Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu
248.370.2533
ELEVATOR PITCH A student approaches the Oakland County Government Table at the OU Fall Career Fair to learn more about job and internship opportunities.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW VIGELIUS
Letter from the editor: The price of senior year
CHELSEA BOSSERT Editor-in-Chief
College is expensive. College is really, really, really, really, really expensive. The average cost of tuition at a public institution in Michigan over the course of a fouryear degree is approximately $52,000, for a public in-state school, according to the Michigan Education Savings Program (MESP). This does not factor in the cost of living on or off campus.
How do prospective college students and current students pay this? There’s a wide variety of options that one can call upon to pay for schooling. For me, I started out at a fouryear private in-state school in Kalamazoo, Mich. I received several scholarships for good academics in high school. I also took out federal loans.
The student loan program, at the federal level, is in disarray.
Under the Biden administration, a sweeping and comprehensive student loan forgiveness program went into effect, but was under fire from Congress and the Judiciary. The former presidential administration’s SAVE program was blocked by the 8th circuit court of appeals in February of this year.
This program would have given relief to a good amount of people paying back their student loans, and after a while, would even eliminate their debt.
The Trump administration’s current iteration of the SAVE program will be continued through IBR (or income-based repayment) and debt cancellation for a portion of borrowers after they are deemed eligible.
Private lenders are used by the federal government to grant these loans to students, primarily new adults aged 18. At its core, student loans being granted to this group
of people is sketchy at best, and predatory at worst.
However, I have not taken out the max student loans available. I transferred to Oakland University in 2023 after a year and a half at my old school and have been under less financial stress since making the change.
It’s nice that Oakland prides itself on being a cheaper alternative to bigger public state schools such as U of M and MSU. OU does not have any hidden fees, positioning themselves as a successful and accredited foil institution.
In many ways I lucked out. I chose to transfer to my hometown university, with programs and faculty in my department that are fantastic, and with a welcoming community that I found my place in.
There was a point in August, however, where I was not sure if I could pay for school. Usually, federal subsidized
loans cover most of my tuition. This summer I was given a generous scholarship and had financial support from my parents. Everything was set for my last semester in my undergraduate degree.
But then, poof. My subsidized loans were cancelled. Everything I have been reading about in the news cycle, over the past three years with the promise of an overhaul of the federal student loan program, and the SAVE initiative, finally breached into my world.
I was only a one semester student at OU this academic year, and because of this, my subsidized loans were deemed unnecessary. Last minute, I scrambled to get together some saved money, begrudgingly took out some unsubsidized federal student loans and set up a payment plan with OU. Even after the payment deadline, I managed to scrape together enough money — and promised money — to pay for school.
I am one of the lucky ones.
Many students did not get to my position to be able to pay for school last-minute, after getting blindsided by money troubles. However, I believe that there are some things, on the state level, the government is doing right in regards to funding students’ education.
In 2024, the governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, secured funding for tuition free community college for high school graduates in Michigan. A step in the right direction. Community college is becoming a more viable option for students who either want a minimal education after high school, students pursuing technical degrees and even students who are not sure what they want to do. School is essential, especially after graduating high school. Knowledge is power, and knowledge should not be gatekept by how much money is at your disposal.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY
A conversation with PRSSA alumni on agency life and experience
MARYAM SOMO Campus Reporter
Oakland University’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter hosted a presentation and conversation with PRSSA alumni on Oct. 2. Members eagerly arrived early, filling the regular meeting space beyond its usual capacity as they anticipated the alumni’s insights on their academic backgrounds and experiences in PR agencies.
The meeting featured two presentations followed by Q&A sessions. Megan Woloweic, a public relations manager at Lambert, delivered one presentation on her own, while Columbia Ward and Natalie Pritula, both client operations associates at Publicis Collective, presented together.
Ward graduated with her bachelor’s in public relations and strategic communications. During her time at OU, she led PRSSA as a former president and social media coordinator. Pritula graduated with her bachelor’s in public relations and political science. During her time at OU, she was a part of the PRSSA e-board as secretary. Both Ward and Pritula have various experiences with internships in multiple fields and knowledge on how to jumpstart a career path.
They kicked off the meeting with their presentation about their careers at Publicis Collective, one of the world’s largest communications and advertising holding companies. They then explained their individual academic and professional backgrounds. Having graduated in 2025, both Ward and Pritual’s advice and guidance connected with many students who are currently looking for the next steps in their academic education and professional careers.
“For students, it’s a realistic experience for them to see how to make the transition from school to industry,” Chiaoning
Su, director of the Public Relations Program and PRSSA’s academic advisor, said. “Some of the guest speakers are recent graduates, so this can be super relatable.”
After Pritula and Ward’s presentation, Woloweic stepped up to share her extensive experience as a PR manager.
Woloweic graduated in 2020 with her bachelor’s in journalism and was one of the founding students of OU’s PRSSA chapter. After graduating, she began a public relations internship at Lambert, an integrated PR agency that provides strategic public relations counsel. After almost five years with the company, she got two promotions and has since held her current manager position.
With years of experience in the PR industry, Woloweic offered concrete insights into the growth in the PR field, the variety of roles and opportunities, its fast-paced nature and
the enjoyment that comes with it. Pulling from her experience in a managerial role, she also shared advice on the interview process from the perspective of someone involved in hiring.
“Megan [Woloweic] came to our PR and advertising writing class and we are currently working on a future story on her, so I wanted to get more information on her experiences,” PRSSA member Madeline Kaplantzes said. “I also just wanted to learn more about networking and other people’s experiences.”
The ending of the presentations led into a Q&A session, giving members the chance to ask questions and gain a deeper understanding of the PR agency industry.
Questions ranged from how to maintain a healthy worklife balance to what a typical day looks like in a PR agency. However, the conversation truly came to life when the topic of internships came up. For many students in the room, internships were a big worry because they are in the process of finding them, yet it seems to be challenging.
All three speakers agreed that searching for internships through OU’s resources is the starting point; however, it takes more than that. They all mentioned that going to a company’s website and applying for existing internships through there is the best option. Another suggestion given by Woloweic about internships is to reach out to companies to stand out.
“I came in not knowing anything and I actually learned a lot about PR agencies and what it takes to get to that point,” PRSSA member Tessa Saussele said. “I went into PR wanting to be an event manager, but I learned that I actually love the fastpaced aspect and environment of PR agencies. It’s something that I would definitely love to do.”
PRSSA’s next meeting will feature more guest speakers, but this time the topic will be on PR skills in entrepreneurship and building thriving businesses. For further information, visit its Instagram page at @prssa_ou.
Sexual violence prevention on annual security and fire safety re port
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
Stalking is reported as the offense with the highest incidence at Oakland University, according to the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report, standing in contrast with a drop of liquor law violations totaling zero during 2024.
According to the latest report, which covers crime statistics from 2022 to 2024, there were 20 reported instances of stalking in the past year, a significant increase from the nine reported in 2023 and eight in 2022. There were also eight reported cases of rape on campus in 2024, following five cases reported in 2023 and 2022.
