The Oakland Post 1.31.2024

A Trusted Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987.

$150 MILLION RAISED “Aspire. Advance. Achieve.”

Campaign a success PAGE 3

PHOTO BY CHARLES CONANT

KALEIDOSCOPE CABARET

“America Through Our Lens” PAGE 10-11

Volume 49 l Issue 13 l January 31, 2024

GRIZZLIES DOMINATE OU Outlasts Milwaukee PAGE 20

2 | JANUARY 31, 2024

EDITORIAL BOARD Autumn Okuszka Editor-in-Chief aokuszka@oakland.edu Payton Bucki Content Editor paytonbucki@oakland.edu Megan Judy Managing Editor meganjudy@oakland.edu

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Courtney Blackett Photo Editor courtneyblacket@oakland.edu Brock Heilig Sports Editor brockheilig@oakland.edu Chloe Kukuk Campus Editor chloekukuk@oakland.edu Olivia Chiappelli Arts Editor oechiappelli@oakland.edu SAINTS AND SINNERS This fountain built in 1976 sits outside Kresge Library.

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REPORTERS

Gracie Murray Reporter Dayshawn Fields Reporter Noah Francis Reporter Ana Gjorgjevski Reporter Chelsea Bossert Reporter Moe Del Rosario Reporter Summer Weathers Reporter Kurt Szymanski Reporter Noah Thomason Reporter Mallory Waligora Reporter Adrian Jimenez Morales Reporter Evan Blanchard Reporter Kaylah Snell Reporter

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

ADVISING

Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser gjgilber@oakland.edu 248.370.2105 Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu 248.370.2533

CAMPUS

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 3

‘Aspire. Advance. Achieve.’ campaign celebrates $151 million raised ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES Campus Reporter

After more than seven years of effort and support, Oakland University’s Advancement staff, directors and donors celebrated raising over $151 million for Oakland University.

On Jan. 22, the celebration of the “Aspire.

Advance. Achieve.” fundraising campaign’s closure was hosted at Ballroom A of the Oakland Center.

Donors, faculty and the OU Board of Trustees (BOT) were invited to celebrate the announcement of the total money raised.

With a burst of sparklers and cheering, the total funds raised by the six-year campaign was revealed to be $151,971,818.

The celebration was conducted by Board member David Kramer and OU President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz. Both delivered speeches celebrating OU’s most successful fundraising campaign and the community’s strive for accessibility and affordability in higher education. “[The celebration reaffirms] the commitment to world-class education to make communities a better place,” Kramer said.

Concluding with a three-minute video of the campaign closing, the celebration encapsulated a fraction of a ten-year effort.

The public launch of the campaign was on Nov. 17, 2018. However, Richard Rachner, associate vice president for philanthropy, explained that the prework to organize the campaign’s structure began in 2014.

“What are the bigger, bolder ideas and how do we get those on paper?” he said. “How do we vent those out and turn them into fundable opportunities?

How do they impact and fit into the pillars of the

university?”

“We were really in a stride out of 2018 with that launch,” Assistant Vice President of Advancement Operations Lauren Jeske said. “We had a lot of good things coming together, a lot of folks out on the road, and everything was going very strong for us.

“A lot of our relationships are in-person, so when the pandemic hit, it was difficult for us to connect with donors,” she said.

However, the difficulties of COVID-19 also yielded significant connections through what Jeske called “care calls,” periodic conversations with donors and corporate partners over the phone to support them during the pandemic.

“It was no different than maybe me checking on my mom and dad or grandparents or my kids,” Rachner said. “It was just an opportunity to talk about real life and see how different people are doing and connect on a different level.”

“A lot of those ended up providing great support for the university and helped us support the campaign, to the point that we were able to close this campaign a year or so early,” Rachner added.

With the early conclusion of the campaign, Pescovitz explained that the funds — provided by 19,871 donors — would be used for campus expansion, accessibility and enhancement.

The funds were distributed amongst a variety of campus institutions. The $20.6 million from Corewell Health, for example, was used for academic assistance for new nursing students and the creation of new labs, according to Rachner.

Other examples include the $72 million raised for student success scholarships, OU Credit Union’s $1 million contribution for campus sustainability and a collaborative campaign that raised $140,000 for OU’s food pantry.

The celebration particularly highlighted the first-time donors and young alumni donors.

The two groups made up 61% and 15% of all contributors respectively, exceeding the expected number of donors.

All of these accomplishments, Jeske said, signal the success of the campaign’s messaging and case to the donors.

“For us, that signaled that our messaging, our case, our proof to donors that OU is the right place to invest in really resonated…we are having these intentional conversations and communications that really create the compelling case to invest in OU,” she said.

For more information about the campaign and how to donate, visit University Advancement’s website.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY

‘How to Succeed as a Creative Writing Major’ emphasizes community building, using OU resources CHLOE KUKUK Campus Editor

Oakland University’s Creative Writing Club (CWC) and the Department of English collaborated on the “How to Succeed as a Creative Writing Major” event on Jan. 26 in the Oakland Center Lake Huron Room.

The event featured a panel discussion with professor Annie Gilson, CWC president Annie Williams, CWC vice president Taya Alani and Student Writers Group (SWG) president Ginger Fuller.

Gilson said the event was hosted to provide current and prospective students with the resources to be successful.

“We want our students to succeed, so we are building informational sessions into our curriculum so that students have an opportunity to come, whether they’re from other majors, from us, people who just like to write, so they can know that it’s not just about taking classes,” Gilson said.

Each member of the panel brought a different perspective on what assists current and prospective creative writing students in their success.

Students were advised to get involved with writing outside of the classroom through student organizations, whether that be through the CWC, the SWG and Sigma Tau Delta, an English Honors Society.

“We can advocate for getting involved with extracurricular organizations on campus,” Fuller said. “Your classes are a great place to start in terms

of some of these social connections… it always feels a little odd to go up to somebody and be like, ‘Hey, I really liked your poem in class. I think we should talk about our writing,’ but so many friendships and [so much] community engagement start that way.”

Fuller added that the Writing Center, housed in Kresge Library on campus, can assist students with refining their writing, whether it’s a creative piece or otherwise. Students can also apply to work in the Writing Center, honing their writing skills while getting paid and gaining editing experience.

“It has been a great opportunity for me as a means of work, and I’ve improved so much in my own writing as someone who is working with other students,” she said. “If you’re not interested in working in that, it is still a great resource for you to go to as a client, bringing in some of your creative writing pieces or even your academic essays.”

Additionally, Gilson advised students to look into opportunities for publication, including the Oakland Arts Review (OAR) — OU’s literary journal for undergraduates. Whether submitting work or working behind the scenes to publish the journal, Gilson said, OAR is a great way to gain experience.

“This a top-notch journal. A number of folks are getting published in it. We’ve had undergraduates published in the past,” Gilson said. “It’s so, so impressive, so professional. I do think that it’s good for you to, if you want to get into the publishing world, that’s a huge thing we offer.”

The most important thing, Alani said, is getting involved and utilizing your network.

“The number one thing that has helped elevate my experience and helped elevate me as a professional is so much communication with the network that we do have here,” Alani said. “Always talking to your professors, always talking with your peers, always bouncing ideas off of each other… going outside of the circles that you’re used to.”

Fuller echoed a similar sentiment.

“Creative writing, especially as a major, rewards the work that you put into it in the sense that you seek out these opportunities and you choose to define it in a way that’s impactful for you,” Fuller said.

For more information about OU’s creative writing major, visit the program’s website.

PHOTO BY COURTNEY BLACKETT

CAMPUS

4 | JANUARY 31, 2024

‘The Great Debate’ fosters campus dialogue and collaboration ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES Campus Reporter

The Association of Black Students (ABS) hosted “The Great Debate,” one of the first open forums to discuss current events and fun topics as their first event for African American Celebration Month.

On Tuesday, Jan. 23, approximately 20 students gathered at Gold Room C of the Oakland Center to participate in ABS’ first event of the winter semester.

The debate resembled a city council meeting, in which a topic was explained to later ask all attendees for their opinions for further conversation.

Easing into the discussion, the debate started with the controversy, “Should pineapples go on pizza?”

Participants would stand up on the left side of the room to indicate “yes,” in the middle for neutrality and right for “no.”

Each participant was handed the microphone to share their opinion and reasoning, with constant ovations in support of constructive comments. With trust and support established, the event coordinators took time to introduce more complex topics.

Starting with the question “Should affirmative action be eliminated?” ABS Event Coordinator Tyliah Weathersby defined the term, gave examples and illustrated some of its implications. Once everyone had shared their thoughts, a general conversation started to explore the nuances and perspectives on the topic.

“We talked about a lot of good topics that I feel like we may not really know a lot of information about,” Weathersby said. “This was a great opportunity to be

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF BLACK STUDENTS

able to inform others and get others’ opinions.”

Questions regarding the end of affirmative action, lawmakers’ authority to ban books and the way slavery is taught in schools, and whether women should propose to men had almost all participants on one side of the room.

“Speaking about the current events was really good because it was informative,” ABS Secretary Chanice Petty said.

Petty added getting people to converse was a good way to start the semester.

Conversations about convicts’ right to vote, today’s usefulness of higher education, forgiving crimes through effort, and women as primary breadwinners fostered a higher diversity of opinions. Such diversity was celebrated during and after the event.

