A Trusted Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987. Volume 51 l Issue 4 | Septemer 24, 2025 A Trusted Source of Independent Student Journalism since 1987. Volume 51 l Issue 4 | Septemer 24, 2025 NEPAL FALLS
VP MAC
VP MAC
Glenn McIntosh dead at 62 PAGE 3
Glenn McIntosh dead at 62 PAGE 3
STUDENT LEADERS
STUDENT LEADERS
NEPAL FALLS
SAFAC Remembers VP Mac PAGE 10-11
SAFAC Remembers VP Mac PAGE 10-11
Nepalese Gen-Z revolution PAGE 15
Nepalese Gen-Z revolution PAGE 15
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
EDITORIAL BOARD
Chelsea Bossert Editor-in-Chief cbossert@oakland.edu
Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu
248.370.2533
SYSTEM AND SEQUENCE Oakland University’s newest Art Gallery showcases patterns and ornaments in contemporary art.
PHOTO BY EVELYN APAHIDEAN
A devastating loss for the OU community: Glenn McIntosh passes away
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES AND MALLORY WALIGORA
Glenn McIntosh, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, died on Wednesday, Sept. 17. After 31 years of serving Oakland University students and providing leadership for 24 departments on campus, McIntosh left a lasting impact on Oakland University. While working for OU, McIntosh served in many different roles, most recently as Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer for 7 years.
“There are no words that can adequately describe the scale of this loss to our community. For more than 30 years, Glenn gave everything he could to encourage, motivate and support the success of everyone in our campus community,” President Ora Hirsh Pescovitz said in an email to the campus community. “When it comes to the life affirming experiences that the college experience provides, however, students always held a special place in our beloved colleague’s heart.”
In the same email, Pescovitz requested that all OU flags fly at half-mast throughout the next week. A campus memorial will be held to honor his life, with more details to come in the future.
MacIntosh started his career at OU as the founding director of the Center for Multicultural Initiatives in 1994, where he established the Trustee Academic Success Scholarship (OUTAS) program. OUTAS remains a thriving program today, with the program receiving national recognition through providing student support with a focus on student retention.
“A true servant leader, Glenn was also deeply committed to ensuring that professionals from all walks of life had the opportunity to thrive,” Pescovitz said. “He knew that the entire Oakland University community would benefit from diverse cultural competency and the wealth of talent that results from it.”
As an expert in higher education, McIntosh earned his bachelor’s degree at Central Michigan University and his master’s at Wayne State. An
orientation group leader and residential advisor during his college days, he kicked off his career in 1986 at Bowling Green State University, where he worked as a residence hall director. From there, he jumped from Eastern Michigan University and back to Wayne State until reaching OU.
In 1998, he also founded the Academic Advising Resource Center, where he focused on connecting new students with advisors and support services and created a graduate student advising internship program.
“I define success as the process of setting diversity, equity and inclusion goals and metrics for the campus community and consistently taking action to close the gap between our current and desired campus climate,” McIntosh said.
By 2001, he was named Dean of Students and became a mentor for OU’s student athletes. As a holder of multiple bodybuilding titles, he immersed himself in the athletic department’s NCAA Division I Certification process, allowing students to compete with other universities and receive financial aid. McIntosh held this position until 2013, when he was named Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. In 2015, he was named Vice President for Student Affairs.
Leading Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives throughout his life, McIntosh was named Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer in 2018.
Among his merits as Chief Diversity Officer, McIntosh’s involvement with Project Upward Bound, Veterans Support Services Office and the Gender and Sexuality Center stand out as testaments to his profound commitment to DEI.
Beyond the university, strong community ties rooted McIntosh’s involvement at Pontiac as a council member at the Pontiac Collective Impact Partnership. He held several other leadership affiliations, including membership in National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, membership in Association for Student Judicial Affairs, a board member and chairperson for Next Generation Fit Kids and a board member and treasurer for Success Mile Academy Charter School.
“We will always remember Glenn’s infectious smile, his uplifting and engaging personality and his warm and caring nature. In our community, Glenn McIntosh will always be loved and renowned as Mr. OU,” Pesovitz said.
Hundreds honor the life and legacy of Glenn McIntosh
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
Hundreds of Oakland University students, faculty, administrators, alumni and community members congregated under Elliott Tower on Sept. 19 to honor a pillar of the community, Mr. OU — Glenn McIntosh.
After his passing on Wednesday, Sept. 17, the campus community went silent in grief. As Elliott Tower’s carillons rang, the OU community gathered in prayer to commemorate the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs.
“We gather today to honor the life and legacy of Glenn McIntosh, affectionately called Glenn Mac, VP Mac, Dean Mac, Mr. OU and a host of other names by everyone who was affected by him,” Nigel ArRahmaan, Omega Psi Phi representative, said.
Ar-Rahmaan walked the audience through McIntosh’s career, from his origins in Detroit’s west side to his early college days at Central Michigan University. McIntosh’s role in advancing diversity and equity on campus, along with his embodiment of scholarship, manhood and perseverance, were some of the speaker’s highlights.
“But beyond all of that,” Ar-Rahmaan said. “He was an amazing human being, a strong, upright man with an infectious smile, someone you could walk up to and have a conversation with, and he actually cared.”
OU students attested to McIntosh’s commitment and support for the campus community. With anecdotes, they evoked laughter and tears in the hundreds gathered to remember his time at the university.
“It saddens me to think that I’m no longer gonna
walk around the Oakland Center and just see Mr. McIntosh and his amazing ties that are always so colorful,” Mariéme Samb, OU student, said. “Glenn had a gift of making people feel seen, people feel valued and supported, whether through his guidance, his encouragement, or simply his presence, his commitment to creating a true community.”
His leadership was also championed, setting an expectation for the university in preparation for the process of appointing a new Vice President for Student Affairs in the future.
“We have a responsibility when this university begins to search to fill his position, we must put to the administration to remember the standards that Mr. McIntosh set,” Bintou Njie, representative of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) at OU, said. “Leadership is not just about the title, but it is about the people.”
As the second vigil of the week, McIntosh’s commemoration stood in stark contrast to Kirk’s vigil — one marked by controversy and tension. Student Congress President, Marcus Johnson, emphasized the need to maintain the campus community united.
“We’re all feeling grief, we felt fear, and lately we’ve all been rather divided,” Johnson said. “But his legacy calls for us to do the opposite, to come together, to see each other fully, and to heal, not just as individuals, but as a community.”
After the vigil, attendees left flowers for McIntosh and continued remembering him through conversation. The Office of the President sent out an email detailing McIntosh’s funeral on Sept. 28 at the OU Credit Union O’Rena, with visitations at 3 p.m. and the service starting at 5 p.m.
“Glenn McIntosh epitomizes the term icon,” Associate Dean of Students Jessie Hurse said. “His positive attitude was infectious. No matter the challenge or obstacle in front of him, he steadfastly maintained a level of confidence and positivity that was inspiring. Glenn absolutely loved Oakland University and I sincerely hope he knew just how much he meant to each and every one of us.”
Borrowing from the sermons of McIntosh’s days as a reverend at Renaissance Unity, the campus community vowed to commemorate Mr. OU’s life in their everyday actions.
“I am free by divine design, I am powerful beyond my past, the fire of truth is lit in me,” McIntosh said. “With every thought, word and choice, I am not waiting for liberation, I am living in elevation.”
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES OU Student Congress President Marcus Johnson speakss
“History Comes Alive” lecture series commences with Thomas Madden
MARYAM SOMO Campus Reporter
The department of History kicked off its “History Comes Alive” lecture series on Sept. 7 with Professor Thomas Madden of Saint Louis University. The lecture was based on Madden’s forthcoming book, “The Fall of Republics: A History,” which is scheduled to be published by Princeton University Press in spring 2026.