“The OUPD, as well as residence hall staff and other offices in the Student Affairs Division, sponsor regular sessions for the campus community relating to personal safety awareness; security awareness; self-defense, and selfprotection; Rape Aggression Defense Program (RAD); sexual assault prevention,” OUPD said in its annual report.
Published in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, every year the university compiles information about criminal offenses and prevention tactics to keep the campus community informed about safety resources and procedures.
With zero murders, zero drug, liquor or illegal weapon violations and only one robbery, the annual report dedicated 20 of its 57 pages to the identification, prevention and reporting procedures of sexual violence and stalking.
“Oakland University attempts to provide a secure and hospitable environment for its students,” OUPD wrote in the report. “Michigan law and the University prohibit the offenses of rape, acquaintance rape, domestic violence,
dating violence, sexual assault and stalking.”
For this, a team of 22 law enforcement professionals — 14 uniformed officers, one detective, four sergeants, two lieutenants and the Chief of Police — works 24/7 in conjunction with other local and university agencies to ensure the prevention and prosecution of such crimes.
Educational programs are the first measure of prevention and awareness tactics. Nineteen different ongoing programs offered by the university cover topics from interpersonal violence and rape aggression defense to working with LGBT+ patients and human trafficking. These programs, offered on campus, off-site and remotely, help the campus community identify possible threats and teach how to prevent such instances.
“Bystander intervention means safe and positive options that may be carried out by an individual or individuals to prevent harm or intervene when there is a risk of dating
violence, domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking,” OUPD said in its report. “Bystander intervention includes recognizing situations of potential harm, understanding cultural conditions that facilitate violence, overcoming barriers to intervening, identifying safe and effective intervention options, and taking action to intervene.”
Emergency blue light phones and the OUPD dispatch number (248-370-3331) stand as a second line of prevention while also offering prompt and confidential options for reporting crimes. Several pages are dedicated to best practices while reporting a crime and the rights and procedures of violence survivors.
“Anyone who is the victim of a crime and who does not wish to pursue action within the University judicial system or the criminal justice system can make a confidential report,” OUPD wrote. “The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to enhance the future safety of yourself and others.”
With two fondling cases, two domestic violence instances and two dating violence reports on campus in the last year, sexual violence remains the category with the highest incidence rates. In contrast, burglary, motor vehicle theft and liquor and drug violations dropped to zero in the past year.
“A safe university environment cannot be achieved solely by the OUPD. The safest environment is achieved with the involvement and cooperation of all members of the campus community,” OUPD said in its annual report. “Every member of the campus community, including without limitation faculty, students, staff and campus visitors must assume responsibility for their own personal safety, and the security of their belongings by taking simple, common sense precautions.”
For more information and to see the full report, please visit the OUPD website https://oakland.edu/police/.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PRSSA OU CHAPTER
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning experiments with outdoor classrooms
ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Campus Editor
When thinking of a classroom, the art gallery, Meadow Brook Hall or the student organic farm are not the first things that come to mind. The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is seeking to change the notions of a regular classroom with its “Teaching in Place” initiative, on this occasion, featuring the Native American Heritage Site as an outdoor classroom.
On Oct. 1, Oakland University faculty, teaching assistants and graduate students took to Gidinawemaaganinaanig: Endazhigiyang (All My Relations: The Place Where We All Grow), the Native American Heritage Site, to explore the learning opportunities the land has to offer.
“CETL’s mission is to promote inclusive, innovative, and high-impact teaching that enhances student learning, which we do through a variety of professional development programs and collaboration with faculty, staff and students,” Christina Moore, CETL associate director, said.
The Teaching in Place initiative was developed in Winter 2025 by Tom Branski, a graduate intern, with the first workshop session held this semester. The idea was to foster community-engaged learning through placebased teaching.
Faculty, staff and students have thus come together at these workshops to explore how they can teach outside of four walls, draft space-specific teaching guides and foster community-connected lesson plans.
“Overall, we’ve seen these outcomes: Created a shift in mindset about what learning environments can
be; Provided a new lens for seeing OU’s campus as a living teaching resource; Fostered cross-disciplinary collaboration and pedagogical imagination,” Moore said. “For students, the benefits are expected to come indirectly through improved teaching: faculty are considering more impactful, experiential learning experiences that connect students to real-world issues in their communities.”
The cross-disciplinary collaborations have also been championed and supported by faculty like literature professor Megan Peiser, who explained all the teaching possibilities that come with learning about land relationships at the heritage site.
“Thinking of human beings as part of nature, not as separate from nature, that is applicable to any class,” Peiser said. “A political science class would really benefit [from] learning about the way that land relationships have
influenced the history of our country, of government, of law. History classes could certainly find a lot to talk about here, certainly science classes.”
As one of the Native American Advisory Committee co-chairs, Peiser has spent innumerable hours at Gidinawemaaganinaanig and takes her students to the land regularly to connect early American literature with local and modern expressions of the same motifs.
“This space has only been cultivated the way that it is now for about four years, and so not as many people know that it’s out here and it’s an option,” Peiser said. “So we come out here to sort of model the ways that we do this and encourage people and answer questions and help people generate ideas, because students deserve to have a classroom outside.”
During these sessions, professors present about the opportunities offered by the different spaces, exemplifying lesson plans and classroom management. As attendees explore and brainstorm how the location can add to their course material, they workshop activities and discussion points for students.
With three sessions under their belt and two more to come this year, faculty interest and collaboration have been enthusiastic, Moore explained, with the creation and sharing of teaching guides that will eventually create a “Teaching in Place at OU Guide.”
“The concrete deliverables include developing a comprehensive ‘Teaching in Place at OU Guide’ and establishing coordinated infrastructure for academic outdoor space use,” Moore said. “Ultimately, CETL aims to help faculty reimagine campus spaces as active learning environments that inspire curiosity, build community, and promote student-centered, experiential teaching.”
PHOTO BY ADRIAN JIMENEZ MORALES
Jess Walter explores storytelling, creativity and AI in Oakland Center Reads
ADDISON KOCH
Features Reporter
On Monday, Sept. 29, in the Oakland Center Founders Ballroom, bestselling author Jess Walter read from his work, discussed the art of storytelling and answered audience questions. He brought a sense of humor and urgency to topics such as AI’s impact on society, the need for human connection and how to foster creativity in a changing world.
Walter’s books include standouts such as the No. 1 New York Times bestseller “Beautiful Ruins” and his award-winning novel “The Cold Millions.” He is known for his narrative range and ability to move seamlessly from political satire and historical fiction to emotionally resonant short stories. His latest novel, “So Far Gone,” has already been praised by The Washington Post as one of the “Books to Watch For” in 2025, showcasing his ability to balance adventure, social critique and deeply human characters.
During his reading, Walter reflected on his journey as a first-generation college student and young father from Spokane, Washington, to becoming one of America’s most celebrated writers. He recalled growing up in a working-class family with a father who never quite understood his chosen career.
“My dad would always remind me,” Walter said with a laugh, “They can read themselves.”
Walter said he has chased the dream of writing since his teenage years, when he discovered Kurt Vonnegut in his junior high library. Vonnegut was
one of the first authors Walter interviewed as a student journalist, an encounter that solidified his commitment to storytelling.