“This is the first time [we hosted the event], it was a great time,” ABS Social Media Coordinator Karmani Williams said. “It is very important that we hold events like this in order to have more people come together and have different perspectives.”

With testimonies of current events and critical questions about the state of society, the debate was balanced by casual contentions over chicken wing drums or flats and academic dress codes.

In two hours of laughter and reflection, ten questions allowed almost twenty participants to explore the complexities of African American history, gender dynamics, punitive systems and quotidian life on campus.

“I think student engagement needs to be more wellrounded and more supported on this campus,” ABS Social Media Coordinator and event host Sammi Perkins said.

“After COVID it kind of went shy almost,” Perkins added. “ABS is trying to gather all the stuff that we had before COVID back — getting people to actually share their opinions, just handing them the mic and giving them the opportunity to open up their minds.”

Weathersby said that collaboration with other student organizations and on-campus groups like the Center for Multicultural Initiatives (CMI) would be beneficial to proliferate conversations like the Great Debate.

“If we all work together, it can become a conversation without this classroom and we can kind of broaden it into a whole campus-wide conversation,” Weathersby said.

FEATURES

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 5 Poli-sci student Taylor Richardson presents co-authored research at the 2024 SPSA conference PAYTON BUCKI Content Editor

If you told Taylor Richardson a year ago that she would spend the beginning of her Winter 2024 Semester presenting a co-authored research paper at an international political science conference, she probably would have laughed in disbelief.

Enter Professor Matthew Fails.

“I only came across my love for doing research by taking his [Fails’] class,” Richardson said. “I wasn’t even initially enrolled in his class, I only switched to it because I needed to take the course to satisfy my major requirements.”

Upon entering Fails’ political science course, Richardson found a passion for research. The course allowed her to explore various avenues of inquiry in the field of social science.

As the course drew to a close, Richardson decided to focus her final project on examining the relationship between economic performance and presidential attempts to violate constitutional limits on the number of terms they could serve in office.

“At the end of the semester, we [Professor Fails and I] came to the consensus that this would be a good project to build on,” Richardson said. “I had significance already, even though it was a short project, so we knew that it definitely could grow and get better… and that’s exactly what happened.”

For months, Professor Fails and Richardson worked together on the research paper. The pair

used data from a global sample of countries to focus on under which circumstances presidents violate term limits.

“We decided to focus on the violation of term limits because such a constitutional violation is one of the main factors for why executive aggrandizement happens. This can lead to changes in the country’s form of governance,” Richardson said.

Richardson and Fails’ co-authored paper, entitled “In Good Times or Bad? Economic Performance and Presidential Term Limit Violations,” unearthed significant findings. In times of inflation, presidential term limit violations are low. Conversely, when the economy is good, presidents tend to have more incentive to change their term limits.

After the completion of their research, Richardson and Fails applied to present their findings at the 2024 Southern Political Science Association conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Richardson was one of the few undergraduate attendees presenting research at the conference.

“Going up there [on stage to present] I was quite nervous and intimidated,” Richardson said. “Once I started talking, it was like a switch flipped. As my words started flowing, I gained confidence. I was extremely passionate about the topic I researched, so it was easy for me to talk about.”

Overall, Richardson found her first professional research conference to be an exhilarating experience.

“I’m thankful to have had the opportunity to be welcomed as an undergraduate student to the SPSA conference,” Richardson said. “I am incredibly

PHOTO COURTESY OF MATTHEW FAILS

grateful for the assistance of Professor Fails, Professor Eldredge, Professor Trumbore and the Department of Political Science.”

This February, Richardson will join Oakland University’s Political Science Honors Society chapter in Washington, D.C. at the 2024 Phi Sigma Alpha National Student Research Conference.

At the conference, Richardson will present her coauthored research paper to professors and graduate students from across the country.

OU Writing Center: Providing writing support to students of all disciplines NOAH FRANCIS Features Reporter

Located inside Oakland University’s Kresge Library is the Oakland University Writing Center (OUWC), a free service that helps students with any step of the writing process. Whether one is looking for online sessions or in-person help, the OUWC is happy to accommodate all students seeking its services.

The OUWC lends help in many different ways.

Staff members can assist students in brainstorming, outlining, revising, citing and editing. The Writing Center is able to assist with a wide variety of assignments, including academic essays, literature reviews, creative writing, cover letters, resumes and personal statements.

Norah Armijo, a junior at OU working at the Writing Center, explains who she would recommend to the OUWC. “I would definitely recommend it to firstyear students because there’s a lot of differences between high school writing and college writing, and it can be difficult to get used to,” Armijo said.

“We also have grad student consultants, so I would recommend any grad students that are dealing with dissertations, which can be really unfamiliar, to set up an appointment with our grad student consultancies.”

The consultants of the OUWC work through writing issues with several different students each day. Armijo explains the writing errors she

encounters the most through her experience.

“We definitely see a lot of citations, mostly because I feel like in high school, everything was in MLA, and you go to college and all of a sudden everything has to be in APA,” Armijo said. “Because of this, people don’t really know how to format stuff and they don’t know where to go for resources.”

While scheduling an OUWC appointment, students are asked about their major and the course

PHOTO BY DONGFU HAN/ OAKLAND POST ARCHIVES The OU Writing Center, located on the second floor of the Kresge Library, offers writing assistance during the semester with tips and editing for papers.

they are receiving services. These questions are asked to match students with a consultant best fit to assist. While many students of various majors visit the writing center, Armijo notices more students from specific majors.

“I’ve seen a lot of nursing majors because they have a lot of big research papers and major projects in that major. Also some computer science majors, and a lot of majors where writing is not the central focus of it, so you get a writing project and you’re not really familiar with a lot of the writing strategies, because that’s not what your major is focused on,” Armijo said.

Armijo is one of the more recent additions to the OUWC roster, as she joined during the Fall Semester of 2023. Armijo explains her favorite part about helping around the Writing Center.

“I would say my favorite part about the writing center is probably feeling like you’re actually helping somebody on some level,” Armijo said.

“Whether that’s helping with the transition into college or just helping come up with an idea for a project, I think that’s a nice aspect of it.”

To learn more about the OUWC and to set up an appointment, please visit its OU webpage. For helpful tips and tricks to help improve writing, please visit the OUWC YouTube channel at www. youtube.com/@OaklandUWC.

FEATURES

6 | JANUARY 31, 2024

WXOU Program Director Andrew Deacon talks student involvement DAYSHAWN FIELDS Features Reporter

however I could. [During] my freshman year I attended a ton of different clubs and events until I found my

Andrew Deacon has taken up many leadership roles

place at WXOU. Now my current positions at WXOU

on campus. The Oakland University junior’s tenacity in

and in Housing involve helping new students find their

making the most of his college experience is a testament

place at Oakland University, so things have kind of

to the benefits of student involvement on campus.

come full circle in that regard.

Deacon came to OU with prior experience in student

“While I didn’t see myself being where I am today

leadership. In high school, he served on the student

before I came to Oakland, I definitely knew I wanted

body leadership team. Through the role, he made an

to make the most of my college experience and get

effort to better the school environment for himself and

involved wherever I could.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF WXOU

to radio broadcasting.

When students get involved on campus, they may

“The funniest thing about all of this is I’m an actuarial

“I think I’ve always been a student leader, dating

positively impact the organizations that they join.

science major, and aside from my involvement in the

back to high school,” Deacon said. “I started off by

However, there are also personal and professional

Society of Actuaries at Oakland, my major has nothing

joining Student Government back in my freshman

benefits to be derived from such opportunities. Deacon

to do with anything else I do here. I think that speaks

year just because my brother was in it, but that small

speaks to the benefits of joining campus organizations.

to how anybody, no matter your major, can take a step

choice helped me get out of my shell and try other

“In WXOU and Oakland Housing, I have been given

out of their comfort zone and go do things that interest

an opportunity to grow personally and professionally

them,” Deacon said. “Most of the students on WXOU

“I was big in my school’s performing arts

in ways I wouldn’t have been able to without them,”

had no broadcast experience prior to our station, and

department, I was the drama club president and founder

Deacon said. “Being at a commuter school, it is hard

have a range of majors outside communications. There

of an acapella group, as well as team captain of a state-

to make friends just by hanging around or going to

is so much to offer here at Oakland, why stick to only

champion eSports team during the pandemic, and vice

classes. My positions at WXOU and Oakland Housing

what you’ll be doing for the rest of your life [and] in

president of our ping pong club. I definitely liked to

have helped me meet people I normally wouldn’t have

your career?”

keep busy.”

run into, and most of my lasting friendships at Oakland

his peers.

things I enjoyed.

Deacon stresses the importance of students taking advantage of leadership and involvement opportunities

have come from these organizations, aside from just giving me something to do.

Deacon ended with some advice for those who are looking to get more involved in campus groups.