Madden is a professor of History and Director of the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at Saint Louis University. He is also a renowned author and historian with numerous publications, books and articles.
“He’s recognized by a number of leading scholarly organizations, he’s a fellow of the medieval academy [and] also been the recipient of the Guggenheim prize, so he’s a celebrated historian,” James Naus, associate professor and chair of the department of History, said.
Throughout his lecture, Madden made a conscious effort to get the main points of his forthcoming book to the audience of students, faculty and other community members. His lecture discussed the factors that led to the collapse of some of history’s most important republics and the lessons that the American framers drew from those cautionary tales.
There were two main points, Madden explained, that he hoped readers would take away from his book after reading it.
“That the Constitution was based on a long
understanding of what causes problems for the public and that safeguards were placed into it to guard against those,” Madden said. “The other is that many of the things that we think nowadays, we tend to think that we’re always one step away from the end of the Republic; [however], I think [with] the fabric of the Constitution, the American Constitution has maintained itself very well.”
With more than thirty years of experience as a historian, author and professor of history, Madden urges and advises current Oakland University students majoring in history to constantly read.
“Read and think,” Madden said. “History is wonderful for critical thinking. You’re literally reading source material and witnesses and then you’re piecing together what happened. It’s a wonderful skill.”
Although the “History Comes Alive” lecture series is held on the Oakland campus, there weren’t many students in attendance. The numerous opportunities to learn something new are being missed by many on campus.
“We would love to have more students, and we often encourage [it]. We do tend to get more as the year goes on. It’s early in the semester, but we’re trying to get more students,” Naus said. “We are also trying to get more high school students, so we often reach out to high school teachers.”
For students, faculty, and community members interested in extending their knowledge in history through historical thinking, the department of History is offering more lecture opportunities throughout 2025 and 2026. The free monthly series features lectures on a variety of historical topics, available in-person and virtually through Zoom. Lectures are available, from September through March, held at 7 pm on campus. This year marks the ongoing series’ 22nd year at Oakland University.
“The idea of is to bring sort of really good history to a popular audience in a way that’s very consumable,” Naus said. “It’s a way of distilling complex ideas into the best scholarship, but not like an academic conference. It’s in a way that makes it really consumable for people and makes them more interested in the field and wanting to come back.”
Madden’s lecture was just the beginning of the “History Comes Alive” lecture series. There will be an additional four anticipated lectures throughout this academic year, organized by the department of History.
Over 1000 people gather for Charlie Kirk vigil at Elliott Tower
MARIA MAGNOLI Arts Reporter
Yesterday, a large vigil took place on the Oakland University campus in remembrance of the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk.
The evening was hosted by student organizations, including the Network of Enlightened Women at Oakland University and the College Republicans. People from Oakland University’s student body, residents of Oakland County and Macomb County were some of the communities gathered to show their support and prayers for Charlie Kirk at 7:30 p.m., on Monday.
Candles were handed out at the beginning of the evening, the crowd decorated in red and holding signs voicing their support. There was a heavy police presence on campus, including OUPD and 21 area law enforcement agencies; 102 total officers were in attendance to guarantee a safe environment. Multiple news outlets covered the evening, including Fox 2 News and CBS Detroit. According to OUPD Police Chief Mark Gordon, the crowd contained approximately 1000 to 1500 people.
Before the start of the event, Turning Point USA leadership shared their messages for holding the vigil.
“I think it’s sad that people are still protesting at a time where political violence has become so prominent in our country…The first time I ever met Charlie, I was in a long line of students expecting a quick hello, but met with a long, genuine conversation. He loved everyone as Jesus
loved all of us, and I’ve had people from the left contact me and say ‘I’m so sorry, this is not how it should be. We should be able to have a calm conversation about our differences,’” Malachi Cattanach, President of Turning Point USA at Oakland University, said.
Walking through the crowd, attendees expressed similar sentiments of faith, urging others to “do all things through Christ.”
Speaking among the protestors lined up against the Oakland Center, they delivered an alternative perspective: “Yes, Charlie Kirk’s death was not ok; gun violence in any setting is not ok, and that’s what we must remember. I think the issue within America is gun violence, which does not just affect political figures, but also children in schools and gang violence. It’s sort of interesting to see so many people gathered for only his death, which was also the same day of a school shooting and the day before 9/11 — it overshadowed those events,” Rylee Marshall, a freshman, said.
Another remark was made voicing an additional point of view: “Everyone has the right to believe what they believe. I would just ask to think for yourself. If something feels like hate, I think your subconscious should kick in,” a student who wished to remain anonymous, said.
The service began at approximately 8:00 p.m. Seven speakers in leadership positions of Republican organizations shared their memories of Kirk and their messages for moving forward:
“On Wednesday September 10, heaven welcomed a beloved leader, friend, fighter and most importantly a
father and a husband. Charles James Kirk ran into the arms of Jesus Christ. He spread nothing but the truth, love and most importantly, the gospel,” Jaden Bennett, Club America HS Representative, said.
“Tonight we gather in heartbreak, sharing the same grief, sadness and pain. But alongside that grief, we also share a deep anger. And let me say this clearly, it’s ok to feel angry; anger can be powerful, but it must never turn to political violence,” Tyler Soncrainte, Youth Chair of the Oakland County Republican Party, said.
“As a country we are so divided and the only way to fix that is through open discourse,” Krish Mathrani, Youth Chair of the Michigan Republican Party, said.
Throughout the speeches, the crowd could be heard chanting “Christ is King”, “USA”, “We are Charlie” and various prayers. Members of Turning Point USA who met Kirk admired his commitment to family and faith. Speakers conveyed the feeling that Kirk’s assassination was not only an attack on Christians and Conservatives, but for every American’s First Amendment rights.
According to USA Today, vigils in Iowa, Florida, East Lansing, Mich., Phoenix, Ariz. and many more places across the country, have or will host public vigils for the late conservative activist. It is notable that OU’s vigil was entirely peaceful, despite worries by many students that disruptions would break out.
The night closed with not only a moment of silence, but also a moment where Republicans and Democrats, supporters and dissenters alike, exercised their freedom of speech.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW VIGELIUS
We all know parking is awful at OU, so I talked to OUPD
MALLORY WALIGORA Content Editor
It is a truth universally acknowledged that parking is terrible at Oakland University. Cars circle Pawley Hall’s parking lot in search of an open spot, drivers cut each other off in the parking deck and frustrations run high. To put it simply, it’s a mess.
As a commuter school, parking struggles are a part of our campus culture. In 2024, only 14% of the total student population lived on campus, meaning about 86% of students drive in, fight for a parking spot and head home after class.
“Sorry I’m late, parking was a mess,” a student says, running into class with keys jangling in their hand. It’s practically the theme song of OU classrooms.
Parking is the number one complaint I hear from students– and I’m guilty of it myself. During a pitch meeting in The Oakland Post newsroom, someone suggested, “If students complain about parking so much, talk to OUPD about this.” If anyone has insight, it’s them.
With a notebook in hand, I sat down with OUPD Chief Gordon to hear his perspective and his best tips for navigating the chaotic parking situation.
At The Oakland Post, it’s our job to share valuable information with the campus community – whether it be a new policy or a campus event. Since parking affects nearly everyone at OU, it’s time to look for some solutions.
Firstly, Oakland University’s main campus has a total of 10,008 parking spaces. P-1, the wide-open lot in front of the Oakland Center, has the most with 1,616 spots. However, parking in P-1 can be difficult, especially during peak hours.
The P-32 parking structure, located across the Engineering Center, has the second-most spaces with 1,205. Chief Gordon recommended the P-32 parking structure, explaining it as the most reliable option for students.
“The parking structure down by the Engineering Center always has parking availability – that’s called the P-32 parking structure,” Chief Gordon said. “That one’s always got lots and lots of parking in it – I’m talking like 400 or 500-800 spaces that are always available.”