Recently, Walter has turned his attention to technology, especially the growing influence of artificial intelligence. He recounted how several of his books were used without permission to train AI systems, part of a larger controversy fueling lawsuits by The Authors Guild. While Walter acknowledged the theft of creative work, he also voiced a deeper concern: what AI might mean for human thought, connection and creativity itself.
“AI makes you dumber,” he said bluntly, citing an MIT study that showed a sharp decline in cognitive engagement when students used generative AI to write essays. For Walter, the danger isn’t just plagiarism or misinformation but the way technology isolates people and rewires attention.
“It’s a bad cigarette company,” he warned, urging students to consider how they can set boundaries around AI use.
Throughout the evening, Walter returned to a central theme: writing, like life, is less about certainty and more about exploration. From his early reporting on the Ruby Ridge incident, which became his nonfiction book Every Knee Shall Bow, to novels exploring love, comedy and loss, Walter has built a career on embracing complexity rather than reducing it.
As he told the audience, literature itself is a kind of database – one built not from stolen parts but from human voices layered across generations. His advice echoed the generosity shown to him by writers such
as Vonnegut: ask questions, stay engaged and never stop trying to understand the unknown.
Walter reminded students that storytelling is not just about entertainment but about engagement with the world. Whether through satire, history or contemporary fiction, his works continue to challenge readers to see beyond their own experiences.
“Living in the question,” he said, “may be the truest work of both writers and readers.”
PHOTO BY HANNAH ASSOULINE
Dear Mallory
Getting into the dating game
MALLORY WALIGORA
Content Editor
Q: I’m 21, and I’ve never gone on a first date or anything. How do I get myself in the dating game? – Anonymous student
Let me start with this: you are not behind. The timeline imposed on young adults – your first relationship in high school, a college sweetheart and a happy marriage at 25 – is an unrealistic social construct. It doesn’t help that your relatives probably pry at Thanksgiving, asking the dreaded “Are you dating anyone?” question. Real life unfolds differently for everyone.
Some of the coolest people I know haven’t made dating a high priority in their lives, and they’re still living exciting, vibrant, full lives. My sister, for example, is a bioengineering student, which means she spends her days studying concepts I can’t even pronounce. When she’s not in a laboratory, she’s frosting cakes at her bakery job and hanging out with lifelong friends who’ve been by her side since middle school. She’s the kind of person who can solve problem sets, pipe a perfect buttercream cake and give a heartfelt hug – all in one day.
“I don’t have time for a boyfriend,” she always huffs before disappearing into her room with a stack of textbooks. And she’s right – her life is already full. She’s surrounded by friendship, ambition and support. Watching her makes me realize that having a strong network of friends and a passion for your work is often more reliable and fulfilling than chasing a relationship just for the sake of it.
Then there’s my friend Matilde. She’s an Italian goddess with hair like a Botticelli painting and the only sommelier I trust to recommend me a drink. She simply laughs off any romantic interests. Why? She’s balancing multiple jobs, tackling her degree and carving out time for her friends. Recently, she’s gotten into making homemade gelato (which is excellent news for me) and spends her summers on the Italian coast, sending me photos of beaches and plates of pasta that make me want to hop on the next flight out of DTW. Her life is proof that you can build a life overflowing with joy and adventure without needing a relationship to validate it.
I don’t think of these people as being unsuccessful;
in fact, it’s quite the opposite. They’re determined, passionate and smart. I love being in their presence, and it constantly reminds me that fulfillment comes in many different forms. In all honesty, the fact that neither of them has had a serious relationship never even crossed my mind until I sat down to write this piece.
When I think about the rewarding relationships in my life, I think about watching movies with my sister in our childhood basement on a humid summer day, the two of us wrapped in blankets sharing snacks and commentary as if the outside world didn’t exist. I picture cramming into a friend’s tiny bathroom with six other girls before a night out, all of us sharing one curling iron and trading tops. I think of Evan nudging me his leftover fries at a restaurant, insisting I take the rest. I think about Maya, who spent hours making my favorite spinach and artichoke drip just two days before I left for France, carefully wrapping the leftovers for me in my dimly lit kitchen. I think about Hailey surprising me with a bouquet of flowers the morning after a breakup and the way the scent lingered in my room the following week. These friendships have been more constant, meaningful and honestly, way more fun than the handful of romantic relationships I’ve had.
When I think of love, it’s these friendships that come to mind first – not an ex-boyfriend. They remind me that love shows up in different forms, not just romantic ones. So before you beat yourself up about never going on a first date, remind yourself that romance might be exciting, but friendship is stable, lasting and often way more fun.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about getting into the actual dating game.
All of my friends have come to one major conclusion: you have to work on yourself first before entering a relationship. “I need to be the best version of myself,” my friend always says. I know it sounds cliché, but she’s right. Take the time to figure out what you value, what you’re looking for and what you want out of a relationship. Relationships can be great, but they take a lot of work. It will be a lot easier to navigate a relationship knowing who you are and what you want.
Maybe I’m just a super lucky person, but I’ve always met romantic partners organically – through clubs, out in public or through a friend of a friend. Show up. Go to club meetings, attend campus events and say yes to
parties. These are all golden opportunities to meet people. That being said, it would be stupid not to admit that online dating is an obvious first step as well. I famously hate it and exclusively use it when traveling in foreign cities to get a local’s recommendation. But sometimes, you have to play the game. Honestly, it’s the easiest way to find a date.
If you’re nervous about meeting someone from an online dating app, invite a friend to be nearby for support. I’ve helped out friends by simply bringing a laptop to a café and occasionally glancing up to make sure everything seemed safe. It can seem sketchy and awkward at first, but I think that online dating would be a low-stakes way to ease into dating.
So, anonymous student, you are not behind in life. I’m sure that you’re surrounded by friends and family who care about you. I’m sure you’re studying something you’re passionate about and have a bright future ahead of you. When you’re ready, romance will fit right into your life. Be sure to welcome it with open arms. When it does arrive, it may be all consuming — the kind of relationship that makes you pace around your bedroom and reread text messages. Or it may be the quiet peace you’ve always been looking for — a grounding, steady presence in your normally chaotic life. Sometimes, it’s simply a learning experience.
What’s most important is that you keep your door open. Don’t keep it wide open in desperation, but keep it open in a calm, deliberate way — creaked just wide enough for someone to walk in when the time is right. In the meantime? Download Hinge and don’t forget about your friendships – they’re the great first loves of college and will stick around with you long after the first-date jitters fade.
Need Advice?
Email mallorywaligora@oakland.edu and write in the subject line “Dear Mallory” with your question, or DM @theoaklandpost
GRAPHIC BY AUGUST WICKER
John Green and Roberta Michel confront rising tide of book bans
ADDISON KOCH Features Reporter
Book banning – the practice of restricting or removing access to certain books – has become a growing controversy across the United States. Schools, libraries and community groups continue to clash over which stories should be available to readers, raising urgent questions about freedom of expression, censorship and the role of literature in shaping society.