“I recommend keeping an eye out on social media.

offered to them at college. Through his leadership roles

“Being involved on campus has given me the

I found one of my new favorite clubs this semester,

at WXOU and OU Housing, Deacon was able to find

opportunity to develop professional skills, such as

Grizz Balls Pool Club, from the Oakland University

himself and his calling.

communication, teamwork, responsibility and time

Snapchat story. My advice to all students, though, is to

“I am a firm believer that every single student in

management, as well as experiences that I’ve brought

make the most of your time, and you will enjoy your

college should take this incredible opportunity to try

up in interviews for internships. For students with little

time at Oakland far more than if you sit around doing

as many things as available to them. After all, you’re

work experience, getting involved in a club on campus

nothing. Go to some events on campus, and join a club,

paying for it in your tuition,” Deacon said. “Before

could help build the skills you need to help land your

you won’t regret it,” Deacon said.

coming to Oakland, I knew that I wanted to try new

first big job.”

things that I hadn’t done before and get involved

Deacon believes that getting involved should know no limits. Like many at WXOU, his major relates little

Students can learn more about organizations and clubs at OU on the GrizzOrgs webpage.

FEATURES

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 7

2024 Keeper of the Dream Award recipient: Tayion Williams NOAH FRANCIS Features reporter

Before he made it to Oakland University and found his passion for Film Studies and Production, Tayion Williams grew up on the east side of Detroit.

During his time at Cass Technical High School, Williams studied graphic design. Although he displays high academic prowess in his studies at OU through his love of filmmaking, Williams initially struggled to find his strengths in school.

“I was a terrible student in high school,” Williams said. “I did the bare minimum to get by. [Throughout college], I’ve really turned my grades around, and I’ve loved every part of filmmaking and every aspect of it.”

One driving force that helped push Williams to improve himself and ultimately led him to apply for the Keeper of the Dream Scholarship is VaNessa Thompson, CORE coordinator and a member of the Center of Multicultural Initiatives (CMI), whom Williams met when he first started at OU. “Compared to my high school where I was by far in the [racial] majority, it was a real culture shock,” Williams said. “She helped me a lot when it came to getting acclimated on campus. She helped me spread my wings and be more vocal and active on campus.”

While the process of applying for the Keeper of the Dream Scholarship requires each candidate to complete numerous steps, Williams explained that the most important part of the process happens at the beginning.

“A big part of it is that I feel like a lot of people skip over the initial paper just because it’s so short you think nothing of it,” Williams said. “It’s a really good opportunity to sell yourself to these people who may not have ever heard of you.”

Although he was denied the scholarship last year,

Williams was able to apply again with a tip that pushed him forward.

“I’d say if you don’t get it, don’t get discouraged,” Williams said. “It might not be your time, but your time will come along as long as you don’t give up.”

For Williams, he embodies the spirit of the Keeper of the Dream Award because of his late mother, and the lessons she taught him.

“Dr. King said it best, ‘Judge people not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,’” Williams said. “My mother used to always tell me, ‘Don’t judge people by their worst mistake but by their greatest achievement.’

So instead of seeing the bad in somebody or the negative in a situation, always be a glass-half-full type of person. I try my hardest every day to be better than I was before and to give everybody a fair shot.”

Although he still has a year left before graduation, Williams’ plan once he graduates from OU is to get a job on campus, working with videography and marketing to gain more experience. Eventually, he would like to move to Toronto and eventually live out his dream of working on festival programming for the Toronto International Film Festival.

COURTESY OF THE OAKLAND PRESS

Trey Townsend named Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week DAYSHAWN FIELDS Features Reporter

Trey Townsend arrived at Oakland University in 2020. Raised in Oxford, Michigan by two former OU basketball players, Townsend was destined for greatest on the court. Townsend’s deep OU basketball lineage and his strong work ethic as a player have allowed the Golden Grizzly forward to make a name for himself on the blacktop.

On Jan. 8, Townsend was named the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.

PHOTO BY KATIE REID

This was Townsend’s first time holding the prestigious title.

Townsend posted averages of 28 PPG, 9.5 RPG and 3 APG prior to receiving the award. Townsend’s performance catapulted the Golden Grizzlies to a six-game winning streak.

Greg Kampe spoke of Townsend’s resolve and the steadiness he displayed on the last Greg Kampe Show.

“Trey talked to them about that [leadership], and we went into that game as focused as could be,” Kampe said.

“That game” took place on Jan. 13, serving as the fifth game in Oakland’s six-game win streak. It was this resolve and leadership that saw Thompson post 28 points in back-to-back games.

For Townsend, stardom was never a guarantee early. During his sophomore year, however, the page began to turn. Thompson went from an 8 PPG scorer as a freshman to 16.5 PPG in his sophomore season.

It all comes down to development for the comboforward. In 2021, he had to adapt his game for the core Oakland had that season. Now, he is doing everything that Coach Kampe and the rest of the program envisioned he’d become.

“Trey Townsend stepped out and made a couple of threes, I’m sure their coach is over there going ‘What the hell is that?’ We recruited Trey as a three-point shooter, not as a post player, but we’ve turned him into that because that’s what we need from this group. But his future here is going to be more perimeter-oriented,” Kampe said in a 2021

GrizzVision.

That future Kampe spoke of is now, and the perimeter-centric offense needed from Townsend has been delivered. Coaches are no longer surprised when the forward hoists threes, as he shoots 38% from 3-point range.

Townsend’s steady upward trajectory and basketball lineage at the university are everything the men’s basketball program and the university aspire for.

“You’ve got to stay old,” Kampe said in the team’s 2023 preview presser. “It’s been a while since we’ve gotten guys in the program who are 3and 4-year players, now we’ve got a multitude of that [in players like Townsend].”

Townsend and the Golden Grizzlies are looking to take the momentum from their six-game winning streak and Townsend’s award into February. Perhaps the most crucial month in all of college basketball, February is a month that has not been of prestige for Oakland in the past two seasons.

“We’ve got leadership in these two guys [Townsend and Blake Lampman]. The last two February’s haven’t gone our way,” Kampe said.

The future is uncertain for the Golden Grizzlies men’s basketball team as they head into their February schedule. However, the team and coaches feel lucky to have Townsend on their side.

FEATURES

8 | JANUARY 31, 2024

Community research immersion with the city of Pontiac ANGELINA TOMA Contributor

As Oakland University continues to progress as a research-based institution, an area of research most students are new to learning is community-based participatory research.

This method of research is addressed within Oakland University’s department of psychology and led by psychologists Dr. Martha Escobar and Dr. Mark Manning. The Community Research Immersion Success Program, CRISP, focuses on developing research initiatives within the city of Pontiac.

The program invests in interested students working with the citizens, scientists and senior citizens, from Pontiac to identify structural barriers and focus on the well-being of the community.

“We had been discussing for a while involving our students in some sort of activity that will take them into the community,” Escobar said. “We are both interested in interventions that are communityfocused, and this was a great opportunity to implement them. It was an idea I had for a while, which was to reach out to the people of Pontiac and establish a long-term collaboration with the city in a way that we will bring students and work with them.”

This program is valuable, as it allows students to gain research experience within the community and creates a space for experimental learning.

“Fall semester was a lot of introductions to what

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRODY LOSH

community-based participatory research is, it was a lot of background training in this research framework and why it’s important and then semester two is to dive right in,” Manning said.

This past semester initiated the relationship with the senior center and its citizens in Pontiac.

“We initially just did an information session in the city of Pontiac, we had set up to talk to whoever was interested in possibly conducting research within the community, we connected with the health department and with them decided to reach out to one of the senior citizen centers in Pontiac,” Escobar said. “The seniors will come up with the ideas, our role is to guide them through a scientific process and do that in a systematic organized, and controlled manner. The outcome is going to hopefully be some

sort of local solution to that problem. The research process grows from the community and goes back to the community.”

Allowing the community to frame questions allows the students to understand the seniors’ differences and perspectives, allowing both the senior citizens and students to learn from one another.

“What we prioritize is the importance of respecting the different valuable viewpoints that all members of this partnership are bringing together,” Manning said. “We expect our students to be honest and eager about working with the Pontiac community, and being open to new experiences and communities you might not have thought you’d be working with, approaching it with an expectation of humility.”

“They are going to be fully open-minded to allowing someone else to set the rules of the process and are going to be humble enough to ask for assistance and guidance,” Escobar said.

This semester, Escobar and Manning, plan to spend time deciphering the over-arching research question of the study. This process resembles a laboratorybased function with all members working with one another and discussing methodologies to address the problem.

For interested students in the CRISP course, further information can be found by emailing marthaescobar@oakland.edu or markmanning@oakland.edu.

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Richard J. Burke Lecture i n Ph i l o s o p h y, R e l i g i o n a n d S o c i e t y Designed to tackle some of today’s compelling issues — from war to religion to sexual ethics — the Richard J. Burke Lecture in Philosophy, Religion and Society sparks serious, thought-provoking discussions between scholars, students and the community.

Join us for this thought-provoking lecture. Admission is free, but reservations are requested.

To reserve your space, email zimmerm2@oakland.edu or call (248) 370-3390.

DAVID CHALMERS discusses

Can ChatGPT think?

March 6, 2024 | 7 – 9 p.m.

Oakland Center Gold Rooms A, B and C Generative AI systems, such as ChatGPT and its many relatives, have taken the world by storm.

They show a variety of impressive abilities that would require intelligence if done by humans.

But is ChatGPT really intelligent? Can it understand what it says? Is it conscious?

Can it think? These are difficult questions that require philosophical analysis.

Chalmers will address some aspects of these questions.

