The Eastern Echo

01/13/2025

According to the Weather Channel, the year’s coldest temperatures come during January and Febuary across the U.S.

Here are some tips to stay warm inside and out this winter from The Eastern Echo: 🥶❄️

Struggling with the cold? Try these tips.

01/12/2025

SAVE THE DATE!

✨ MEDIA GALA ✨

⭐️ Thursday, March 27, 2025 ⭐️

This year’s gala will be at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse! Doors will open at 6:30 p.m and the event will begin at 7 p.m.

Stay tuned for further information about ticketing. To catch up on the 2024 Student Media Gala, click here: 📸

https://www.easternecho.com/gallery/66216cb34c282

01/11/2025

Eastern Michigan University’s football program has produced several athletes who have made it to professional leagues, including nine current NFL team members.

Take a look at the list of current and longest-serving NFL athletes from EMU on The Eastern Echo: 🏈

EMU's football program has turned out many top-notch athletes who have gone on to play in the NFL. Nine EMU alumni currently play for NFL teams.

01/09/2025

On Jan. 7 the Ypsilanti City Council presented two resolutions to support the city in establishing a permanent homeless shelter and an unarmed crisis response team- both passed unanimously.

The first resolution, 2025-007, cited homelessness as an urgent issue. According to the Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development, 617 people were experiencing homelessness at the end of June 2024.

The second resolution, 2025-008, requests the Washtenaw County government create an unarmed response dispatch to reduce harm while promoting public safety.

Read more about the resolution details here: 🏠

Ypsilanti City Council passed two resolutions to support public services.

01/08/2025

Max and Sharon McDonald opened their vintage store, Find and Shine Vintage, in Ypsilanti four months ago and have been satisfied with their success since, they said.

Currently, the store is only open from Thursday through the weekend.

Customers are invited to explore an eclectic collection of vintage clothing, collectibles, posters, records, knick-knacks, and much more.

Read more about the brick-and-mortar store here:

New Ypsilanti business, Find and Shine, is making steady waves in the community.

01/08/2025

Watch the Eagles return to action in this thrilling lineup of games across multiple sports during the week of Jan. 7 to Jan. 13:

🏀:
Men’s: EMU vs. Toledo — Jan. 7
EMU vs. Akron — Jan. 11

Women’s: EMU vs. Ball State — Jan. 8
EMU vs. Akron — Jan. 11

🏊‍♀️:
EMU Swimming and Diving at Buffalo Diving Invite
— Jan. 10-12

🎾:
EMU tennis at Michigan Invitational — Jan. 11

🏃‍♂️:
Men’s: Track & Field at Wolverine Invitational — Jan. 11

Read the details here:

Eastern Michigan athletics starts the new year with a busy week of exciting basketball, track and field, swimming, and tennis events. The week features key conference matchups and competitive invites across multiple sports.

01/06/2025

Happy first day back, Eagles! 💚🦅

Kick off the Winter 25 semester by attending one of these events on or around Eastern Michigan University campus!

Read What’s the move here:

Check out what's happening in Ypsi and on EMU's campus in the new year.

01/03/2025

The House v. NCAA settlement introduces changes for NCAA Division I sports such as, changes to teams' operations and athletes' compensation.

Scheduled to take effect in the 2025-26 academic year, the settlement allows colleges to directly pay athletes for their participation in sports, with a $22 million annual pool available for distribution.

Also, schools can now offer scholarships to every athlete on their roster, moving away from the previous system of sport-specific scholarship limits.

While the settlement aims to create a more equitable system, its long-term effects on competitive balance and the viability of smaller programs remain to be seen.

Read more here: 🏈 ⛳️ 🏀 ⚾️

The House v. NCAA settlement has introduced a transformative revenue-sharing model and new roster limits, set to reshape collegiate athletics by increasing athlete compensation while narrowing opportunities and challenging smaller programs.

01/02/2025

Sean Gray, vice president of Small Business Services at the Detroit Economic Growth Corp., and Jenita Moore, director of the Office of Community Engagement for the Governor, will replace Eunice Jeffries and Alexander Simpson on the Eastern Michigan University’s Board of Regents.

The regents monitor and approve the university’s spending, along with presiding over general affairs.

Each regent serves an eight-year term, with new appointments made by the governor as necessary.

Read more about the appointees here:

Two new regents join the EMU Board of Regents for 2025, as appointed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

12/30/2024

Sit back, relax, and read another Review Recap from The Eastern Echo!

Recent Reviews:

⭐️ "A Midsummer Night's Dream," an EMU Theatre production reviewed by Frank Remski.

⭐️ "Black Doves," a Netflix series reviewed by Mariam Fakhreddine.
Rating: 8/10

⭐️ "Cruel Intentions," an Amazon Prime Video reboot series reviewed by Mariam Fakhreddine.
Rating: 8/10

⭐️ "Maria," a Netflix film reviewed by Mariam Fakhreddine.
Rating: 6.5/10

⭐️ "Moana 2," a film reviewed by Mariam Fakhreddine.
Rating: 8/10

⭐️ "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim," an anime film reviewed by Frank Remski.
Rating: 4/10

⭐️"The Madness," a Netflix thriller series reviewed by Mariam Fakhreddine.
Rating: 9/10

Read these reviews in-depth here: 🎬 📺 🎭

https://www.easternecho.com/section/review

12/28/2024

Here are some q***r-friendly events and places on and around Eastern Michigan University's campus:

WERK Haus: Drag Shows
- Located at 310 Perrin St. (Deep End Gallery & Cafe)
- Events are free for students to watch or perform drag shows or q***r open mics.