Few contemporary authors have felt the impact as personally as John Green, whose novels have appeared on banned lists nationwide. On Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. in the Oakland Center Founders Ballrooms, Green spoke to Oakland University students and faculty about his life, career and writing – and about how book bans have followed his success.
“I live in Indianapolis, and my books were just banned in the town north of where I live,” Green said. “I was like, ‘Come on, man, I live here, I go to your grocery store, like, we go to the same Kroger. You can’t think I’m a monster, right?’ But, like, they kind of do, which is uncomfortable.”
Green said his views on book banning have changed over time.
“I used to think that it was good for my books, in the sense that it probably brought them to more readers and that it was good for sales,” he said. “But now I recognize that it’s bad for everything. It’s bad for getting books to kids. It’s bad for the overall quality of discourse in the United States. It’s just bad. There’s nothing to be gained from banning books, and we should have learned this lesson a long time ago.”
At Oakland University, the issue of censorship is also being explored in classrooms. Roberta Michel, a faculty member in the Honors College, teaches a course on banned books that examines why some works are deemed too radical or threatening to social norms and what society loses when access to these works is restricted.
“The big takeaway I hope students get is that they have the opportunity to start formulating their own opinions,” Michel said. “They can think through things and don’t have to accept a narrative that isn’t
one they can come to terms with themselves. It’s about developing critical thinking – how to discern social topics and understand what their value system is.”
Michel believes that when communities censor books, they lose more than just titles on library shelves.
“They lose the heart of a community,” she said. “Libraries are meeting places to get books, have discussions and where ideas are argued. So if there isn’t any civil discourse happening, then how are you having a community even develop and build?”
She also noted that censorship often backfires, drawing more attention to the very works it seeks to suppress.
“The idea of ‘why can’t I look at that?’ – it appeals to everyone,” Michel said. “When it’s like, ‘Don’t touch the stove, it’s hot,’ people wonder, ‘Why not?’ Curiosity takes over.”
Michel encourages open conversations with readers, especially younger ones.
“I’ve had questions like, why is this book banned? Why?” she said. “And as a parent, I didn’t prevent my children from reading books like “1984.” Let’s talk about it. Let’s understand why. Why is this book forbidden in someone else’s house? Let’s talk about it. So I did.”
From Green’s personal frustration over his books being banned to Michel’s call for critical engagement and open dialogue, both voices underscore the same truth: the debate over book banning is not just about the books themselves, but about who gets to decide which stories are told – and which are silenced.
Labu-hoo: Why and where everyone should thrift old trends
MARISSA GETSCHMAN Arts Editor
Fast fashion and trends that last for the equivalent of five seconds in the grand scheme of life are the bane of the Earth. Thrift stores are loaded with the aftermath to the point where much of what gets donated immediately gets thrown in the trash, no questions asked. That is not to say everyone should start hoarding their belongings or just chucking old items to save the extra steps. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Rather than immediately rushing to Amazon to buy that brand new $50+ Labubu that’s going to be fun for all of a week, wait and think. Chances are the trend will blow over and second hand Labubus or whatever trend just passed in mint condition will hit thrift stores and garage sales for a fraction of the price.
If the fear that the trend will pass brings on a slew of quick impulse purchases, then that is exactly the problem. Don’t ever buy something because of the fear that it will no longer be in style. The style will pass and something new will come along. If the item is truly valued by a potential buyer, then the desire will last and secondhand finds will provide.
There are many thrift stores within a 20-minute radius of Oakland University that will penny-pinch and prove that waiting was the right choice.
Grace Centers of Hope
Located on Van Dyke Avenue in Utica, Grace Centers of Hope features two store fronts and a wide
variety of fine quality, affordable merchandise. One of the store fronts contains several wide, shallow bins labeled “Clothing $1.37 per pound,” where patrons can fill a bag and pay by weight. The rest of the store houses antiques, furniture, more clothing and a selection of first aid materials.
While this store does not have a student discount, they do feature a series of rotating sales, such as 50% off. They also have a similar tagging system as Salvation Army where a certain tag color will be on sale.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Located off of Hall Road in Shelby, St. Vincent de Paul Society is another large thrift store nearby. They have the typical thrift store line up of clothing, knickknacks and furniture for affordable prices. Students should make the trek on Wednesdays with their student IDs for a 10% discount.
Plato’s Closet
Walking distance from campus, the nearest Plato’s Closet is located on Walton Blvd and Adams Road, just across from the Village of Rochester Hills. Since the store is consignment and offers a small monetary sum for donations, they have a very picky selection. All name brands and high demand clothing at prices to match. Not as affordable as the other stores mentioned, but definitely worth the visit. This store earns bonus points for having OU gear but loses them for not offering a student discount or other predictable sales.
Salvation Army
Boasting hundreds of locations across the country, Salvation Army cannot be overlooked. With just about anything one can imagine at varying qualities and rotating sales on different colored tags, the store rarely disappoints. Students and teachers should visit on Thursdays for a 25% discount with school ID. Also worth noting is the 5 items for $5 colored tag sale on Fridays and Saturdays.
PHOTO BY KELLY SULLIVAN / GETTY IMAGES FILE
PHOTO COURTESY OF PLATO’S CLOSET
Impound costs spark student’s plan to
destroy his 1989 Camry
Oakland University senior Jacob Holm hopes to give his 1989 Toyota Camry a sendoff it deserves – a sort of Viking funeral involving power tools and target practice. With a fast approaching deadline to get rid of it, what began as an overnight parking dilemma snowballed into a $700 headache and a plan for a cathartic act of closure.
Holm bought the blue sedan about four years ago for around $2,000.
“It treated me great,” he said. “I was going to drive it until it just gave out on me.”
Over the last several months, a few consecutive incidents set the car on an ill-fated path. One snowy evening last December, Holm left a friend’s house and tapped his brakes to test the road conditions. The harmless move ended with a lowspeed fender bender.
“It wasn’t even a stranger,” he said. “It was just my buddy. He didn’t look, I guess.”
The collision left the Camry’s rear end caved in and the taillight badly bent. Holm parked it in his parents’ garage to prevent further damage, but months of sitting idle brought new problems.
“I was trying to fix it, but it wasn’t really quite working,” he said. “I thought, ‘All right, I think I’m just going to have to get rid of this thing.’”
By spring, his parents had grown tired of the sight of the damaged car on their property. When his sister’s graduation party approached, they gave him an ultimatum: move it or lose it.
“I thought, ‘Oh, I’m going to go to OU. They have the Hillcrest parking garage. It’s long-term parking,’” Holm
said. “There’s a boat on a trailer that’s been there as long as I can remember. I figured they were cool with letting people park there.”
Holm used a parking space in the garage’s lower level as an infrequent makeshift workspace over the summer. He made minor repairs and occasionally drove the Camry around to keep it functional. The car was registered, plated and insured, and he planned to sell it after returning from summer vacation and buy a new vehicle.
Then, during the first week of the fall semester, the Camry disappeared.
“I show up, and it’s gone,” Holm said. “I thought, ‘Either it got stolen or it got impounded. Either one is kind of not ideal.’”