DAVID CHALMERS is a university professor of Philosophy and Neural Science and co-director of the Center for Mind, Brain and Consciousness at New York University.

He is the author of “The Conscious Mind,” “Constructing The World” and “Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy.” He is known for formulating the hard problem of consciousness, which inspired Tom Stoppard’s play “The Hard Problem,” and for the idea of the “extended mind,” which says that the tools we use can become parts of our minds.

ABOUT RICHARD J. BURKE (1932-2012) As the first faculty member hired at Oakland University, Richard Burke watched OU evolve from promising beginnings to a present day filled with possibility. To help bring those possibilities to fruition, he established the annual Richard J. Burke Lecture in Philosophy, Religion and Society.

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‘America Through Our Lens:’

Kaleidoscope theatre’s intersectional look into America

Directed by Sarita Alvarado, “America Through Our Lens” is the Oakland University Kaleidoscope Cabaret Theatre’s second annual performance. It is an inspirational look into the global majority of America and the world.

Kaleidoscope is made up of marginalized theater students of color, but it also intersects with queer students and students of a variety of different gender identities. It aims to give a voice to these students typically silenced by a eurocentric narrative — as described by Kaleidoscope’s Instagram.

“America Through Our Lens” was brought to audiences January 27 and 28 with matineée and evening showings showcasing the talents of many theater students of color, including the group’s vice president and assistant director of “America Through Our Lens,” Tuger Xiong — who is also a recipient of the Keeper of the Dream scholarship in 2024.

“Even if the world does not accept us for who we are, even if we’re not represented, we have a voice, we can take the stage, we can literally make our own art, make our own stage — just like Kaleidoscope does,” Xiong said.

During one of Kaleidoscope’s numbers, “I’ll Cover You” from the musical “Rent,” Tuger took the stage with Yeshua Hardy and put on an absolutely wonderfully choreographed and sung performance.

This rendition of “I’ll Cover You” broke barriers not only with theater students of color but also queer theater students. This intersection is at the heart of Kaleidoscope’s message.

Kaleidoscope’s performance was mainly a mix of musical theater numbers, dramatic scenes and dances to modern songs such as “American Idiot” by Green Day, and “America Has a Problem” by Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar.

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The troupe was also accompanied by a live band consisting of drums, bass, guitar and the director of choreography on keys.

In my opinion, the band was a little underutilized in certain aspects. There were moments where there was some clipping and grain in the audio production, however, this is completely overshadowed by the standout performances by Christian Brannon, Gavin Carcamo, Yeshua Hardy, Tuger Xiong, Xiemena Perez, Destiny Booms and others.

“I just saw that the people of color were underutilized and underserved and I thought we needed to change that. I said, ‘Why can’t I be the one to do that,’” Alvarado said.

Alvarado’s advocacy and activism are prevalent in their direction. They gave proper spotlight to every performer in the troupe, giving them time to shine in scenes that played to their strengths.

All of the strife, angst, struggles and tribulations that Alvarado’s troupe managed to cover during its short, hour-long runtime, came to a head during their penultimate performance of “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” from the blockbuster LinManuel Miranda directed musical, “Hamilton.”

This song aptly brings together the string of different ideas and themes touched on throughout the performance and is a fitting conclusion to this year’s 2024 Kaleidoscope cabaret performance.

Alvarado hopes to pass the torch along to current vice president, Tuger Xiong and continue the vibrant and impactful performances of OU’s Kaleidoscope theatre for years to come.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Scan the QR Code to Register and Learn More bit.ly/OU_WCF24

Wednesday, February 7 | Noon - 3 p.m. | Oakland Center Interviews with select employers from 3 - 5 p.m.

Explore your potential in business, engineering, computer science, information technology, liberal arts and human resources.

ARTS The 2024 Sundance Film Festival: An overview MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter

It has been a big week for filmmakers and film enjoyers as the 40th Sundance Film Festival is back in town with exciting new films.

With 17,000 film submissions this year, 82 featurelength films are being screened at this year’s festival, showcasing films from all over the world between Jan. 18 and Jan. 28.

While the name Sundance first appeared in 1984, the first version of the film festival premiered in 1978 under the name Utah/U.S. Film Festival. Many travel far to visit this festival as it premieres some of the most anticipated films of the year — and this year is no different.

In past years, Sundance has been home to Academy Award winners and nominees, such as the current Best Picture nominee “Past Lives.” Buzz has been going around since the first night of the festival, however, claiming that no one film has been the frontrunner.

That being said, at this point, not all films lined up have been screened yet.

Critics have been raving about “A Real Pain.” The film stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin as two cousins who travel to Poland after their grandmother’s death and join a Holocaust tour. No public release date has been given, but Searchlight Pictures has acquired rights to the film.

Eisenberg wrote, directed and produced the film, and while it is only his second film, it won’t be the last.

“I already have my next movie, we’re already gearing

up. It’s a musical. and we’re in the early stages. I would like to do one [film] a year if I’m allowed,” Eisenberg said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Another film gaining traction is the documentary about actor Christopher Reeve, “Super/Man,” which details the actor’s trials and tribulations before, during and after his paralyzation.

“He was a champion for the disabled community, and Bonhôte and Ettedgui made it their mission to make that a focal point of the film, highlighting not just Reeve’s legacy but that of his children, who work to carry out his mission through The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation,” writer Stephanie Ornelas said in a blog for the Sundance Film Festival.

“Super/Man” received a standing ovation.

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 13

Some other critically acclaimed films that audiences should be aware of include “The Outrun” starring Saoirse Ronan, “Love Lies Bleeding” starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian and “I Saw the TV Glow” starring Justice Smith.

While feature films are one of the main draws of Sundance, it’s important to also turn attention to the short films, which make up most of the festival’s submissions.

“This has been another amazing year for shorts — most of the filmmakers in the program are coming to Sundance for the first time ever, and we are excited to get their films to audiences and the film industry,” senior programmer of Sundance Short Films Mike Plante said to the Sundance Institute.

53 shorts were selected, but the Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Grand Jury Prize went to Alex Lora Cercos for the short film “The Masterpiece.”

You can view the film, or any other short or featurelength films, on the Sundance website by purchasing online screening tickets. Ticket prices range from $25 to $3.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIPEDIA

‘Griselda’ — Netflix’s new creation GRACIE MURRAY Campus Reporter

A new TV mini-series named “Griselda” made its appearance on Netflix seems to have grabbed Netflix users’s attention.

“Griselda” premiered its 6-episode series on Thursday, Jan. 25. The show is a biographical crime drama and was rated 88% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.6/10 on IMDb. The show is based on the real-life drug lord Griselda Blanco. She was known as the “Cocaine Godmother.”

She was a central figure in the violent drug wars in Miami in the 1970s and 1980s.

The show tells the story of how Blanco creates one of the most successful cartels in history and how she became such a dominant drug lord. While also being a mother, Blanco balances and controls the underground world and family world.

For additional background on Blanco, it was believed that she began committing crimes at an early age. According to different sources, Blanco turned to pickpocketing and kidnapping.

Blanco kidnapped one boy. When the boy’s wealthy parents didn’t pay the ransom, she killed him. She was only 11.

Blanco ended up having three children with her first boyfriend at the age of 13 and one with her husband, Alberto Bravo, later on.

Blanco and Bravo, who was a drug trafficker, moved to New York City and started bringing drugs into the United States. With drug charges surfacing, Blanco and

Bravo decided to head back to Colombia in 1975.

When they returned, there were sneaking suspicions that Bravo was stealing some of the drug money. Eventually, Blanco became known as the “Black Widow.”

Later in the 1970s, Blanco made her appearance in Miami.

Blanco ended up becoming one of the world’s wealthiest drug traffickers. She was netting around $80 million per month and smuggling more than 3 tons of cocaine.

In 1984, Blanco moved to California. The following year she was arrested and transported to New York City to face the 1975 drug charges.

While receiving the 15-year prison sentence, she continued to run the drug world.

Blanco’s hitman, Jorge Ayala, agreed to testify against her. Blanco was involved in more than 200 murders but was ultimately charged with three murders.

Since Ayala’s credibility ended up being undermined, Blanco was willing to plead guilty to get the sentence reduced. Six years later, she was released and sent back to Colombia.

When Blanco returned home, there were rumors of her retiring from the life of crime. In 2012, Blanco was killed. She was outside a butcher shop when a gunman on a motorcycle drove by and shot her.

When made aware of Blanco’s death, the law enforcement personnel told newspapers that they had already thought she had been dead for years.

Blanco is played by Sofía Vergara, a well-known actress from TV shows such as “Modern Family,” “America’s Got Talent” and more. The show is now the highest-rated film or TV show that Vergara has starred in, ahead of even “Modern Family.”

According to the website Independent, a viewer wrote on X, “The person who thought Sofia Vergara would be perfect in the role of Griselda Blanco in #Griselda deserves an award.”

The show also stars Karol G, Vanessa Ferlito, Martín Rodriguez and more.

“Griselda” is now streaming on Netflix.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

14 | JANUARY 31, 2024

‘Wall of Eyes:’ Thom Yorke is not done yet CHELSEA BOSSERT Arts Reporter

The sentimentality of reviewing a Radiohead side project is certainly palpable. A variety of emotions come up when listening to the band: angst, wonder, peace, paranoia… but primarily grief.