He also noted that the P-32 structure is within walking distance to most buildings on campus.
“You can get almost anywhere from that parking structure in about a 10-minute walk. When you get to the other lots that are near the buildings, they all fill up,” Gordon said. “They’re all filled up, some of them by 11 o’clock, some of them not until about one o’clock. But usually by one o’clock, all the inner perimeter lots that support the main part of campus are all full.”
Those inner lots include P-1 and P-2 (near Wilson Hall and Bear Lake), which are normally full by 11 a.m., meaning for students who don’t have an early class, it’s almost impossible to find a spot. By 1 p.m., P-3, the lot between the Human Health Building and Walton Boulevard, is 90% full.
“The P-1 lot is the big lot that runs parallel with Squirrel Road … that is usually the first one to fill up. P-1 and P-2 are the first two lots that always fill up first, because they’re centrally located within the university,” Chief Gordon said.
During the first two weeks of the semester, OUPD takes inventory of parking spaces that are available throughout different times of the day, checking lots Monday through Friday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
“Monday through Friday, we kind of categorize an inventory – how many parking spaces are available
at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.,” Chief Gordon said. “And usually by 11 o’clock, the P-1 is probably half full, and then usually by one o’clock it’s pretty close to being full … especially on Tuesdays and Thursdays. [On] Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, by one o’clock. P-1 and P-2 are completely full.”
On the south end of campus, smaller lots like P-40, P-41 and P-43, near the Mathematics and Science Center, OUPD and Hannah Hall, fill up quickly as well.
“The small one here [next to OUPD,] and the small one on the other side of the barn over here – those fill up very quickly too,” Gordon said.
As an alternative, Chief Gordon recommended the P-39, P-35 and P-37 lots – just a bit farther south on campus.
“Now, when you get south of there, there’s P-39, P-35 and P–37 –those lots are always empty. If you allow enough time, you can park and just from that location alone, you can get anywhere in this campus in about 10 minutes,” Chief Gordon said.
One of the biggest tips Chief Gordon gave to students was time management. Simply arriving on campus ten minutes earlier than expected can make all the difference.
“On main campus, there’s lots of parking, but sometimes you have to just be willing to walk a little bit,” Chief Gordon said. “So many times I hear from commuters, ‘I only know where one lot is, and I always park in that one lot, and then I am late, and then I gotta park illegal to get to my spot.’ Rather than looking for a different lot, they’ll park illegal, and they get a ticket, and they get mad. They just need to allow 10 extra minutes to park – and then if they do that, they find that they can park in one of the more remote lots.”
September is the busiest month for parking. During the first few weeks of class, the largest number of students drive to campus. Once online and hybrid courses settle, and some students start skipping, demand for parking decreases.
for some tips
“So during the month of September, that’s the worst month. People come to school. Everyone comes to class … [It] seems like in September, at least early September, everyone meets face-to-face to kind of get the semester going right, and then they tend to sometimes go a little bit more remote. Quite honestly, students start skipping. So the demand falls off about the third week of September,” Chief Gordon said.
“Once you get into October, everything kind of just kind of settles down, and everyone finds a rhythm. They know what to expect. And, routines become routines become routine, and people begin to understand how the parking flows here on campus.”
Additionally, the winter semester brings less demand.
“In January, when we start the winter semester, there never is that kind of demand. It’s like everyone’s already into the groove. Professors … go right into remote … We don’t usually have as much problems for people trying to find parking at the beginning of the semester.”
His final piece of advice was to give yourself more time to park, avoid circling in the same area and be willing to walk.
“Just allow enough time – give yourself 10 to 15 minutes extra. If your parking lot is full, don’t just circle and circle and circle and circle for 15 to 20 minutes –now you’re late for class,” Chief Gordon said. “If you want the least amount of stress possible, just pick one of the South End parking lots or the parking structure, which is P-32, just drive straight there.”
“Park and be willing to walk. Take an umbrella with you in the winter. Have an extra coat, because it does get cold when you’re walking. And just resign yourself to the fact that you have to walk for 10 minutes, and you will slow your stress levels tremendously, trying to circle around and find what you think is an open parking lot when it’s not.”
We deserve to feel safe: Student protest after Kirk’s vigil
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
Oakland University students gathered on Sept. 16, for a late-night protest in response to the on-campus vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Feeling unsafe on campus, the antagonization of the trans community and freedom of speech were some of the topics discussed at the gathering.
Called to be present at 9 p.m. by word of mouth and social media, around 50 students met at Elliott Tower ready for a protest. After half an hour waiting for the event organizers and speakers to arrive, the conversation started with a question; “Why are we mad?”
For Aleecia Borja-Jones, a student at OU, the catalyst for her anger was the political undertones of Kirk’s vigil.
“I think the vigil wasn’t the best idea, the things Kirk advocated for while he was alive didn’t align with a lot of the students’ morals,” Borja-Jones said. “The police presence felt out of hand… I noticed they were kind of defending the people there in support of Charlie Kirk and antagonizing the people there silently protesting.”
As the benches by the tower became a podium for students to voice their grievances, the protest focused on venting fear and anger. Protesters made it clear that the opposition was against harmful rhetoric and not against specific individuals.
“We are just angry that this vigil and memorial happened,” Makenzie Maxwell, a student, said. “As we walk outside, we feel discomfort, we feel anger, we feel unsettled, and we spoke up there to say that we shouldn’t have to. We are students here. We pay to go here. We’re equal, and he shouldn’t be celebrated for the hateful things that he said.”
As students took turns to discuss matters affecting their communities and global events, questions about empathy were raised. Students questioned why there were no vigils for victims of police brutality, transphobic hate crimes or genocide. They took a moment to name martyrs and community members victims of political violence.
“We’re not saying that his life should have been taken, that is not what we are fighting for,” Savannah Lopez, a student, said. “We are protesting because it’s unsettling to know that this man says so many hateful things about so many different communities, trans people, black people — that we were disqualified.”
Conversations jumped between respect and empathy
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
amongst “No justice no peace” chants reminiscent of long-lived global protests. However, students encouraged one another to “walk with their heads high on campus” and to foster a sense of safety by relying on one another.
“I am sick of feeling like a rhetoric to be used and something to point everything towards when something bad happens,” Maddy, a student who wished her last name to remain anonymous, said. “Try and get involved in what we’re doing on campus, because it’s very important that we make it clear that we value our lives and we value the lives of our peers, and that we don’t stand for the villainization that [others] cause.”
Although not many other community members heard the late night protest, the Dean of Students office said they have received complaints and heard student concerns regarding Kirk’s vigil.
“Students have come to our office and talked to us about issues they had with the event, students have submitted reports in regards to some behaviors that took place at the event,” Mike Wadsworth, assistant vice-president and Dean of Students, said. “We encourage students to continue reaching out to us and other areas of support that they have on campus.”
As students returned to their residence halls and homes, speakers encouraged them to voice their concerns, stay informed and keep fostering a community.
“What happened [on] Tuesday is important because with situations like that it can make people who don’t agree feel singled out or attacked when it really isn’t the case,” Borja-Jones said. “There were a lot of people speaking that I heard a lot of great things from and it definitely made me feel more seen and I was grateful to be around other people who agree with my morals.”
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SAFAC leaders reflect on the legacy of
VP McIntosh
The recent passing of Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer, Glenn McIntosh, has impacted a lot of students in the past week. From students that found their home in the Center for Multicultural Initiatives or the Gender and Sexuality Center, to the students living their day-to-day lives on campus — it is undeniable that VP Mac had an impact.
Student Activity Fund Assessment Committee (SAFAC) leaders in particular have been devastated with the loss of the Senior Vice President. VP Mac has been a key component to how people on the SAFAC board got to where they are today.
Here are some stories that SAFAC leaders have shared with The Oakland Post over the last week, regarding VP Mac and his impact on their lives and the lives of students at-large.