A visit to the Oakland University Police Department confirmed his suspicion. The car had been towed after being marked “abandoned.” Holm was told officers had placed a tracker on it two days prior and found it hadn’t moved – enough to justify impoundment under Michigan law.
“That’s fine. You can do that, I guess,” Holm said. “It’s just frustrating that they didn’t tell me. There was no email, no mail, no text, no call. No notice.”
By the time he returned from vacation and went to it, the car had been in the lot for a week. The $700 retrieval cost was nearly half of what he originally paid for it. “Now, if I wanted to make any money on it, I’d have to overcome that $700 hurdle,” he said. “Otherwise, I’m just losing.”
Holm paid the fee and reclaimed the Camry. He doesn’t deny that he left the car on campus property longer than most, but he believes better communication could have spared him the loss.
“It’s kind of crazy to me that they’re not required to inform the owner,” he said. “I get that it’s OU’s property, but I would’ve appreciated being notified.”
really have a gripe with them about is that they didn’t notify me.”
Now, with the Camry back in his driveway and an early October deadline from his parents to remove it, Holm faces the final chapter of his four-year relationship with the car. Scrapping it might be the only practical option, though he has entertained a more dramatic sendoff.
“I called up a bunch of buddies, and I got them all to agree that if we divide up the $700 between ourselves, in return for everyone pitching in and paying me back for the fee, we’ll just have a day of blowing this thing up,” he said. “You know, take it somewhere, shoot it with some guns, chop the roof off with a Sawzall… just have some fun with it.”
That plan, for now, has hit a snag. Holm said the group would need significant space, and the few leads he found backed out because of potential noise complaints and hunting-season conflicts.
“I haven’t found anyone with land who’d let us do it,” Holm said. “So I might just be out the money.”
As he weighs how best to part with the 36-year-old blue Camry, Holm reflects on the prospect.
“I think of it like, if I wanted to go to a concert, I’m paying $70 or more for a couple hours of fun,” he said. “I feel like it’s the same thing. Instead, I pay $70 or more for a couple hours of fun blowing up a car. That sounds more fun than a concert anyways, you know?”
He expects the car will be gone soon, one way or another.
Despite his frustration, Holm tried to maintain perspective.
“I don’t want it to come across like I wasn’t in the wrong,” he said. “I get that I shouldn’t have left it there so long. The only thing I
Bad Bunny to headline Super Bowl LX: Cultural impact and public reactions
Ruby Hernandez Campus Reporter
On Sunday, Sept. 28th, global top artist Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime performer for Super Bowl LX for the upcoming year. Bad Bunny received a wide range of reactions from the public, and many topics have arisen since the announcement. So why is half of the American population divided in opinion over Bad Bunny performing at the 2026 halftime Super Bowl, and what discussions have emerged since the announcement?
Bad Bunny, also known as Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, was born in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. His most recent album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOTos” (I Should Have Took More Photos) has been Ocasio’s most personal album yet, reflecting on his identity, his memories and his connection to Puerto Rico. With dozens of international music awards, he has made history by becoming the first non-English-speaking artist to win the MTV Video Music Award (VMA) for Artist of the Year in 2022. He is recognized worldwide as Latin America’s current top artist.
Ocasio announced his upcoming tour starting in November 2025 in May of 2025 and faced criticism for refusing to tour in the United States — excluding Puerto Rico. Ocasio said in a recent interview, “Latinos and Puerto Ricans of the United States could also travel here, or to any part of the world. But there was the issue that … ICE could be outside,” Ocasio said in an interview with i-D. “It’s something that we were talking about and very concerned about.”
The artist has publicly criticized the United States’ ICE operations through social media and continues to critique the Trump Administration. In his music, Bad Bunny has also pushed back against anti-immigrant rhetoric. In the video for “NuevaYol,” a Trump-like voice admits that America depends on immigrants, directly flipping Trump’s past language. He has even said he avoids U.S. tour dates at times due to concerns that immigration enforcement could target his undocumented fans.
The musician and the Super Bowl have received heated feedback from vocal Americans. The controversy soon extended beyond social media when Corey Lewandowski, an adviser to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, warned that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could be deployed to detain and deport undocumented immigrants attending the event.
In an interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson on The Benny Show, Lewandowski stated, “There is nowhere that you can provide safe haven to people who are in this country illegally—not the Super Bowl and nowhere else,” Lewandowski said in The Benny Show podcast. “We will find you, we will apprehend you, we will put you in a detention facility and we will deport you. That is a very real situation under this administration.”
Other prominent figures have been supportive of Ocasio and have encouraged him to continue with his goals.
“What Benito has done and continues to do for Puerto Rico is truly inspiring. We are honored to have him on the world’s biggest stage,” Jay Z said.
Julissa Arce, author and activist, expressed excitement about Bad Bunny’s performance, “I’m excited for him to do the Super Bowl at a time when we are being scared into hiding, into not speaking Spanish in public and worrying someone might hear us and call ICE on us.”
The artist has received mixed reactions from people worldwide but continues to express his deep pride and excitement for this performance.
“I’m going to enjoy. I’m going to embrace the moment,” Bad Bunny said in an interview with NBC. “I’m going to show what we have, our music, our culture. I’m just going to the stage to enjoy the moment and share it with everyone.”
His focus remains on celebrating his heritage, sharing his music and connecting with fans on a global stage. Regardless of differing opinions, his Super Bowl performance highlights the continuing intersection of music, culture and social conversation in highprofile events. Whether celebrated or criticized, his performance will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on both the Super Bowl stage and the wider cultural conversation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NBC.
Pop power couple Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco say
SARAH WASIELEWSKI
Arts Reporter
On Sept. 27, pop star Selena Gomez and record producer Benny Blanco said “I do” in Santa Barbara, California. Call it a whirlwind romance or just meant to be, Gomez and Blanco were engaged in December of 2024 after just one year of dating.
The bride stunned in not one, not two, but three custom Ralph Lauren dresses. Each dress featured thoughtful details, including one gown adorned with a heart embroidered in the lace, subtly displaying the couple’s initials.
Gomez glowed with happiness, and Blanco shared on Instagram “I married a real life Disney princess.” The bride also carried a small bouquet of lilies of the valley. While it may not have been intentional, the flowers fittingly represent happiness. The groom, not to be outshone, was also dressed by Ralph Lauren in a flashy tennis bracelet and diamond watch.
The wedding, while elegant, broke away from tradition in meaningful ways. Blanco and Gomez shared their first dance barefoot, and their wedding cake was a small heart shaped confection with the words “just married” written on top. Rather than lavish decadence, the day reflected the couple’s eclectic, deeply personal taste.
While relatively intimate with only 170 people, the guest list was packed with star power. Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Gomez’s “Only Murders in the Building” costars Steve Martin and Martin Short
were only a few of the famous faces in attendance.
Selena Gomez is no stranger to the spotlight, starting her acting career on Disney Channel at age 10. Her breakout role as Alex Russo on “Wizards of Waverly Place,” a part she played for five years, launched her into stardom. With her successful expansion into the music industry, Gomez is often considered a triple threat for her acting, dancing and singing prowess. Gomez also remains the most followed woman on Instagram as of 2025, despite taking frequent social media breaks to protect her mental health.