When listening to Radiohead members Thom Yorke and Johnny Greenwood’s newest venture into a more mournful and psychedelic sound, you really feel the sadness oozing out of every musical crevice in this project.

The rock band The Smile consists of Greenwood on bass and keys, Yorke on guitar and vocals and notable British jazz drummer Tom Skinner. This linkup between modern rock legends led many to believe that Radiohead — as a band at least — was over.

That may or may not be true, however, I think that one can mourn the band while valuing the idea of it clearly living on with The Smile.

Taking their ambient, chamber-filled soundscape from “A Moon Shaped Pool” and the sleek vocal passages from cuts like “Nude” and “House of Cards” off the landmark Radiohead record, “In Rainbows,” Thom Yorke and company create a vivid sonic experience on “Wall of Eyes” that captivates listeners all the way from the beginning to the end.

The opening and penultimate tracks are clear standouts for me lyrically and aesthetically. The first track, “Wall of Eyes,” features an acoustic guitar, booming drums and string passages — along with Yorke’s falsetto vocals. It builds an

eerie background that welcomes the listener into the world of The Smile, and the next few tracks continue to envelop the audience.

“Is that still you?/With the hollow eyes/Change to black and white/So strap yourself in,” Yorke sings on “Wall of Eyes,” preparing those who listen to enter his world.

The penultimate track, “Bending Hectic” — which was released as the lead single — is a theatrical and sonic opus. The songwriting, composition and atmosphere are the most impressive on the record — along with its eight minute runtime.

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The whole track is a beautiful look into how we view our own death and how it is portrayed — and even sensationalized — in the media. “​​The ground is coming for me now/Wе’ve gone over the edge/If you’ve got something to say/Say it now,” Yorke sings on “Bending Hectic.”

This last verse sets us up for the chaotic finish not only for the song, but for Thom as well. A soaring guitar solo sends both Yorke and the listener over the edge as they plunge to their deaths.

The chorus includes references to Hamlet as well as other subtle nods to how death is sensationalized.

“Despite these slings/Despite these arrows/I’ll force myself to/Turn, turn,” Yorke sings in the chorus of “Bending Hectic.”

The last track, “You Know Me!” doesn’t quite bring the record to a halt, but rather slows the record down quite a bit and gives us a quaint finish.

My gripe with this album is that despite its grandiosity with its singles like “Bending Hectic,” “Wall of Eyes” and “Friend of a Friend,” the record doesn’t offer too much aside from that thematically.

However, it finishes strong and proves The Smile to be a confident successor to Radiohead.

Who knows though? Maybe the success of The Smile will bring Yorke and Greenwood back to Radiohead to finish just as strong as this record did.

Rating: 4/5 stars

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SKINNY

‘The Boy and the Heron:’ Another stunning display of art by Hayao Miyazaki MOE DEL ROSARIO Arts Reporter

Studio Ghibli is known for its beautiful films with deep meanings and lovable characters. “The Boy and the Heron” follows that same recipe and delivers another tale that can capture any audience member, even if this is their first Ghibli film.

First released on July 14, 2023 in Japan, followed by its international release on Dec. 8, 2023, “The Boy and the Heron” had no promotion — including casting, plot or trailers — before its theater release.

Despite this, the film grossed $13.2 million on its opening weekend in Japan and $12.8 million on its opening weekend in the United States. It also made new records, like becoming the first original anime title to reach #1 at the U.S. box office.

For good reason, too. The film has been praised by critics and audiences alike, and overall has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes by critics and an 88% audience score.

I personally really enjoyed watching this film.

I’ve always been a Studio Ghibli fan, so I had high hopes when I watched “The Boy and the Heron” and was not disappointed. I ended up watching the movie twice in theaters — the first time with English subtitles and the second with the English dubbed version.

The film is well put together, and the story starts off simple with the audience following the main character, Mahito, around as he navigates life with his father and his new stepmom — his late mother’s

sister — all while Japan is in the middle of the Pacific War. The film was also semi-autobiographical.

“Miyazaki’s never done a film where he himself is the protagonist, so he felt that he needed to do that while he’s alive,” producer and Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki said in an interview with Deadline.

Gradually, the film becomes more fantastical with the introduction of the heron. The heron tells Mahito that his mother is alive and that Mahito has to save her. The two then venture into the forest where Mahito’s stepmom disappeared, and the adventure begins there.

Each character has a level of complexity that tags the audience along for the ride. Mahito, for example, is full of conflicting emotions that move the plot forward at a great pace and that keep the audience engaged.

Similarly, the heron is an annoying character at first, but eventually becomes a friend to Mahito and a likable guide to him.

The English dubbed version of the film has a stacked cast list. Some cast members include Robert Pattinson, Karen Fukuhara, Gemma Chan, Christian Bale, Florence Pugh, Mark Hamill and many other big names.

Each landscape and new setting was beautifully crafted and detailed, but I would expect nothing less from a Ghibli film.

“The Boy and the Heron” has been nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards ceremony this year.

I hope this isn’t the end of Hayao Miyazaki’s

films, and I wonder what he’ll do next if anything.

Only time will tell, but even if this was his last, he has such an impressive resume that he’ll be remembered for his groundbreaking work in animation for years to come.

“Well he’s been saying he’s not going to make any more films since Princess Mononoke, so I wasn’t really surprised and I didn’t feel that pressure that this might be the last film,” film composer Joe Hisaishi said in an interview with Paste Magazine.

I will be watching the Oscars and will greatly anticipate seeing where this nomination will go for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIEWEB

POLITICS

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 15

Argentinians initiate a general strike as their president targets unions and seeks austerity NOAH THOMASON Political Reporter

Argentina’s government has recently faced pressure from the state’s unions which have formed a general strike in response to the new government’s radical libertarian policies. Argentina recently swore in their new president Javier Milei in Dec. 2023 and he has promised to make significant, radical changes to Argentina, much to the dismay of unionized workers.

Milei is a libertarian with some extreme political views that diverge significantly from the views of previous administrations. Some of Milei’s beliefs include the legalization of organ trading, banning abortions, cutting back the administrative state and reducing protections for unions.

A general strike is a mobilization of workers from multiple industries, and it is usually organized by several unions that oppose current or worsening working and living conditions.

The general strike was organized by several unions, the largest being the General Confederation of Labor (CGT). The general strike is more akin to a mass protest since the strike lasted one day with thousands of union workers marching in protest against Milei’s anti-union government.

The unions worry if they do not take a stand now that their ability to negotiate in the future could drop dramatically.

With tens of thousands of striking workers, the immediate effect of the protest was the halting of most air travel in Argentina and the blocking off of

streets as protesters took to them. The disruption of the movement led to discussions of enforcing protocols meant to prevent protests and picketing as the Ministry of Security promised to use its anti-blockade protocols to control the protests.

While this is one of the largest public demonstrations in Argentina’s history, it is unlikely that the general strike will have a significant impact on the political change Milei hopes to enact since the demonstration was short-lasting.

The austerity politics of Milei and the protests against him are a result of significant economic turmoil in Argentina, which experienced a 21% inflation increase in 2023 according to the National Institute for Statistics and Censuses. Argentina’s inflation is the largest of any

Latin American country and Argentina’s citizens have certainly felt the impacts of inflation.

Argentines looked to Milei as a disruptor of the status quo which some feel has led to rising inflation.

Milei’s plans were extreme to most people, but with the worsening economic situation, some felt it was time to take a risk on an unproven candidate and ideology.

The immediate effects of Milei’s policy have been largely negative for most Argentines. Milei’s first major policy for combating inflation was to devalue Argentina’s currency by 54 % which has significantly impacted the average consumer spending power.

The new administration hopes this policy turnaround against welfare and in favor of privatization will entice the International Monetary Fund to give loans to Argentina as the IMF requires states to reduce their deficits. This deficit reduction usually comes from cutting social welfare spending which often harms the social and economic rights of people in developing countries.

There needs to be more time to see the long-term impacts of Milei’s policies on Argentina’s economy but what can be seen is the rapid and extreme changes that Milei’s government is trying to implement while protests go on. Milei attempted to pass an omnibus bill that was comprised of over 600 articles, some of which included restrictions on protesting rights among economic and administrative changes according to Al Jazeera.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RODRIGO ABD

The race for the primaries MALLORY WALIGORA Political Reporter

Michigan’s primary elections are set to take place on Feb. 27, 2024.

The race for the president has heated up in recent weeks, with several candidates dropping out or falling out in the polls. The two nomination spots remain unconfirmed. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will likely battle in the fall, though other candidates remain in the race.

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson released the 2024 presidential primary ballot for Michigan. A list of all candidates are available for the public to look at. These candidates are generally advocated by the national news media to be potential candidates for president.

Along with the candidates listed on the ballot, voters can choose an “uncommitted” option and fill in another choice. The Democratic Party lists Biden, Dean Phillips and Marianne Williamson on the ballot. Williamson visited Oakland University last fall. Her event covered topics such as America’s economic system and student loan debt.

The list of Republican candidates is longer. Doug Burgum, Chris Christie, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy and Trump are all listed. However, this information is outdated- Ron DeSantis dropped out of the presidential race on Jan. 21 and endorsed Trump.