Marcus Johnson, Student Body President
“In my job, VP Mac is someone I work with a lot, and very closely, especially when it comes to advocating for things students want to see. Who else am I going to take it to but the VP for Student Affairs,” Marcus Johnson, Student Body President, said. “Outisde of the professional-working with him part, he had also become sort of like a personal mentor for me — especially as I took on the job of president — as far as developing leadership abilities and whatnot.”
Johnson was one of the first people to hear about his passing, Wednesday morning on the 17th.
“Not only did, you know, it feel like losing a good working partner, but a really close friend that I was developing a really good bond with and then all of a sudden — just gone…” Johnson said.
After a brief pause to reflect, Johnson reflected on how VP Mac helped all types of students — both active and passive in the campus community.
“The thing about VP Mac is that he was so present that he meant a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To the average student: he was just a nice guy who told you where you could find everything,” Johnson said. “To a lot of other students he was very instrumental in how they pursued their academics, how they got involved on campus…”
The Student Body President then commented on how proud he was that the campus community has been unified in its response to the recent news of his passing.
“I know even just from looking at interactions on social media, of us you know, discussing his passing, he’s meant so much to students on this campus for decades that thinking about what he means to people here transcends even what I can fathom,” Johnson said.
Mathew Seidel, Chair of the Student
Life Lecture Board
After wrapping up the conversation with Johnson, Mathew Seidel, the Chair of the Student Life Lecture Board and the Student Liaison of the Board of Trustees, spoke with The Oakland Post about what VP Mac meant to him and the campus community, as
“VP McIntosh is a person who devoted his life to OU students, over 30 years, longer than I’ve been alive. And he was a mentor to me, he was a mentor to people on the Board of Trustees, he was a mentor to many of the staff here at OU,” Seidel, SLLB chair and
Seidel then discussed how VP Mac impacted the OU campus
“VP Mac is the reason that we have just about every campus program that helps students from the Office for Student Involvement, from the Center for Multicultural Initiatives, from the Gender and Sexuality Center, to housing. He played a key role in creating many of these programs and also implementing them over the last 30 years of Oakland University’s history,” Seidel said. “He is the reason why we have memorable campus experiences that make our lives richer outside the classroom.”
Aidan White, Music Director of WXOU
In a statement to The Oakland Post, Aidan White, the Music Director of WXOU, reflected on his close relationship to the late Senior Vice President.
“It didn’t hit me initially, The first thing I did was call my dad, they’ve been friends since they started college together. They’re also fraternity brothers, so I was really concerned about how he was feeling. Then I realized I lost my uncle. I had seen him days prior at a funeral, we had made plans to get lunch and play pool. Now these things unfortunately can’t happen. I still come to a loss when I try [to] process that he’s gone,” White said.
White then was asked what VP Mac meant to the average student and how his impact will be felt in the future.
“The average student probably doesn’t even know what the dean of students even actually does, but know, we wouldn’t be the scholarly and competent university we are now without my Uncle. I think we all have him to thank for a lot of things around here,” White said.
story
Chelsea Bossert
by
graphic by August Wicker & Ava Guest
John Green is Coming to Campus, Okay? Okay!
MARISSA GETSCHMAN Arts Editor
Best-selling author and influencer John Green will be speaking at Oakland University on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Founders Ballrooms at the Oakland Center. With excitement only growing alongside the anticipation of the event, now is the best time for a reminder of who Green is and what he stands for.
Green has written a number of bestselling novels over the years, with the first one, titled “Looking for “Alaska” (2005), winning the Printz Award in 2006. He has been given many honors since, including the 2009 Edgar Allen Poe Award for “Paper Towns” (2008) and Children’s Choice in 2013 for “The Fault in Our Stars” (2012.)
“The Fault in Our Stars” took the world by storm in 2014 with its film adaptation and kicked off a slew of additional films featuring his other various novels. A total of five movie adaptations and one series have been developed over the years, the most recent one being “Turtles All the Way Down” in 2024.
In recent years, Green has shifted his focus to writing non-fiction books focused on humanity and the way it has shaped the planet. “The Anthropocene Reviewed” explores the current geological age in a series of essays spanning the human experience and how human activity has affected the Earth’s biodiversity.
His latest book, “Everything is Tuberculosis,” Green talks about his friendship with Henry Reider, a boy from Sierra Leone who miraculously
recovered from drug-resistant tuberculosis. Green tells Reider’s story alongside the history of this widespread disease and the current trajectory on research and funding toward more effective cures.
Tuberculosis is treatable and curable, yet it remains one of the deadliest diseases in America with 1.25 million deaths worldwide in 2023 alone.
“Everything is Tuberculosis” is a call to action and a must-read for anyone who cares about the health of humans across the globe.
Green’s shift to a more educational writing style did not spring out of nowhere. Alongside his brother, he has been a virtual educator for over a decade at this point in time. In 2011, the pair created a team
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOOKSTACKED
to produce fun and accessible videos online that explain myriad educational topics from science, history and English literature and more.
Look back to grade-school for that one class everyone struggled with because the teacher simply couldn’t articulate the topic in a way that made sense. The obvious solution for the last 13 years has been to turn on YouTube and watch a Crash Course video on the topic. John and Hank Green became as notorious as Bill Nye on the playground for serving some of the finest education for young brains with short attention spans.
The channel has since grown beyond the Green brothers, featuring more hosts in a broadly successful reach to cover more topics in the fun, attention-grabbing way they are known for. The channel now boasts over 16 million subscribers.
While John Green no longer hosts Crash Course videos often, he records a podcast titled “The Universe” through the channel alongside astrophysicist Dr. Katie Mack. The podcast series explores the history of the universe and ponders its future.
Green now boasts the title of host for three podcasts and has been a guest on more than 50 additional series. Alongside “The Universe,” he hosts “Dear Hank and John” with his brother.
The lecture being held on campus this week will further detail Green’s illustrious career directly from the source and answer community-submitted questions. To learn more about the event, find information online through Oakland University or the Student Life Lecture Board.
OU Gallery’s latest exhibition explores communication through patterns
ADDISON KOCH
Features Reporter
Patterns are everywhere – woven into our clothes, tiled across our floors, frequent in nature and hidden in plain sight. They are so familiar that they can often be overlooked.
The current exhibition at the Oakland University Art Gallery, “System and Sequence: Pattern and Ornament in Contemporary Art”, invites students and the community to gather and deliberate on these depictions. The artists on display transform patterns into vessels for storytelling through emotion and provide the audience with a thoughtful commentary on identity, harmony, contrast and the world around us.
“I hope [visitors] walk away with a better understanding of how pattern and ornament can be used as a communication tool even in contemporary life,” Leo Barnes, gallery manager, said. “It is not necessarily something that can only be used to decorate or make things look pretty.”
Walking through the gallery, visitors are met with a range of approaches. Each piece – from bold geometric arrangements, chaotic bursts of color and hanging woven intricacies – provides its own sense of rhythm but still fits together. At first glance, the works are visually striking. The longer one looks, the more they reveal: layers forming a lens into personal stories, cultural connections and universal narratives.
“This exhibition was slightly different in that
it all really started with one artist,” Barnes said. “I really wanted to put together an exhibition including Jocelyn [Hobbie]’s artwork. This gave me a nice jumping off point in the search for other artists using pattern and ornament in their artwork.
Before I knew it, I had gathered a great collection
PHOTO BY EVELYN APAHIDEAN
of artists, and the exhibition was off and running.”
Alongside Hobbie, the exhibition features the work of Lisa Corinne Davis, Tomory Dodge, Alia Ali, Mark Joshua Epstein, Matthew Craven, Alexa Guariglia, Ozioma Onuzulike, Anne Samat, Natasha Das, Antonio Santin, Craig Calderwood, Hassan Hajjaj, Spandita Malik and Rachel Perry. Collectively, the exhibition is a dialogue across cultures and mediums but bound together by the language of universal patterns.