While Benny Blanco’s work may be more behind the scenes than Gomez, his impact on the music industry is undeniable. As a record producer and songwriter, he has written or produced for some of the biggest names in the music industry such as Ed Sheeran, BTS, Rihanna and Ariana Grande.
The couple met for the first time way back in 2008, when Gomez was 16 and preparing to sign her first record deal. They would later work together for the first time on tracks “Kill Em with Kindness” and “Same Old Love” in 2015. While they worked together over the years, their first date was not until 2023. The couple has been open about their relationship, regularly attending events and award shows together. In 2024, Blanco proposed to Gomez with an 8-carat ring they designed together. The couple kept details of the proposal private, saying they want to save the story for their future children.
From a barefoot first dance to a heart shaped cake, the day was uniquely theirs, a celebration of love, creativity and everything that makes Selena and Benny’s story their own.
“I Do”
Golden film recommendations: Cozy fall films to destress with
SARAH WASIELEWSKI AND MARISSA GETSCHMAN
The leaves are changing, the weather is threatening to grow cold, and midterms are fast approaching. When all the warmth of summer eventually fades, there is warmth to be found when curling up to watch a good movie. While new films are great, sometimes the best medicine for the stress of university is an old favorite. Here are some classics to watch this early October.
“Twilight” (2008)
After her mother’s remarriage, Bella Swan moves back to the rainy city of Forks, Washington to live with her police chief father. However, all is not as quaint and charming as it seems in this gloomy little town. The local Cullen family are harboring secrets, and they’re not the only ones. The Quileute tribe on the nearby reservation have their own share of mysteries. Nor can Bella deny the rising attraction between her and the enigmatic Edward Cullen. Before she knows it, Bella is in over her head, myth and reality blurring the lines as vampires, werewolves and ancient treaties come to light.
“Penelope” (2006)
“Penelope” is the tale of a young woman cursed to have the nose of a pig until she can find her true love. Her mother, desperate to have a normal looking daughter, sifts through rich suitor after rich suitor in hopes of finding the man that will cure her daughter’s unfortunate affliction. Penelope’s heart is not shallow enough for money to fill however, and the mother’s attempts do not prove fruitful. The film is a romantic comedy showing that sometimes the right person is
right under your own snout.
What earns this film a position among these fall favorites is that it features Christina Ricci in some pretty iconic 2006 autumn styles. Easily the most iconic outfit of the movie, Ricci at one point wears a flared indigo trench coat with red trim and mismatched buttons paired with her iconic purple and green beehive patterned scarf and green tights and heels. The outfit is eccentric and loud, but it looks so fun and cozy.
The main cast also features Catherine O’Hara, Reese Witherspoon and James McAvoy; all brilliant in their own right and shining lures to watch the film.
“Knives Out” (2019)
The perfect autumnal whodunit, “Knives Out” takes place on the east coast in the crisp days of fall. Bestselling author Harlan Thrombey’s family gathers to celebrate his 85th birthday, and the next morning he is found with a slit throat. While the police rule the death a suicide, private investigator Benoit Blanc suspects foul play. Harlan leaves behind immense wealth, and each of his family members have a reason for wanting the money. In the spirit of an Agatha Christie novel, Benoit Blanc sets out to discover the real cause of Harlon Thrombey’s death. With a star-studded cast, cozy cable-knit sweaters and a chilling mystery, this is perfect for those who love a mystery without ghosts and gore.
“The Addams Family” (1991)
Now those who do love ghosts and gore will find kindred spirits within “The Addams Family”, the second Christina Ricci film to grace this list. While not the first time the beloved family graced the screen, having a ‘60s television series, this film is the first feature length addition to the franchise.
The plot follows along as con artists, one of which poses as the long lost Fester Addams, try to swindle the Addams family wealth. In true Addams nature, the film is delightfully spooky and macabre. For those who need more, this adaption has a sequel that is equally enjoyed and features the same cast; “The Addams Family Values” (1993).
Brass Band hosts first recital since qualifying for internationa l competition
MARIA MAGNOLI Arts Reporter
The Oakland University Brass Band has been rehearsing extensively for its upcoming recital in Varner Hall on Oct. 9 at 7:30 p.m.
The evening will be a night filled with vibrant repertoire and collaboration, showcasing an expansive array of works. But this concert marks an outstanding milestone: it is the first concert of the season since being accepted to compete in the World Music Contest (WMC) on July 11, 2026, in Kerkrade, Netherlands.
The WMC is the competition of a lifetime, the Olympics for bands. Wind bands, marching bands, brass bands and other types of ensembles from around the world compete in this competition every four years. In order to fulfill this endeavor, the band is in need of just over $50,000.
Earlier this summer, Brass Band conductor Kenneth Kroesche submitted an application to be considered. It included a history of repertoire executed within the past decade. The committee recognized how the band is one of fifteen to twenty university brass bands in the country and one of only two that consistently goes to the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Championships every April. Thanks to its national and international reputation, they were the one out of ten in its division selected to compete.
The OU Brass Band was established in 2009 by Kroesche who in addition to being the director is a professor of music specializing in trombone, euphonium and tuba. He has performed with top ranking orchestras
like the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and in the U.S. Army Band at the West Point Military Academy.
Ranking top in the country in numerous festivals has become regular. It tied for first place in the 2025 NABBA Championships; Grand Champions of the Grand Champions of the Dublin Festival of Brass in Dublin, Ohio in 2018 and 2019; placed second in the division and were the highest placing American
band in the history of the competition at the 2015 Butlin’s National Brass Band Festival & Competition in England; won the First Section of the NABBA Championships in Grand Rapids, MI in 2014.
Five pieces will be performed at the Thursday night concert: “Fanfare for a New Era” by Edward Gregson, “I Vow to Thee My Country” by Gustav Holst and Geoff Knorr, arranged by Phillip Littlemore, “Concertante for Piano and Brass Band” by Edward Gregson, featuring guest artist Dr. Tian Tian, the choice piece that will be used for the 2026 NABBA Championships and the jazz standard “It’s All Right With Me” by Cole Porter, arranged by Tom Brevik.
“There is nothing like hearing a brass band live, and there is something for everyone on this program. The sound of the group is such a visceral experience because there is so much energy in the room that’s produced by brass and percussion instruments. I created the program with the idea in mind that it would have a lot of variety and be engaging for the average listener,” Kroesche said.
“The choice piece selected for the April 2026 NABBA Championships has solos for virtually every student in the band. Playing in a brass band today is like playing in a chamber ensemble because everyone is responsible for their own part. If someone wants to come and hear students perform, virtually every individual has some sort of solo role in this group,” Kroesche said.
More information is to come regarding how contributions can be made. Checks can be made out to Oakland University School of Music, Theatre and Dance. Please make sure the OU Brass Band is mentioned in that contribution.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB
PHOTO COURTESY OF CRYSTAL ORSER
Together For Palestine: celebrities show their support for Palestinians
MATILDE RABAJOLI
Political Reporter
On Sept, 17, Together For Palestine (T4P) helped fundraise money for Palestinians in Gaza at the OVO Wembley Arena in Wembley, England.