Some voters have concerns over Trump’s legal issues, as they have taken the media by storm. Concerns over the legitimacy of his candidacy loom large.

“Two months ago, I made clear that under Michigan law, anyone generally advocated by the national news media to be a candidate for the Republican or Democratic nomination for president is listed on the ballot for the Feb. 2024 primary unless a court rules otherwise,” Benson said.

Michigan is vital to the presidential election this fall. Donald Trump shockingly won the state in 2016 against projections. But in 2020, he lost the state. The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled to keep Trump in the 2024 election. The court refused to review lower court decisions confirming that Trump can stay on the ballot despite the insurrection clause many lawyers have brought up.

The Iowa and the New Hampshire primaries were vital to Republican candidates. Haley and Trump were left as the last two major candidates. The South Carolina primaries will take place on Feb. 3 for the Democratic primary and Feb. 24 for the Republican primary.

Although unlikely, within this time it is possible that Haley could gain more traction. She faces a daunting and tough battle ahead — this is her make-or-break moment. Being the governor of South Carolina, it seems that this state would prove to be an easy win for her, but polling suggests otherwise. Donald Trump is polling 30 points ahead of Haley in her home state.

“Nikki’s got the courage to continue on. She would have liked to have done better in both New Hampshire and Iowa. But it is what it is, and she’s willing to put the work in. And I’m with her,” Representative Ralph Norman said.

The race is in full swing, as voters in the Republican party have to choose between Haley or Trump. Voters

who supported DeSantis are disappointed by the oncepromising candidate and are left to choose between the remaining candidates. Joe Biden remains a strong candidate for the Democratic nomination, but many express concern over his old age.

PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY NEWS

16 | JANUARY 31, 2024

South Africa takes Israel to court MALLORY WALIGORA, NOAH THOMASON Political Reporters

In the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, a record accusation has been filed.

On Jan 11. South Africa brought Israel to the International Court of Justice and asked the court to rule on the claim that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The ICJ is the judicial organ of the United Nations that handles legal disputes between countries. While the ICJ alone cannot put an end to the Israeli-Palestine conflict, its ruling on the matter is significant to members of the international community.

The Genocide Convention serves as the legal code that recognizes genocide as a crime under international law. The court will be deciding on whether Israel has been following its obligations.

Article II of the convention directly spells out the legal definition of genocide.

“In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group,” the convention reads.

Historically, the Genocide Convention served as a historical legal advancement in light of the atrocities of World War II. The convention was ratified in Dec. 1948, reflecting the immediate responses to the Holocaust. The Nuremberg trials also served as a pivotal event focused on promoting justice as well as ensuring a safer future. Many have pointed to the irony of a Jewish state being charged with the exact convention meant to prevent events such as the Holocaust.

Although South Africa is miles away from the Israel-Hamas conflict, a personal cause ties them to this accusation. South Africa has a deep history

with apartheid and has been a famous supporter of the Palestinians.

Following his release from prison in the 1990s, Nelson Mandela famously met with Palestinian leader Yassar Arafat and kissed him on the cheek. The solidarity between the two men serves as a metaphor for Palestinian-South African relations today.

One of the major issues of the case is that the ICJ is a United Nations tribunal that only hears cases between states. This means that international players who are not considered countries by the United Nations cannot be brought to court. So that means legally, Hamas cannot be brought to the ICJ. Even if it was possible, it’s doubtful that leaders of Hamas would willingly show up to court. Hamas is not party to the convention, and therefore cannot legally be tried for not following the obligations under said treaty.

South Africa has alleged that Israel’s military has attempted to destroy the people of Gaza. The plaintiff’s arguments have asserted the point that Israel has repeatedly shown its genocidal intent.

Under international law, intent is the sole deciding factor of whether an action is considered genocide.

“Israel’s political leaders, military commanders and persons holding official positions have systematically, and in explicit terms, declared their genocidal intent,” plaintiffs argued.

Plaintiffs have cited sources of civilian violence in addition to civilians being targeted in attacks.

Consistent bombings and harsh living conditions in Gaza were used as evidence.

“They are killed in their homes, in places where they seek shelter, in hospitals, in schools, in mosques, in churches and as they try to find food and water for their families,” plaintiffs said.

Defendants have reframed the story on Hamas.

The Oct. 7 attacks have proved to be both a pivotal and emotional event in the conflict.

“The events of that day are all but ignored in the applicant’s submissions. But we are compelled to share with the court some fraction of its horror. The largest calculated mass murder of Jews in a single day since the Holocaust,” defendants said.

Israeli defendants also argued that Hamas is committing genocide against the state of Israel

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANP

POLITICS through the conflict. Hamas has been endangering civilians by using them for war tactics and strategies. Specifically, Hamas is housing military operations underneath civilian areas. This strategy, often coined as human shields, violates the Geneva Convention. This strategic logic plays on the media’s sensitivity towards civilian casualties.

“Moreover, despite the Israeli public’s high level of support for the Israeli political and military leadership during operations, civilian casualties are one of the friction points between Israeli left-wing and rightwing supporters, with the former questioning the outcomes of the operation,” NATO reported.

The ruling on provisional measures was announced Friday, Jan. 26. The ruling announced that in a vote of 15 to 2, Israel must immediately take effective measures to improve the humanitarian situation for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The court ordered six provisional measures to prevent genocidal acts.

A notable exception in the ruling was the omission of a ceasefire and halt of military action in Gaza.

Without a ceasefire, it will be all but impossible to guarantee that a genocide will not be carried out

by Israeli armed forces and aid to Gaza is still likely to be heavily restricted.

Even if the court had ruled that Israel must end all military action in Gaza, the ruling would not force the conflict to a halt. This is because, in practice, the ICJ court rulings have no enforcement mechanism as seen with Russia ignoring the ICJ ruling that Russia must end its invasion of Ukraine.

While the ICJ’s ruling likely will not have immediate impacts on the invasion, the ruling further indicates the growing disapproval of Israel’s actions in Gaza. If global opinion on Israel’s invasion sours enough it might affect the actions of the United States, which has been Israel’s largest and staunchest ally. Without support from the United States, Israel would likely no longer be able to materially continue the war.

As the Israel-Hamas conflict continues, Israeli strategies are likely to be modified to follow accordance with the ruling.

More information on the provisions requested of Israel in the ICJ by South Africa and the court’s rulings can be found in a file provided by the ICJ.

POLITICS

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 17

Michigan and Ohioan Republican Representatives discuss gender-affirming care in leaked audio KAYLAH SNELL Political Reporter

On Jan. 26, 2024, at approximately 5:51 p.m., an audio recording leaked of an “X Space” (an audio-only way to communicate via X) hosted by Representative Brad Paquette of the Michigan State House of Representatives, representing the 37th House District, revealed Representative Paquette, Representative Schriver (H-66, R), and Representative Kunse (H-100, R) discussing transgender gender-affirming care with Senators Johnathen Lindsey (S-17, R) and Senator Lana Theis (S-22, R) as well as Ohioan Representative Gary Click (OH, H-88, R). They also hosted Prisha Mosely, a detransitioned woman who spoke out against gender-affirming care.

In the leaked audio, Rep. Josh Schriver said, “In terms of end game, why are we allowing these practices for anyone? Why would we stop this for anyone under 18, but not apply this for anyone over 18? This is harmful across the board, and I think it’s something that we need to take into consideration for the end-game.”

This prompted a response from Representative Gary Click of Ohio, with him saying, “Rep. Schriver, that’s very smart thought there, and I think sometimes what we know legislatively that we have to take sometimes small bites. And I think the thing we can say for minors is that sometimes they are not, they are not capable of providing informed consent.”

The sound continues with the representative listing things minors cannot do, as he voices support for the thought, advocating that “puberty is the natural cure for

this. 89-95% of kids who have gender dysphoria will desist after they go through puberty.”

Another issue brought up in the clip is that there are no longitudinal studies done on trans individuals.

Representative Josh Schrivner brought up the issue of consent, saying that individuals who seek genderaffirming care “Consent to mutilation, consent to self-harm, and consent to killing themselves. There’s not a lot, but a large group of people want to legally be able to consent to killing themselves like they do in Canada.”

He says that in addition to restricting children’s access to gender-affirming services, focus should start

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIMES OF INDIA

to shift towards attesting to adults.

In their debates, Representative Click advocated for a slow and steady approach to continue to reach this alleged “endgame.” He says, “The bible teaches us we must be wise as serpents and soft as doves, so we must figure out how to get a foot in the door and go for what you can get passed to get that passed then go for the next bite.”

Prisha Mosely chose this point to speak up, agreeing with Representative Click for a slow and steady approach. She claimed that children and the “gravely ill or mentally unwell” couldn’t give consent to such procedures, to the praise of all the representatives in the space.

Mosely also advocated that gender-affirming care was, in her words, a lie, since it is being offered as an alternative to suicide for transgender individuals.

“It is a lie. It’s lying about the effects,” Mosely said.

“It’s saying it’s a straight-up cure for every bad feeling you’ve ever had.”

The space then continued, attesting to how new and experimental the treatments were, and advocating for the complete discontinuance of such treatments.

The 1 hour and 13 minute X Space was automatically made public after its conclusion. During the live space, there was limited access, and the public could not listen in.

