo was a late addition to last year’s squad and was ineligible to compete in actual events. Subagyo was still able to practice and train with the team and receive times for races during events where he wouldn’t swim against anyone.
This fall, all that training was finally put to the test.
Subagyo was invited to compete for his hometown, Jakarta, in the Pekan Nasional Olahraga, or Indonesian National Sports Week competition. It’s a multi-sport event that is held once every four years.
“It is my first time competing in what people call the most prestigious sporting event in the country, so it’ll be a really exciting one to watch,” Subagyo said. “The last edition in 2021 had West Java crowned as the champion, so this time, we will be fighting to avenge and make a comeback for Jakarta.”
Karel would be competing in the 400 free, the 400 individual medley, the 200 relay, the 200 free, the 200 individual medley, and finally, the
1500 free. He is no stranger to swimming these distances either.
“I mainly compete in middle to long-distance events in freestyle,” Subagyo said.
The results have been outstanding. Subagyo won the gold medal in the 400 free and earned a bronze in the 400 individual medley. He added two silvers in the 200 free and the 1500 free. Perhaps the most impressive fact was that Subagyo swam personal bests in all five races. To Subagyo, all the medals meant that all his hard work had paid off.
“Getting a gold medal in the 400-meter meant that I have succeeded in defeating my rivals. It’s the result of non-stop practice and a lot of sacrifices made along the way,” Subagyo said. “Representing Jakarta, the city where I was born and raised in, is a pride in itself.”
Once the event is over and Subagyo returns to Oakland, it’s right back to the grindstone. There are always more goals left to accomplish and more races to win. Hard work is what got Subagyo to succeed in swimming for his country; it’s no different here.
“I plan to practice my hardest and do my best for OU. I aim for first place in the Horizon League Championships and also to qualify for the NCAA Championships,” Subagyo said.
Personally, I would never bet against the kid who woke up at 3:30 a.m. every day.
“In Indonesian, there is a saying that goes, ‘Bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian’ meaning no pain, no gain,” Subagyo said.
I’m willing to bet that that’s a saying Subagyo lives by.