Barnes said it is difficult to pick a favorite but indicated two standouts: Hobbie’s “Floating World”, the inspiration for the show, and Ali’s “Nautilus” from her “Glitch” series, which became the elaborate cover of the exhibition catalog.
“I feel that the work best represents the content of the entire exhibition,” Barnes said. “It truly is using pattern as its primary aesthetic and communication device.”
After seeing the entire exhibition, I also attempted to pick a favorite but was unsuccessful. Without any one of the unique yet interconnected pieces, the gallery simply would not be complete. The exhibition’s works differ in style but stand together, complimenting each other perfectly and supporting both the system and its sequence.
The exhibition runs through Nov. 23, 2025, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free for OU students and the public. Students can support the Department of Art, Art History and Design through donation or by purchasing an exhibition catalog at the gallery front desk.
Banksy: Turning street art into political activism
SARAH WASIELEWSKI Arts Reporter
Early in the morning on Sept. 8, passersby noticed a striking new mural on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice building in London. Painted in graffiti artist Banksy’s unmistakable style, the chilling image depicted a judge in wig and gown brandishing his gavel against an unarmed protester.
Officials covered the mural with sheeting and fence by the end of the day, but the impact had already been made. Photos of the mural were already going viral on social media. As days passed and the mural was scrubbed from the building, the image took on a ghostly tone that was even more unsettling than the original depiction.
The placement of the artwork on a major judicial institution was no accident. Many interpret the piece as a commentary on the arrests and prosecution of protesters in the UK, particularly in light of recent crackdowns on civil disobedience and demonstrations.
This is not the first time that Banksy’s artwork has been destroyed or removed. A stop sign Banksy painted military drones on was stolen shortly after completion. In other instances, buildings with their graffiti have been demolished or sections of walls painted with their art have been removed.
Perhaps their most well-known work is the painted reproduction of one of their murals called “Girl with Balloon.” Sold at auction in 2018 for over a million pounds, the painting was partially shredded by a mechanism in the frame immediately after
sale. Ironically, this act of rebellion against the commodification of art only served to increase the painting’s value, and it later sold a second time for over 18 million pounds.
Primarily using stencils to save time, Banksy’s work is characterized by huge images, catchy slogans and strong anti-war, anti-capitalist and anti-establishment sentiments. Banksy is making a statement, but a dangerous one as graffiti is illegal. Their true identity must remain secret, otherwise they would face criminal charges. After their graffiti work on the Royal Courts of Justice, the courts are investigating and will press charges against them.
Art has always served as one of the most powerful pieces of propaganda a person can leverage. In the face
of illiteracy or across language barriers, art continues to tell its story. Even while the image was being scrubbed away, the London mural screamed louder than any words possibly could. Propaganda has long used art to unify and persuade, famous examples being images of Uncle Sam or Rosie the Riveter.
For Banksy, art serves as a form of political activism. In an era where competing agendas dominate public discourse and individual voices are often drowned out, their bold, large-scale graffiti functions as a kind of guerrilla warfare. It is resistance against systems of power that they cannot confront directly. Banksy uses their art in public spaces to challenge authority, spark conversation and make political statements that cannot be easily ignored.
Engage in the Arts: Creative Student Organizations to Join
SARAH WASIELEWSKI Arts Reporter
As students settle into their new class schedules and find the rhythm of college life, many are looking for ways to get involved in Oakland University’s campus life. For those interested in the arts, there are plenty of student organizations that welcome students of all majors and experience levels.
Student Run Community Theatre
The Student Run Community Theatre is a way for all students to be involved in a theater production regardless of their college major or past theatre experience. Students can be involved in different aspects of a theatre production, from scriptwriting, tech crew, directing or acting. Information about auditions and upcoming performances can be found on the Instagram account @student.run.community.theater.
Creative Writing Club
The Creative Writing Club is an excellent opportunity for any student interested in writing. Students do not need to be majoring or minoring in Creative Writing to join the club. Meetings are held every Thursday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Oakland Center. Thursday meetings focus on learning about specific aspects of writing while Friday meetings are for writing sprints and workshops. Details about meetings and joining the club are posted on the Instagram account @ creativewritingclubou.
BeGolden Fashion Magazine
BeGolden is Oakland University’s student run fashion magazine that brings together students who
want to embrace their creativity and love of fashion. The magazine allows students to participate in multiple avenues, through photography, graphic design or writing. Involvement is helpful for anyone interested in fashion and furthering their career in the fashion industry. It also hosts pop up clothing sales periodically throughout the semester, selling gently used clothing donated by OU students. More information can be found on its Instagram @begoldenou.
Crafts with a Purpose
Crafts with a Purpose provides students with a creative outlet to unwind through crafting and share their creations with fellow students, the community or philanthropic organizations. All supplies are provided, and meetings are free to attend. Past meetings include activities such as pumpkin painting, tying fleece blankets for donation and rock painting. For current meeting times, check the Instagram @ou_crafts.
WXOU
The radio station WXOU has been the voice of Oakland University since 1967. Students who are interested in volunteering can fill out its interest form or stop by the WXOU office located in the Oakland Center basement. Involvement can take multiple forms, such as podcasting, graphic design, reporting or news interviewing. WXOU also provides music for many on campus events.
More information about all of these organizations is available on GrizzOrgs. These are just a few of the many student organizations focused on the arts. For the complete list of student organizations, check out GrizzOrgs. Clubs and organizations are an excellent way to participate in campus life and getting involved is a great way to build community and add meaningful experiences to a resume.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WXOU.ORG
PHOTO BY COURTESY OF BANKSY.CO.UK
Nepali Parliament topples as protest erupt across the nation
MATILDE RABAJOLI
Political Reporter
On Sept. 9, Nepalese citizens called its government to fix its issues regarding the exploitation of the impoverished and its growing control on the basic rights of citizens. However, protests across the country quickly erupted as protestors demanded respect and righteousness in regard to the media ban that the government had previously placed.
“Last week, Nepal’s government ordered authorities to block 26 social media platforms for not complying with a deadline to register,” the BBC reported. “The government justified its ban in the name of tackling fake news, hate speech and online fraud. But young people criticized the move as an attack on free speech.”
The protesters had gathered earlier during the day with a small group of young civilians.
“The protests began with peaceful students angry about official corruption and a widening wealth gap. Then mobs unleashed their attacks,” The New York Times said. Protesters first tried to storm government buildings where over 70 protestors have been killed and over 2,000 injured.
“Anger had been brewing for years about the country’s worsening youth unemployment crisis and lack of economic opportunities, exacerbated by what many viewed as a growing disparity between the country’s elite and regular people,” CNN reported.
Efforts were made to retain peace, such as when
the “government minister said they lifted the ban after an emergency meeting late on Monday night to ‘address the demands of Gen Z,’” the BBC said. However, they were too late. The ardor of the protestors, and what is being referred to as the “Gen Z Movement,” had lit a literal match.
The country’s capital of Kathmandu is now seen burning for its crimes and control. The young protesters have set fire to the Parliament building and managed to make the Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resign his position and flee his residence.
In the following week, once smoke started to replace flames, and soot began to dissipate. There was a careful calm, one that drove Gen Z and many other Nepali citizens to take more matters into their own hands.
“Armed with brooms, bags and dustbins, the protesters – mostly from Gen Z – were seen sweeping the city’s pavements, collecting debris, and repainting walls near government buildings that were torched during the protests,” The Independent reported. “Protesters were also seen returning items such as refrigerators, microwaves and fans looted by some of the demonstrators.”
The volunteers took the negative consequences of their acts for free speech and justice and washed away the ugly remains and debris of a state that will no longer abide by corruption and helplessness.