The fundraising event was organized by Brian Eno, with Khalid Abdalla, Khaled Ziada and Tracey Seward joining as well.
“This event aims to raise millions for the Palestinian-led organisations at the frontline of the crisis, such as Taawon, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and the Palestine Medical Relief Society. 100% of donations made to Choose Love will support the Together For Palestine Fund and every penny goes to Palestinian organisations operating on the ground in Gaza,” T4P said on its official website.
The event was filled with entertainment and speeches made by global stars. Actors such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Florence Pugh, Nicola Caughman and Charitha Chandran made speeches throughout the night. Other celebrities made their presence known via social media by introducing the event, such as musician Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas and actor Cillian Murphy,
Palestinian artists Saint Levant, Adnan Joubran, Faraj Suleiman and El Far3i performed to a crowd of thousands. Other performers included Bastille, James Blake, Damon Albarn, Samoha and many more.
“Fittingly, it was the Palestinian artists who were the real stars of the evening. From Faraj Suleiman’s incredibly intricate piano pieces and Nai Barghouti’s soaring Arabic jazz, to a rotating gallery of Palestinian artwork curated by Malak Mattar, their art was embraced and celebrated by the
12,000-plus people in attendance,” The London Evening Standard said.
The event also invited UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanesem — an expert on human rights who has been the Palestine Rapporteur for the United Nations since May of 2022.
“The genocide in Gaza is a defining moment…anyone who holds a position of power, including to narrate, has the responsibility to take part in this, to make people understand that they shouldn’t feel fear to speak,” Albanesem said.
Times of Israel also mentions the attendance and contributions of Eric Cantona, a former French soccer player, who advised Israel to be banned from the World Cup of 2026.
“I played for France and Manchester United. I know that international football is more than just sport, it is culture, it is political, it is soft power,” Cantona said. “In a way that a country represents itself on a global stage, the time has come to suspend Israel from that privilege.”
Attendees called for government participation regarding the overall cause behind the concert. Specifically, Charitha Chandran addressed the English Prime Minister by saying that “we voted for you and you’re not representing us, so that feels a bit democratic. And there is blood on your hands.”
She also invites fellow actors and media present colleagues that have not used their platforms in a similar manner, “There is always time, and I understand that there is fear, but the thing is when you don’t stand for anything all you do is you fail to create a community.”
A total of £500,000 ($671,400) was made from tickets sold, followed by nearly $1,345,000 being given in donations throughout just half-way of the show. The event
effectively reached the goal of raising more than $2 million for the cause of providing humanitarian relief to Gazans.
The battle of bills: Congress announces a shutdown
SOPHIA CURRAN Political Editor
On Sept. 30, the U.S. government announced a shutdown after it failed to reach an agreement with budgeting for this upcoming fiscal year.
During a government shutdown, many federal workers are advised not to attend work. However, those who are considered essential, for example TSA, work without pay. They receive that pay when the shutdown is over.
The president and members of Congress will continue to receive their paychecks because it is constitutionally protected.
Medicare and Social Security will continue to be funded because they have already been authorized by Congress and do not need further approval.
The last government shutdown was under President Trump’s first term, between December 2018 and January 2019. The historic shutdown lasted a recordbreaking 35 days, which was carried out due to disputes regarding funding the U.S.’s construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Federal workers are expected to face massive layoffs, according to statistics found by Pew Research Center.
The newest shutdown is due to being unable to pass funding— known as appropriations— for the upcoming fiscal year. In the government, the year begins on Oct 1.
Fiscal years are accounting periods that stretch over 12 months, often created by businesses or governments who wish to not follow the Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 timeline.
The current fiscal year was first implemented in 1974 from the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. Since its first enactment, Congress has only passed four appropriations all on time. It is common for Congress to instead pass funding in a series of late budget blueprints, temporary spending measures or packages to help keep the government functioning.
The traditional timeline is as follows:
First Monday in February
The president submits a budget proposal to the House of Representatives and the Senate.
On May 2, the Office of Management and Budget under President Donald Trump’s Executive Office wrote a letter to Chair Susan Collins, the Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee.
The letter is in regard to President Trump’s recommendations on the funding for the 2026 fiscal year written by Russel T. Vought, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the co-author of “Project 2025,” a written policy agenda that would reconstruct the powers of each branch to center more toward Conservative beliefs.
“The recommended funding levels result from a rigorous, line-by-line review of FY 2025 spending, which was found to be laden with spending contrary to the need of ordinary working Americans and titled toward funding niche non-governmental organizations and institutions of higher education committed to radical gender and climate ideologies antithetical to the American way of life,” Vought said in the letter.
Six Weeks After the President Submits a Budget
The House and Senate committees begin to submit their opinions and estimate costs to the budget committees.
April Through June
The Senate Budget Committee submits a report on the budget. The House and the Senate must agree on the budget. By June, the House must complete their actions on all of their funding bills.
By Oct. 1
The fiscal year officially begins. It is recommended that the annual appropriations are enacted.
According to the Pew Research Center, this year was considered unusual. In April, Congress adopted its budget resolution for the upcoming year, only a month after passing its full-year funding bill. Researchers believed this could have been done to help push funding towards President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda.
Since the shutdown, there has been a rise in tensions between Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
To pass the appropriations bills, it is required for 60% of the Senate to agree. Republicans have the majority of the House and Senate; however, Republicans do not have enough power to simply pass funding bills by themselves; they must be reliant on cooperating with Democrats and their needs to pass the bills.
However, Republicans refused to adopt policies requested by Democrats— such as health insurance subsidies for lower-middle class Americans— and Democrats refused to vote for the funding brought forth by Republicans, leading to a shutdown. It is not unclear as to how long the government will last, but to reopen, Congress must pass the funding, and the President must approve of the appropriations bills. This will fund departments and increase functionality within the government to move properly again.
Breaking down Israel and the State of Palestine at the UN
MATILDE RABAJOLI
Political Reporter
On Sept. 22, the United Nations met at the New York Headquarters for its 80th Session and its 80th year anniversary.
Out of the 193 state members, the sovereign state of Israel is a full member. The state of Palestine is considered an observer state, which is allowed presence during proceedings but no voting rights in the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
The week of this anniversary held various meetings such as that of the Security Council and UN Peacebuilding Meeting. It also served as a platform for almost all of the world to see the moves in regard to rising international tension for the Israel-Hamas conflict.
U.S. immigration allegedly denied granting visas to the Palestinian representatives that were supposed to attend the UNGA. Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the Palestinian Authority addressed the UN Hall via video.
Many states before or during the UNGA worked to recognize the Palestinian state in the name of their respective countries. From these there was the U.K., France, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Canada and Portugal.
Video clips have been roaming the internet of diplomats standing and leaving the room when the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rose to speak. Others whistled and booed their dismay as he spoke, and very few states remained seated in the emptying assembly hall.
He addresses the new recognition of Palestine as a “disgraceful decision” that “will encourage terrorism against Jews and against innocent people everywhere.”
According to BBC, he also labeled it as a “mark of shame” and that will send the message that “murdering Jews pays off.”