Pride Bar
- DJ Medusa and other special guests host bi-weekly pride events at Ann Arbor's LIVE Nightclub located at 102 S. First St.
- On every second and fourth Thursday of the month an LQBTQ+-focused event and dancing takes place.
- From 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Must be 18 and above.

'Femme Feedback' - Q***r Open Mic
- Located in Ann Arbor at 100 S. 4th Ave., Suite 110 at Blom Meadworks ()
- Comedy performances by feminine-presenting and/or transgender persons.

EMU LGBT Resource Center hosted events
- Room 354 in the Student Center on campus.
- Lavender Graduation takes place in the spring.
- Clothing Swaps are pop-up thrift stores for gender-inclusive clothing and accessories.
- More events included the BBQ***r, OUTober, and more.

Read more here: 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

LGBTQ+ students can look forward to many upcoming events, including drag shows, q***r open mics, and gender-affirming clothing swaps.

12/27/2024

Winter 2025 parking permits are available for purchase for all faculty, staff, and most students with the ability to register up to two license plates onto one permit.

For a purchase of $214 per semester, an 8% increase from two years ago, this semester's parking permits are valid from Jan. 1 to April 30- extended time with permits lasting until May can be found on the ParkEMU website.

ParkEMU violation fines range from $10 to $200. Those who do not buy a permit must park in visitor spaces.

Read more here: 🅿️ 🚗

The Eastern Echo, serving the Eastern Michigan University community.

12/26/2024

Since Dec. 2, 16 EMU football players from the 2024 roster remain in the college athletic transfer portal.

Most of these players remain undecided. However, Eagles' kicker, Jesús Gómez (Puebla, México) was recently added to the Arizona State Sun Devils. More on his decision can be read in a separate article on our website. (https://www.easternecho.com/article/2024/12/arizona-state-adds-kicker-jesus-gomez-from-eastern-michigan)

The team will also undergo a roster turnover for the 2025 season as 12 players have expired eligibility.

Read more here: 🏈

https://www.easternecho.com/article/2024/12/eastern-michigan-football-has-16-players-in-transfer-portal-as-of-december-13th

16 Players, including Jesus Gomez, Oran Singleton, Markus Allen, and Elijah Jackson Anderson, headline the transfer portal departures for Eagles 13 days into the offseason.

12/25/2024

Who attended the Ypsi Beer Choir at the Arbor Brewing Company?

If not, let The Eastern Echo give you a recap!

Beyond Choir is a nonprofit organization established in 2021 which hosted the event. Their founder and artistic director, Brandon Johnson, directs all choral activities at EMU.

The event brought the community together in high spirits with cheering, singing, and food.
If interested, check out more of their events on the Beyond website. The next Beer Choir will take place on Feb. 3, 2025.

Read more here: 🍻🎶

https://www.easternecho.com/article/2024/12/beer-choir-brings-community-together-with-singing-at-arbor-brewing-company

12/24/2024

Once again, The Eastern Echo Podcast launches a new wellness series. Wellness with Outdoors focuses on improving listeners' connection with nature.

Take a listen to what the host, Samson St. Clair, and editor, Alex Kreps have created for you all! 🎙️

Check out the Eastern Echo Podcast's newest show Wellness w/ Outdoors! A show focused on nature, wellness, and mental & physical health.

12/23/2024

Back from 1999 to 2003, the city of Ypsilanti purchased segments of land that make up the Water Street Redevelopment Area today. It now covers 38 acres of land between the Huron River and Michigan Avenue.

As a result of financial struggles, the project has been delayed despite a millage being passed to pay off the debt back in 2016.

The project is using the $4.381 million State of Michigan Economic Development Funds granted through Senator Irwin's Office toward remedying environmental contaminations and supporting redevelopment efforts. In addition to the $3 million US Housing and Urban Development Community Project Fund. The $4 million EPA Cleanup Grant could potentially be used as well.

Meaning, progress should hopefully be seen soon.

Read more about the Water Street Redevelopment Area project on The Eastern Echo! 💦 🚧

Writer: Gabriella Payeur

12/22/2024

Since 2018 the Family Emergency Motel Stay (FEMS) program has helped families facing homelessness in the Ypsi and Ann Arbor area.

To qualify for FEMS families must:
- Have at least one child enrolled in a public school system.
- They must be facing homelessness and actively seeking permanent shelter.
- Families who have relatives with available housing are not eligible.
- Referrals are accepted.

FEMS is primarily funded by the Masco Corporation's grant, but the program is currently seeking additional funding from the county's healthcare budget.

Read more about FEMS and other local organizations offering resources here: 🏠

The Family Emergency Motel Stay program provides urgent, short-term housing to families without shelter.

12/21/2024

The Ypsilanti Community High School Career and Technical Education Program showcased its handiwork during the Arts, Beats, and Eats event held on Dec. 5 for the second year in a row.

Greeted by decorative lighting and homemade cookies made by culinary students, attendees got the chance to frost their own cookies.

Beyond the treats and lighting, the Ypsi Community High Choir, band, and drama club performed during the event.

Read more about the event and program here: 🍪

Ypsilanti Community High School's Arts, Beats, and Eats event on Dec. 5 highlighted the school's career and technical program.