After the wrecking and repairing, Nepal’s first female Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, was elected.
“We must accept the fact that the protests took place because of the failure to fulfil the spirit and objectives of providing good governance and prosperity enshrined in the constitution,” Karki said.
Karki and other Nepali citizens now must work from the bottom up to rebuild a newer, more refined Nepal.
The French government loses a prime minister, again
MATILDE RABAJOLI
Political Reporter
On Sept. 8, the French Prime Minister François Bayrou was voted out of office, and with him, he took the French government.
The country of France holds a semi-presidential form of government. It holds both a president, currently being President Emmanuel Macron, and a prime minister as executive leaders of the country. The president bears the lone responsibility of electing a premier.
The reason as to why many have certain criticism for President Macron is due to the number of prime ministers and governments France has recently gone through.
“With four prime ministers in the past 20 months, and a fifth likely to be appointed now, the fall of French governments, once unusual, has become close to mundane,” The New York Times reported.
The reason as to why these other prime ministers haven’t been able to hold office effectively is due to financial uncertainty. The country of France holds a dilemma in regard to its national debt.
“The cost of servicing national debt this year is estimated to be €67 billion - it now consumes more money than all government departments except education and defense,” BBC reported.
There is also the issue that current international affairs are not allowing for the country to solely focus on their debt.
“All this against a background of international
turmoil: war in Europe, disengagement by the Americans, the inexorable rise of populism,” BBC noted.
Bayrou tried to pass a fiscal plan that would “stabilize repayments by cutting €44 billion from the 2026 budget,” according to a report by the BBC.
The plan wouldn’t see the light of day after leaders of multiple parties in Parliament called for a vote of no confidence, a Parliamentary method to vote on whether a prime minister should or shouldn’t remain in power.
A shocking majority deemed him unfit of his executive power. It was announced that there were 364 votes against Premier Bayrou’s government from the 577-seat assembly.
“Bayrou had become the most unpopular French prime minister since 1958, largely over his unpopular budget but also his perceived lack of government action,” The Guardian reported.
Macron has now appointed his fifth premier, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
“Lecornu, 39, was among the favourites to take over, and he has spent the past three years as armed forces minister focusing on France’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine,” BBC said.
Predictions on this appointment are varied. Other centralists say that Lecornu was a great choice, such as “Édouard Philippe, who was Macron’s first prime minister from 2017-20, thought Lecornu was a good choice as he had learned a lot as defence minister,” BBC said.
Other far right and leftists, such as Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon both have shared their dismay on Macron’s constant inability to form a proper government that lasts.
Lecornu has been praised for being a good debater, and his talents will be needed as this brings forth the other underlying issue of France’s government. Though their fiscal debts may be their priority, the Parliament remains too divided to be effective in its decision for the well-being of the state.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AFP/GETTY IMAGES Singha Durbur in flames
PHOTO BY THOMAS SAMSON
From left to right, Sébastien Lecornu, France’s defense minister; the country’s president, Emmanuel Macron; and Mr. Bayrou in May
Michigan’s transgender youth faces a new set of challenges
SOPHIA CURRAN Political Editor
On Sept. 4, Republicans in Michigan’s House of Representatives passed a proposal which would prohibit transgender students in K-12 schools and universities from being able to use the bathroom of their preferred gender identity.
Rep. Joseph Fox (R-Fremont) sponsored House Bill 4204, claiming that it will “implement important safeguards in educational institutions.” This measure will be taken to ensure that no young girls will feel unsafe while in bathrooms, locker rooms or showers due to the presence of individuals who do not identify with their “God-given sex.”
“I am disheartened that we have left parents powerless, school personnel constrained and children vulnerable to evil in a broken world — specifically in spaces designed for privacy, dignity and respect,” Fox said.
In a 58-46 vote, all Democrats opposed the proposition. Many Democratic representatives believe that not only is the policy discriminatory towards transgender students, but it would also be nearly impossible to impose.
Rep. Helena Scott (D-Detroit) opposed the bill, claiming that it violated the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, also referred to as ELCRA.
The act prohibits discriminatory actions taken in “practices, policies and customs in the exercise of those rights based upon religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status or
marital status.”
“As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to protect the rights of Michiganders, most certainly including those of our kids and students,” Scott said. “This legislation defies that very important responsibility by rolling back rights and eroding discrimination protections outlined in ELCRA.”
The policy still has to be sent to the Senate, where it is expected to not be passed due to the Senate majority identifying with the Democratic Party.
Transgender minors in Michigan have been facing a series of rollbacks on access to gender-affirming care and accessibilities.
On Sept. 10, Corewell Health announced that it would be discontinuing gender-affirming care for minors due to “serious risk of legal and regulatory action.”
“Corewell Health will no longer prescribe puberty blockers or hormone therapy to minors for gender
affirmation. Like many health care systems across the country, we made this decision to protect both our health care providers and our patients. We will continue to compassionately address the health needs of our patients who are in transition or wish to transition, including providing mental health support,” Corewell said in a statement provided to the Free Press.
Corewell and many other Michigan hospitals are choosing to roll back on providing gender-affirming care to those under 19 years-old to prevent legal actions imposed by the Trump administration.
On Jan. 28, The White House announced in an executive order that it would not “fund, sponsor, promote, assist or support” a child’s gender-affirming transition and will instead work to enforce laws that prohibit providing the healthcare to do so.
Equality Michigan (EQMI), an organization in Michigan that works to ensure the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens across Michigan, released a statement regarding Corewell Health’s finalization in prohibiting genderaffirming care to minors.
“It is devastating to see yet another healthcare giant turn its back on transgender youth and families. Corewell’s decision underscores a disturbing pattern. Institutions that should be at the forefront of providing compassionate, evidence-based care are instead retreating under political pressure, leaving vulnerable young people to shoulder the harm,” EQMI Executive Director Erin Knott said in a statement.
Those under the age of 19 in Michigan who may wish to seek gender-affirming care now must face harsher restrictions in a less-welcoming environment.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PRIDESOURCE
Grizzlies Volleyball falls short on the road
MARYANNE SANFORD Distributor
The Golden Grizzlies Volleyball faced off in a non-conference matchup against Bowling Green on Wednesday, Sept. 17, where they fell in three sets.
Oakland started the first set with a strong 3-0 lead thanks to Molly Reck’s consecutive aces. Despite the lead and their competitive spirits, they faced a challenge mid-game as the Falcons went on a ten-point run to take an 18-7 lead and ultimately closed out the set 25-17.
The second set started strong, with the Grizzlies having a strong defense at the net, where back-to-back blocks from Grace Cooney and Libby Smith gave Oakland a 3-1lead. Unfortunately, the Falcons took advantage of the Grizzlies’ consistent attacking errors and wrapped up the set 25-14.
The third set began with the Falcons taking the lead, and the Grizzlies struggled to keep up. Despite trailing, OU found momentum with an ace from Kiley Gallagher and a block from Anika Prisby, closing the gap to 8-15. The Falcons ultimately were able to take the set despite Oakland’s strong offensive moves throughout.
The Grizzlies then took a weekend trip to Indianapolis to face Butler and Eastern Michigan in the Butler Invitational, where they fell to Eastern on Friday, 0-3, and Butler on Saturday, 0-3.
Friday’s game against Eastern started with the Eagles getting the lead, and the Grizzlies fought back to tie it back up 8-8 thanks to a pair of kills from Libby Smith. Eastern was still able to pull away on a 5-0 run to close out the set 25-17.
The second set turned out to be the most difficult game of the week, with the Eagles pulling away quickly and the Grizzlies not being able to catch back up, losing the set 25-7. The Grizzlies then got their energy back for the third set and took the lead 14-10 thanks to Caroline Moore’s accurately placed kills. However, a late push from Eastern resulted in them taking the set and the game 26-24.