The Space is still up for viewing on Brad Paquette’s X account, on the handle @BradPaquetteMI.

18 | JANUARY 31, 2024

Lions’ Super Bowl surge stops in San Francisco BROCK HEILIG Sports Editor

Plane tickets were booked. Hotel reservations were made. The curse had been lifted.

The Detroit Lions — and their elite fanbase — were going to the Super Bowl.

Until they weren’t.

Detroit held a 17-point lead at halftime against the No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers, and a trip to Super Bowl LVIII seemed like a near-guarantee. The Lions continually gashed the ‘Niners on the ground in the first half, and it didn’t seem like there was anything the opposition could do to stop it.

David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs and Jameson Williams all rushed for a touchdown in the first half, and all three players had rushed for more yards than likely MVP runner-up Christian McCaffrey by halftime.

All the defense had to do in the second half was hold serve, and Detroit would be on its way to its first Super Bowl in franchise history.

But the serve was not held.

In fact, it was like the Lions were broken at love (Please excuse the tennis reference — I just finished watching two weeks’ worth of the Australian Open).

San Francisco kicker Jake Moody connected on a 43yard field goal to start the second-half rout.

Josh Reynolds then dropped a fourth-downand-two pass from Jared Goff, and things quickly unraveled afterward.

A 51-yard miracle completion from Brock Purdy to Brandon Aiyuk set up another 49ers touchdown. Gibbs then fumbled on Detroit’s first play of the ensuing possession, and McCaffrey

scored four plays later to tie the game at 24.

The 14-point lead evaporated in the blink of an eye, and momentum was seemingly more one-sided than it had been for any team at any point throughout the season.

Detroit had a few more opportunities of its own during the remainder of the game, but San Francisco flexed its muscles late to put the Lions away.

Suddenly, just two hours after making travel plans to attend the Super Bowl — which I sincerely hope no one actually did, that would have been stupid — ambitious Lions fans were forced to hold back tears as they looked for refunds and reimbursements.

Although the 2023 season was arguably the best season in modern franchise history and one that will be remembered forever, it’s hard not to look at Sunday’s loss as a ghost of the past that came back to haunt the Lions yet again.

It’s one of sports’ greatest phenomena.

From a macro perspective, the Lions had a fantastic season. They finished the year 14-6, won the NFC North for the first time ever and won not one but two playoff games.

In just the third year of the Dan Campbell era, the franchise clearly has a quarterback, a young core to build around and a hopeful future.

But from a micro perspective, blowing a 17-point halftime lead on the road in the NFC Championship game is about as tough to swallow as dry toast or potato chips are for a person with strep throat.

The game was simply right there for the taking.

If only Josh Reynolds caught that pass.

Or if only Josh Reynolds caught that other pass.

Or if only Kindle Vildor caught the should’ve-been interception that bounced off his helmet.

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Or if only Gibbs hadn’t fumbled when the 49ers already had all the momentum.

Or if only Campbell elected to kick a field goal rather than going for it late in the fourth quarter.

Or if only the Lions didn’t stupidly and inexplicably burn a timeout on their last drive of the game.

In the end, there were too many if-onlys and not enough points on the board for the Lions.

Sure, it was a great season — Detroit was essentially playing with house money there at the end, and many, if not all, fans had already deemed the season a success — but what Campbell told his team in the locker room after the game is exactly right.

It’s only going to be harder in the coming years.

Jordan Love and the Packers are surging — the Vikings are likely to draft a rookie quarterback in the NFL Draft, the Cowboys will once again be extremely talented, and Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will likely bounce back after self-imploding late in the season.

That’s four NFC teams that will be hunting you next season, and that doesn’t even mention the three teams you faced — and battled with down to the wire — in the playoffs.

These playoff games can go either way. These teams make the playoffs for a reason.

Making the conference championship is tough, no matter what anyone says. Sure, over the last few years, the 49ers and Chiefs have made a habit of playing for the right to go to the Super Bowl, but those teams are perennial contenders.

Are the Lions on that level? No. Not yet, at least.

Oakland women’s basketball faces tough defeat against Cleveland State KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Reporter

The Oakland women’s basketball team fell in defeat to the Cleveland State University (CSU) Vikings at the OU Credit Union O’rena on Thursday, Jan. 25, with a final score of 77-65.

Notably, this loss marks the 12th loss in a row for the Grizzlies when they match up against CSU. Brooke Quarles-Daniels led the Grizzlies in points and rebounds, knocking down seven of her 12 attempts for 15 points while coming down with seven rebounds. Notably, Quarles-Daniels played all 40 minutes for OU and also tallied three assists and three steals.

In addition to Quarles-Daniels, Linda van Schaik, Maddy Skorupski, Markyia McCormick and Miriam Ibezim also tallied double-digit scoring efforts. Skorupski and McCormick weren’t shy on the defensive side either, as Skorupski had a team-high seven steals while McCormick came away with a pair of steals.

The Vikings got on the scoreboard first, finishing a layup down low. However, Ibezim responded on the next possession for the Grizzlies. Ibezim brought in an offensive rebound and converted down low before getting fouled and putting OU ahead with a free throw at the charity stripe.

Despite taking the early lead, CSU could not crack the OU defense following their first make.

The Grizzlies forced the Vikings to make some poor inbound passes and prevented CSU from

PHOTO BY GOLDEN GRIZZLIES

getting open looks in the paint.

As for the Grizzlies, the team was the polar opposite of the Vikings on the offensive side. OU scored all of its points in the paint or at the free throw line through the first five minutes of the first quarter.

Following a media timeout, CSU got things going on offense, scoring ten points in the quarter’s final five minutes. However, OU had no problem scoring either. The Grizzlies converted three of their four attempts from deep in the quarter’s final minutes, and OU led the Vikings 19-12 at the end of the first.

To start the second quarter, the Vikings began to chip into the Grizzlies lead as the spark of offense the team saw at the end of the first carried over. Additionally, CSU tightened up on the

defensive side, holding OU to just four points in the quarter’s first five minutes.

For the rest of the second, both teams remained evenly matched, as neither the Grizzlies nor the Vikings could form any serious offensive runs or shut out their opponent on defense. However, the Vikings continued to cut into the OU lead, and the Grizzlies went into halftime leading 34-32.

At the start of the third quarter, the Vikings hit two straight layups to take back the lead over the Grizzlies for the first time since the game started. Following the conversions, CSU did not look back.

The Vikings were in complete control of the rest of the third, holding the Grizzlies to just ten points the entire quarter. CSU’s impressive defense also contributed directly to the scoreboard, as the Vikings tallied eight fast break points in the quarter as the Grizzlies trailed 58-43.

In the fourth quarter, OU showed some signs of life despite being down 15 points. At one point, OU came within 10 points of the Vikings.

However, CSU’s large lead to start the fourth was too much for the Grizzlies to overcome, and OU ultimately lost.

The Grizzlies will play their next two games on the road, starting with the Wright State Raiders on Wednesday, Jan. 31. After that, the team will travel south on Friday, Feb. 2, to battle with the Northern Kentucky Norse.

SPORTS Good things come in threes: Meet Jack Gohlke EVAN BLANCHARD Sports Reporter

While working at Oakland’s men’s basketball summer camp this past July, I listened to coach Greg Kampe address a crowd of young kids around lunch time. He told them, “if you can shoot the ball, you can play anywhere.”

I turned to newcomer Jack Gohlke and laughed with him. It was as if coach Kampe had said this with Gohlke in mind.

Gohlke has certainly lived up to any expectation that coach had of him. He is currently 31st in the nation in 3-pointers made with 55. Earlier in the season against Xavier, commentator Matt Schumacher said on the broadcast, “[Gohlke] is the nation’s best 3-point shooter.” At the time of that game, Gohlke led the nation in 3-pointers made.

So how does a bona fide college marksman get to that level of success? Like all great athletes, it came from hours of practicing as a kid.

Gohlke spent three to four days a week practicing with local coaches or with his AAU team, working on not only shooting, but everything else he would need to become a college player. It was with his AAU coach that he developed his unorthodox jumper. As the old saying goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (the leg kick for offensive fouls would come later).

At 15 years old, Gohlke’s goal was to get a scholarship to play at the biggest school he could.

“My goal was always to get an athletic scholarship,” Gohlke said. “My parents invested a

lot into me as an athlete and I wanted to pay that back to them.”

It was with this attitude of thankfulness that he accepted a scholarship to attend Hillsdale out of high school. The coaches invested a lot of time and care into recruiting Jack, showing their commitment to him at an early stage in his recruitment.

He’d spent five years there, one of which was a redshirt year. By the time Gohlke was a senior, he averaged 14.2 points per game while shooting 40% from three. In his junior year, he hit a go-ahead three to send Hillsdale to the Division 2 Elite Eight.

Gohlke credits the time he had at Hillsdale for developing him into the player he is now but still believes he would’ve been as successful if he started at Oakland.

“Because of the way I worked and the way that the coaches were at Hillsdale and are here, I think I would have had a similar career,” he said.

That same confidence showed through when he came to Oakland. Going from playing in front of a couple thousand people to crowded Big Ten stadiums is no small task. But Gohlke was up for the challenge, taking a total of 24 3-pointers between his first two games at Ohio State and Illinois.