The Grizzlies regrouped and played Butler on Saturday, where the starting lineup, consisting of four freshmen, showed glimpses of resilience. They opened the first set with Butler gaining momentum and the Grizzlies trailing behind 6-3. Critical kills from OU’s Ella Martin and Olivia Rust kept the set competitive and the gap small. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, and Butler took the set 25-22.
The second set started with a fight for the lead until Ellen Zapp placed a service ace, giving the Grizzlies a 6-3 lead. Butler then clapped back with several kills and ultimately pulled ahead mid-set. Despite a late push back from the Grizzlies, Butler was able to take advantage of Oakland’s errors and took the second set 25-18.
In the third set, Butler took an early 2-0 lead. Oakland’s Libby Smith responded with several kills and a crucial block to cut into Butler’s 16-9 lead. A late rush from Smith, providing back-to-back kills, took the gap to 23-18, but OU was unable to close the gap completely and lost the set 25-18.
The Grizzlies will now look to start their Horizon League play and secure their first victory of the season. They will face off on the road against Milwaukee on Friday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. in the Klotsche Center.
Is the roar of the Detroit Tigers enough to win the World Series?
MATTHEW
LEWAKOWSKI
Sports Reporter
The Detroit Tigers’ regular season comes to a close on Sept. 28th, and then the MLB playoffs will come to fruition.
As of Sept. 20, the Detroit Tigers sit at 85-70 — 2 1/2 games in front of the Cleveland Guardians to clinch the division. The Tigers sit at third overall in the American League.
The Tigers are 46-23 at home and 39-36 on the road. The team batting average is currently .248 with an on-base percentage of .317 and a slugging percentage of .418.
The Tigers’ offensive leader is All-Star Riley Greene, with a .258 batting average, 34 home runs and 108 runs batted in (RBI). Following Riley Greene is rising star Spencer Torkelson with a .245 batting average, 31 home runs and 78 RBIs. Defensively, the pitching started strong but has been quite rough lately — it ranks sixth in the American League. The Tigers’ ERA is 3.97 with 1,311 strikeouts and 464 walks allowed.
Despite recent team struggles on the mound, Tarik Skubal is having a Cy Young-caliber season — as of Sept. 20, Skubal’s win-loss record is 13-5 with a 2.23 ERA (second overall in the MLB), a careerhigh 233 strikeouts (second in MLB), a WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) of .88 (best in the MLB) in only 189 innings pitched.
The stats all point to one question — how will the Detroit Tigers do in the postseason?
With the Tigers sitting at third in the American League, and the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees both playing in the AL East, the Tigers are fighting for a bye in the playoffs.
If they can hold off the Guardians, Mariners and Astros coming down this stretch, the Tigers will earn a bye, taking them directly to the AL Division Series.
However, if any of these teams pass the Tigers by the end of the season, the Tigers would have to play a wild-card game against the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Kansas City Royals or Tampa Bay Rays.
As of Sept. 20, the betting odds for the Detroit
Tigers winning the World Series are at +900, tied for the fifth best in the MLB. The current favorites are the Philadelphia Phillies at +450, the Los Angeles Dodgers at +500 and the Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers at +700.
One Oakland student predicted, “The Tigers will make the ALCS and then lose.” Another was very confident in saying, “The Tigers will win the World Series, no doubt about it.” Another student said, “We will win the World Series if we aren’t playing the Dodgers.”
Despite any recent struggles, the Detroit Tigers cannot be counted out in the postseason. If they can regain momentum, they should be considered strong contenders for the World Series.
PHOTO COURTSY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY SPORTS
PHOTO COURTESY
NFL contenders and pretenders
JAMES ELLING Sports Editor
The NFL season has just begun, yet fans and analysts have already begun crowning their top teams.
Right now, there are probably fifteen fan bases thinking they’re on their way to winning it all.
Among these, only one can win the Super Bowl. Only two can play in it. Heck, only four will even taste the conference championship round. The rest will leave their fans disappointed.
So — who is just acting tough before reaching their inevitable demise? Who has a real shot?
The Pretenders
My pretenders talk the talk, but I expect to see them struggle to walk the walk late in the season. To be considered a pretender, teams must actually be regarded as a legitimate threat to win it all.
To the Colts, Vikings and Seahawks: Well done! You’ve looked great! That said, I am not scared of you, nor do I expect anyone else to be.
The Green Bay Packers are off to a 2-1 start, including dominant wins over the Lions and Commanders and a disappointing loss to the previously winless Cleveland Browns.
The Packers boast what looks to me like the best defense in the NFL. The unit is led by elite edge rusher Micah Parsons, top-shelf safety Xavier McKinney and second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper — who I expect to be widely-regarded as one of the premier backers in the league by the end of the season.
Their offense possesses an armory of weapons. While they lack a true primary receiving option, the Packers have one of the best running backs in the NFL in Josh Jacobs and more than a handful of viable targets. When healthy, the offensive line is reliable, too.
Frankly, the Packers are one of the most wellconstructed teams in the NFL. The issue? Jordan Love.
Love is one of the more exciting and talented quarterbacks in the league. Championships aren’t rewarded for raw talent and excitement, though. Despite flashes of brilliance, Love’s poor decision making and over-confidence in his arm will need much improvement before the Packers can take a stab at the Super Bowl.
The Kansas City Chiefs have been the gold standard in the NFL for nearly a decade. After an 0-2 start — albeit to two great teams — the dynasty seems to be on thin ice, despite a bounce-back win over the less-than-intimidating New York Giants.
Yes, the team still has Patrick Mahomes and whatever supposed magic he brings with him. However, it seems the bones of the team — the run game and defense — are growing brittle.
Their running backs have struggled to generate consistent yardage, especially in big moments, and the offensive line hasn’t created reliable lanes. Much of their rushing production has come from Mahomes himself — a result of improvisation, not a functional ground game.
Defensively, the Chiefs are looking vulnerable. On paper, the defense is still elite, but they’ve struggled to step up and contain key drives against respectable offenses.
The Chiefs’ 2024 ability to win close games is not sustainable, as we’ve already seen this season. They’ll have to learn to play like winners in the first 50-something minutes of a game if they expect to continue coming out as winners after 60.
The Washington Commanders are coming off a thrilling 2024 season NFC conference championship appearance.
Teams led by young superstars — like Washington and their sophomore quarterback Jayden Daniels — are often easy to fall in love with, especially when they can win 41-24 with the young star sidelined.
Jayden Daniels is electrifying, but with inconsistent protection from the offensive line and a shaky running game, he could have far too much on his shoulders.
Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn is a strong defensive mind, but I am incredibly skeptical that he has the roster pieces to execute his scheme the way he intends to.
It’s also worth mentioning that, despite their young quarterback, the Commanders are the oldest roster in the NFL by average player age. This leaves me wondering how wear and tear will weigh on them as the long season goes on.
The Contenders
Inversely to the pretenders, my contenders are teams that I believe to be legit, even though they aren’t the heavy favorites.
So, to the Bills, Ravens and Eagles: Yes, you are good at football. Good for you. But this is not your place.
The Los Angeles Rams are pretty much a completely different team than the one that won the Super Bowl in 2022. Two key pieces remain — QB Matthew Stafford and head coach Sean McVay.
The duo of experienced offensive masterminds is enough in itself to produce a worthwhile offense — yet they have the luxury of leaning on a strong running game that features Kyren Williams running behind an increasingly stable offensive line. For good measure, Stafford can air it out to two elite wide receivers in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
The offense and coaching are productive and proven. The defense is what excites me, though.
The defensive line is very young — and very good. Jared Verse is poised to become a superstar off the edge, and Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske make up one of my favorite defensive interior duos in the league.
The secondary has some question marks, but I believe that the pressure will be strong enough to make their jobs easy — and cornerback Cobie Durant is on his way to becoming a star in 2025.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers seem to have intercepted the magic that the Chiefs flaunted last year. Three weeks in, the Bucs are 3-0, winning their matchups by three, one and two points respectively.
Baker Mayfeild has his swagger back. He’s been solid throughout the games, but he’s looked like a superhero when he’s needed to.
The Bucs offense has looked somewhat pedestrian so far, despite the emergence of rookie receiver Emeka Egbuka — do not expect this to continue.
The Bucs are currently without their elite offensive tackle duo of Tristan Wirfs and Luke Goedeke, as well as trusted veteran receiver Chris Godwin. Their returns cannot be understated. When healthy, this offense will be dangerous.
The defense is well-coached and filled with talent at every level. Defensive tackle Vita Vea is maybe the best run stopper in the league, linebacker Lavonte David is one of the premier veteran leaders you’ll ever see, and Antoine Winfield Jr. recently spent five months as the highest paid defensive back in the league — for good reason.
The Detroit Lions are hard-nosed and old school, like most Super Bowl winning teams have been.
I am in love with the prospect of what this offensive line can be. Tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker are one of the best duos in the NFL. The concerns thus far have been on the interior, but I truly expect the unit to grow more and more cohesive with each week. Young guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge are absolute maulers. When they become more confident in their responsibilities, they will help to create holes that owner Sheila Ford-Hamp could run through.
If the Lions O-line continues to grow in communication, their offense will be terrifying. Then — and only then — QB Jared Goff will be able to conduct an offensive masterpiece with contributions from all angles of one of the best skill groups in the NFL.
The Lions offense has been dependable for some time now, but the defense will have to keep pace for them to truly earn their keep as a contender. The unit is full of stars — Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph lead the list — but they will need to execute at a higher level, which I expect them to chip away at week by week.
The Lions start the season in a bit of a hole, because of all of their offseason changes. If the complications of those transitions can be ironed out, the Lions roster is as talented as any in the league, and their chances of taking home their first ever Lombardi Trophy will reflect that.
In a league defined by parity and unpredictability, separating the real from the fraudulent is never easy. But as the season unfolds, talent, coaching and resilience will rise to the surface.
Some teams will prove the hype was real — others will remind us that potential means nothing without execution.
So, strap in. This year’s NFL rollercoaster is just getting started.
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MIKE OKORONKWO Sports Reporter
With the departure of key players like Allen Mukeba, Jayson Woodrich, DQ Cole, and Malcolm Christie, a new chapter is beginning for the Oakland Golden Grizzlies men’s basketball team.
The question on the minds of fans and analysts alike is: who will step up to fill the void and lead the Golden Grizzlies into the 2025-26 season?
While the core of the team is familiar, the Golden Grizzlies have brought in a new group of talented newcomers who are ready to make a name for themselves. From dynamic playmakers to formidable bigs, these are some new additions that should be worth following closely as the season gets underway.
Brody Robinson, Point Guard (UT Arlington): Brody Robinson is a significant and exciting addition to the Oakland backcourt.
The senior transfer from UT Arlington is a developed, skilled, and poised ball handler with a solid bag of combo dribbles that makes him a true asset in transition. His twitchy, athletic nature allows him to play at a fast pace, which will be a great fit for the Golden Grizzlies’ style of play.
One of his most promising attributes is his shooting prowess; Robinson possesses a smooth, consistent jumper and a pure stroke. His ability is backed by his efficient 40 percent accuracy from beyond the arc and a strong 80.5 percent from the free-throw line. This makes him a player defenses simply cannot leave open from deep.
Robinson is also an efficient passer with solid court vision, highlighted by his impressive 2.0 assist-toturnover ratio last season.
Ziare Wells, Wing (Lenoir-Rhyne)
Wells, a transfer out of NCAA Division II LenoirRhyne, is an intriguing player to say the least, and his impact could be felt from the very start.
As a wing standing at 6-foot-4, he brings an explosive offensive game to Oakland, one that made him a standout during his time at Lenoir-Rhyne.
Last season, he led his team in scoring, averaging an impressive 16.6 points per game while shooting an efficient 53.2 percent from the field and a strong 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.
He’s a proven bucket-getter who can create his own shot and score from all three levels, a skill set that will be invaluable for the Golden Grizzlies.
In addition to his skill set, Wells is a winner with a championship pedigree. He was named the South Atlantic Conference Tournament MVP and All-SAC First Team for a Lenoir-Rhyne squad that went 29-6 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight.
He’s also a capable rebounder for his position, averaging 5.7 rebounds per game.
His consistent production, experience in high-pressure games, and willingness to compete on both ends of the court make him the type of player who can immediately elevate the Golden Grizzlies’ performance and culture.
Michael Houge, Forward (Jacksonville State)
Michael Houge is an exciting new piece for the Golden Grizzlies’ frontcourt, bringing a combination of athleticism and experience that will immediately bolster the team’s defensive identity.
Standing at a solid 6-foot-7, his athleticism, lateral quickness, and vertical leap make him an imposing presence on the defensive end. He possesses the physical tools to defend multiple positions, from agile forwards to powerful centers.
His defensive impact is further evidenced by his ability to dominate the glass, averaging 7.4 rebounds per game in his last season.
With a relentless motor and a knack for securing boards, Houge’s presence will be felt both in transition and in the halfcourt, making him a player fans should be very excited about.
Isaac Garrett, Forward (Snow College)
Isaac Garrett is a promising big who will bring highlevel production and efficiency to Oakland’s frontcourt.
A 6-foot-8, 219-pound forward from Snow College, Garrett had an impressive sophomore season, showing he can be a dominant force inside. He was incredibly efficient, averaging 8.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game while shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field.
Garrett’s ability to finish consistently at the rim and on the offensive glass will provide a much-needed scoring boost in the paint.
He has also demonstrated the capability to stretch the floor, offering a multifaceted offensive threat that will keep defenses on their toes.
Nate Deer, Forward (Texas State)
Nate Deer is a true wild card for the Golden Grizzlies and a player with a high ceiling.
The 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from Texas State brings significant size and a physical presence to the roster.
Though his stats from last season (1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds per game) may not jump off the page, his potential is undeniable. Deer’s value lies in his raw physical tools, including his solid frame and interior defense.
He is a high-motor player who can be a differencemaker on the glass and in the paint, providing the kind of toughness and size that will be crucial for battling in the Horizon League.
Deer’s development under the Oakland coaching staff could lead him to emerge as a key contributor.
Khoi Thurmon, Guard (Panola College)
Khoi Thurmon is an exciting junior college transfer who could be a breakout star for the Golden Grizzlies this coming season.
He brings a dynamic scoring and playmaking ability that should have Oakland fans on the edge of their seats.
Last season, Thurmon averaged an impressive 14.8 points per game while also dishing out 6.5 assists per game, which was among the top marks in the NJCAA.
He’s known for being a slippery, crafty guard who can get to his spots on the floor and is a proven scorer at the junior college level.
His ability to facilitate the offense and create for others is a major reason why he’s considered such a high-impact newcomer, and his confident demeanor and talent give him the potential to make a huge splash in the Horizon League.
The new additions to the Oakland men’s basketball team represent a diverse profile of talent from various levels of college basketball.
This incoming class is not a one-size-fits-all group, but rather a collection of players designed to address specific needs on the court. There’s the proven Division II scorer in Ziare Wells from Lenoir-Rhyne, the high-motor big man with positional size in Michael Houge from Jacksonville State, and the efficient, high-volume playmaker in Brody Robinson from UT Arlington.
The blend of a high-scoring junior college guard in Khoi Thurmon and a raw but physically imposing forward in Nate Deer from Texas State shows the coaching staff’s approach: seeking a mix of immediate production, specific skill sets, and high-upside potential.
The variety in this group of incoming talent suggests a strategic approach to rebuilding and retooling the roster.