Some shooting nights are better than others, as they always are, but it’s the unwavering confidence that Jack has in himself and his teammates that allows him to keep pushing.

“You just gotta keep your confidence and trust the hard work and time you’ve put into the game,” he said.

JANUARY 31, 2024 | 19

PHOTO BY GOLDEN GRIZZLIES

It can be difficult to transfer late into your college career and fit into the leadership structure of a team. That hasn’t been the case for Gohlke. Coming in, he knew the importance of connecting with guys like Blake Lampman, Trey Townsend and Chris Conway.

“We all have the same team goal, which is to win, and we’re all willing to sacrifice individual accolades to do so,” Conway said.

The season’s success is still to be determined, but with guys as confident as Gohlke, success is as easy as open 3s.

Oakland dominated by Green Bay Phoenix in Horizon League showdown SUMMER WEATHERS Sports Reporter

The Golden Grizzlies came up short to the Green Bay Phoenix at the Resch Center in Wisconsin on Thursday, Jan. 25.

The matchup between the Grizzlies and Green Bay started off at a slow pace. Trey Townsend broke the ice and scored Oakland’s first points at the 18:40 mark of the first half. Green Bay’s Clarence Cummings responded and got them going, which eventually set the tone for a competitive game.

The Grizzlies, though, held their ground in a zone defense, and Green Bay always tried to counter it by moving the ball at a very quick pace. Chris Conway was a great strength inside, and a lot of Oakland’s offense came from him. A triple by Green Bay leveled everything up at 15 points apiece.

The first half consisted of a lot of back-andforth action, with both teams locked in for a battle for first place in the Horizon League. Green Bay guard Foster Wonders already had 13 of their 20 points, but DQ Cole quickly put the Grizzlies back on top.

The pace remained hectic with minimal whistle blows, and both teams stayed at a score of 25 for an extended period of time. With under a minute left remaining in the first half, Osei Price stepped up and broke the scoring drought with a three.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK KING

Despite Oakland’s defensive efforts, a slip-up in executing a play prevented them from scoring on the final possession, and a foul called on Oakland allowed Green Bay another opportunity to reset, but they failed to convert, and that gave Oakland the one-point advantage going into halftime, 28-27.

Second Half Green Bay opened up the second half with the first scoring, but a back-and-forth game continued. A top-of-the-key shot delivered by Green Bay’s Rich Byhre gave them a one-point lead, 39-38, with 11:41 remaining.

The game saw its eighth tie as Blake Lampman hit a crucial triple, but then Green Bay hit a triple of their own.

A Rocket Watts and-one jumper, along with a successful free throw, temporarily tied the game at 50.

Green Bay took control of the game and went on a 11-0 run, giving them their largest lead at 61-50. Blake Lampman’s sharpshooting was on full display, nailing clutch threes that brought Oakland back into the game, cutting the deficit to 64-59, but Green Bay continued to find open looks and eventually came out with the win over the Golden Grizzlies.

Lampman led all of Oakalnd’s scorers with 15 points. Following that, Conway had 14 points and Townsend had nine.

What’s Next?

The Golden Grizzlies are now second in the Horizon League. After a two-game stretch in Wisconsin, they will be back home at the Credit Union O’rena to host Robert Morris on Thursday, February 1 at 7 p.m. Next, they will prepare to play Cleveland State for their second meeting of the season on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m.

With nine games to go in the regular season, Oakland will continue to claw and fight for positioning in the conference standings. The top five teams in the conference standings at the end of the season will earn a bye in the league tournament.

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20 | JANUARY 31, 2024

Red-Hot Resurgence: Detroit Red Wings blaze a trail of success in January KURT SZYMANSKI Sports Reporter

With the Detroit Lions winning two consecutive playoff games for the first time in the Super Bowl era and the Michigan Wolverines claiming the team’s 12th national championship, it has been a great start of the year for sports in Michigan.

However, one team has been overshadowed amid all the greatness: the Detroit Red Wings.

Through January, the Red Wings have posted a 9-2-1 record, which equates to a 0.792-point percentage. Among all other teams in the NHL, only two teams have had a better January than the Red Wings: the Edmonton Oilers and the Vancouver Canucks.

This has boosted the Red Wings’ place in the standings quite significantly. If the playoffs were to start at the time of this writing, the team would play in the wild card for a playoff spot. However, if the season ended in December, the Red Wings would have missed the playoffs entirely.

One of the main reasons for the Red Wings’ success this early in the year has been how well the offense has come together on the ice.

Through 12 games in January, the Red Wings have scored 41 goals, which equates to 3.4 goals per game. Compared to the rest of the league, the Red Wings rank in the top 10 for goals scored per game in January.

Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings captain who has played for the Red Wings since the 2015-16

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK OSENTOSKI

season, was one of the significant contributors to the offense the past month. Larkin scored a teamhigh nine goals and 15 points in January.

Notably, Larkin’s highest-scoring game last month came against the Los Angeles Kings and goalie Cam Talbot. The Kings rank third in goals allowed per game, and Talbot has had one of the better save percentages in the NHL this season, saving 91.1 percent of shots.

On top of Larkin, left-winger Lucas Raymond has also given the offense a huge boost. The firstround selection from 2020 finished the month just behind Larkin with 13 points. Interestingly, most of Raymond’s points have come from assists, with a team-high 11.

In addition to the elite offense, the Red Wings defense has also taken significant strides. In January, the Red Wings defense allowed only

2.5 goals per game, a noticeable improvement compared to their goals allowed the entire season, which is 3.3 goals per game.

This improvement isn’t a mistake either, as five of the Red Wings’ nine wins have come against the Kings, the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Flordia Panthers, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the Vegas Golden Knights.

Notably, all five teams mentioned above feature an above-average offense in the NHL. The average number of goals scored per game is 3.1, a number that all five teams either average or surpass per game.

Jake Walman was one of the biggest contributors to the Red Wings’ defense in January. Moritz Seider recorded 30 blocks last month. Along with Walman, Seider and Ben Chiarot were also effective, blocking 28 and 21 shots, respectively, the previous month.

When looking at the season, the Red Wings have two players who rank in the top 15 for the most blocked shots this season in the NHL, with Seider and Walman. Interestingly, only one other team, the Calgary Flames, has two defenders who rank in the top 15 in blocks this season.

As the Red Wings position themselves to possibly contend for the playoffs, their recent success suggests a new thrilling chapter in Michigan sports this year. However, it won’t be on the football field; it will be on the ice rink.

Oakland outlasts Milwaukee in double-overtime thriller SUMMER WEATHERS Sports Reporter

Oakland came out victorious in an electrifying double overtime against the Milwaukee Panthers, 91-87.

With a new five minutes going into the second overtime, the tension escalated as Milwaukee controlled the tip and got on the board first as Kentrell Pullian scored a corner three. Jack Gohlke, in the midst of a fantastic night, was fouled on a three with 3:44 remaining but connected on all of his free throws, which tied the game, giving him 24 points in front of his home crowd.

The intensity grew at UWM Panther Arena as both teams exchanged buckets. A huge make by DQ Cole from long range and a block by Tuburu Naivalurua provided a major spark. The Grizzlies had the momentum in their favor and had the onepoint advantage, 84-83, with two minutes left.

Milwaukee looked to attack the basket, but the Golden Grizzlies were just too good on the defensive end and were in full control as Gohlke continued his hot shooting that put Oakland up four points, 87-83.

A five-second call on Oakland gave the Panthers the ball back, and they were able to get down the lane and score a layup that cut it to two, 87-85. There was a lot of contact on Trey Townsend down low that resulted in him heading to the line for a pair of free throws on the next play that put them back up four.

After a timely layup scored by Milwaukee, the Grizzlies were able to successfully break their press, and eventually, the Panthers started fouling to stop the clock. In its final possession, Milwaukee attempted a corner three, but it fell short as Naivalurua secured the rebound and Oakland dribbled it out as the clock hit zero, and the Golden Grizzlies had made a statement with a win in Wisconsin.

There was a lot of recognition for Gohlke as he achieved a significant milestone, hitting his 1,000th career point and delivering a stellar performance with a season-high 27 points.

“Jack Gohlke, coming home in front of, I think his whole hometown was here tonight, and boy, we needed that. That’s the Jack we had early in the year, where he was fearless of shooting. He took 18 threes tonight, and I told him when he came, I want him taking 15 a game,” head coach Greg Kampe said. “Tonight, in front of his hometown, he made a three at the end of regulation to tie it; he made a three at the end of the first overtime to tie it; and then he got fouled on a three in double overtime. He just did everything he had to do, and it was so much fun to watch him do that in front of his hometown.”

The Golden Grizzlies secured a hard-fought victory in double overtime, and this just goes to show that they are very capable of contending.

“A lot of adversity thrown at us, and like I told them before the game, ‘If you’re a championshiplevel team, one loss doesn’t turn into two.’ And

the last couple of years, we’ve been steps away from winning championships. We’ve been in these positions, and then one became two, two became three, excuses. They could have made excuses tonight, but they didn’t, and they just fell behind, got a stop at the end of regulation, got a stop at the end of the first overtime, and then made big plays after big plays in the second overtime.”

What’s Next?

Looking ahead, Oakland is set to host Robert Morris at the OU Credit Union O’rena on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. with momentum from their win that will propel them going forward.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KATIE REID