In turn, many have called his speech, which he broadcasted via massive speakers set up in the entire border of the Gaza strip, a promise to “finish the job” and end the conflict once and for all.
“A moment of defiance – an Israeli leader standing tall against a hostile world and unflinching in the face of walkouts by dozens of delegates. For others, it was a performance that hardened Israel’s growing isolation and failed to offer a vision that could win allies or relieve Israel of its burdens,” The Jerusalem Post reported.
Abbas recognized and thanked the nations that have chosen to speak out and stand with Palestinians. He invited the remaining states to do the same and argued that though it has increased the morale of Palestinians hope in the international community, he hopes it pushes states to do more and help end the conflict.
Both leaders, though currently at very opposing sides, have clearly shown their wish to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The leaders and their populations, in any conflict, have grown weary with the incessant news of few improvements.
With the raised attention after the public protests both inside and outside the New York UN Headquarters building, multiple different nations showcasing their support for both sides and population safety growing more and more precarious, tensions are rising and the call for peace has never been more needed.
Career highs give the Grizzlies their first win
MARYANNE SANFORD
Sports Reporter
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, Oakland’s volleyball team faced off against Cleveland State, where they were able to pick up their first win in four sets after an unfortunate 0-14 start to the season.
The team also achieved some individual season-best performances. As a team, they reached 68 kills with a .268 hitting percentage, along with 84 digs from a strong back row.
In set one, the Grizzlies were in a 3-0 deficit, but they didn’t let that stop them. OU’s Libby Smith and Ellen Zapp kept the match competitive by contributing multiple valuable kills each.
The Grizzlies got their edge back thanks to Anika Prisby and Caroline Moore’s key points. The set had several tied scores before Oakland capitalized on the Vikings’ errors. Libby Smith gave an epic closing sequence of four kills to close out the set 25-19.
Going into set two, the Grizzlies gained their momentum quickly with a 3-0 run that extended to 6-1 after strong attacks and errors from Cleveland. The Vikings clapped back with a swift six-point run to tie the score up 8-8.
The Grizzlies took back control thanks to Anika Prisby and Ella Martin and pushed
the score to 20-18. The Grizzlies maintained their strong lead to close out the set 25-21.
The third set had the Grizzlies trying to keep their edge and take the game in a threeset sweep. Ellen Zapp and Libby Smith gave early kills to keep the score close.
Despite the Vikings getting ahead, the Grizzlies kept their edge and rallied with Ella Schomer and Lyse Bates making key plays. The Vikings ultimately took the set 23-25 thanks to a series of back-to-back kills.
The Grizzlies found their momentum in the
fourth set with a 2-0 lead.
After a brief period of errors, Cleveland leveled the score 3-3 before the Grizzlies regained control with a crucial kill from Ella Schomer. The Vikings found their edge with a set of kills to take a seven-point lead.
Despite Cleveland pulling away, the Grizzlies slowly chipped away at the deficit to bring it down to a one-point difference. After tying the score at 23, both teams fought back-and-forth for who would take the win.
Finally, Oakland took the set in extra points 28-26.
The Grizzly stats added up to some of their best performances. Libby Smith led with a career high 22 kills and a .367 hitting percentage. Setter Delaney Stern was crucial in setting up the front row by recording another career high of 55 assists. Defensively, Lyse Bates tied her career best at 26 digs.
Middle blockers Ellen Zapp and Anika Prisby were efficient on the attack. Zapp also achieved 12 kills with a .400 hitting percentage, the best of her rookie year, while Anika Prisby matched her career high of 14 kills while operating off a .313 hitting percentage.
The Golden Grizzlies will match up next with Purdue Fort Wayne on Friday, Oct. 10 in the OU Credit Union O’Rena at 6 p.m. and look to secure another win on their home court.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Lions-Chiefs: Previewing the week 6 heavyweight bout
JAMES ELLING Sports Editor
The Detroit Lions opened 2023 by establishing themselves as a legitimate NFL contender with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs, who had just come off a Super Bowl win — the Chiefs, in turn, closed 2023 by repeating as Super Bowl champions, while the Lions were minutes away from being the team on the other side.
Last year, the teams shared first place for the best record in the NFL at 15-2. Many felt they were destined to meet in Super Bowl LIX before the Lions’ barrage of defensive injuries towards the end of the 2024 season.
Fans had to wait a little longer for the rematch, but now it’s here — the Lions will be prowling into Arrowhead Stadium for a primetime matchup with the Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 12.
The Lions and Chiefs are considered two of the top teams in the league, and their matchup is one of the most exciting of the season. The two are premier contenders to face off again in February for Super Bowl LX.
Matchups to watch
Goff vs. Mahomes
Mahomes has quickly become one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and Goff has had an upand-down career marked by a renaissance since coming to Detroit.
Mahomes is a magician who’s at his best when he’s improvising outside of structure, and Goff is much more of a technician, who’s really only effective — albeit very effective — inside of structure.
The two have only faced off twice before. In those games, Goff averaged 333 yards, 2.5 touchdowns and zero interceptions. Mahomes put up 352 yards and four touchdowns per game but also threw four interceptions between the two contests.
Mahomes is widely considered the superior, but Goff is 2-0 in their previous bouts and playing some of the best football of his career.
Aidan Hutchinson vs. Chiefs’ tackles Hutchinson is one of the most dominant defensive players in football — a pure disruptor.
Hutchinson will likely spend most of his time battling right tackle Jawaan Taylor, who has upside and talent but has been known for penalties and inconsistencies — inconsistencies which Hutchinson should exploit.
When lined up on the other side, Hutchinson will face rookie Josh Simmons, a talented first rounder who has been solid but should have his hands full with the Lions’ star pass rusher.
The Chiefs will need to double-team and chip block Hutchinson, who will have to turn his pressures into sacks, because Mahomes is a risk to make a play until he’s on the ground.
Chris Jones vs. Lions’ interior offensive line
Jones is the best pass rushing defensive tackle in football, and he’s wreaked havoc regardless of who’s lined up across from him.
The Lions will be trotting out an interior unit that has experienced complete turnover since last season.
It started quite ugly for veteran center Graham Glasgow and young guards Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, but they quickly cleaned it up and have been creating holes for the running
game while building a wall between Goff and opposing defenses.
Jones will headline the Lions’ interior offensive line’s toughest challenge yet, and if they can hold up well, the Lions’ line should be solidified as one of the league’s best.
John Morton vs. Steve Spagnuolo
Morton commands the league’s best scoring offense. He’s been under immense pressure to fill the enormous shoes of Ben Johnson, and under Morton, the Lions have put up over 34 points in every game but the first.
Spagnuolo is perhaps the most coveted defensive play caller in the league. In his seventh season as the Chiefs’ defensive coordinator, he specializes at marrying blitzes and pre-snap disguises to keep quarterbacks uncomfortable and put his defensive players in position to make plays.
On Sunday, the two will take part in a chess match, each striving to stay a step ahead of the other as Morton seeks to put Goff in positions to keep his head above the waters of the Chiefs’ defense, and Spagnuolo seeks to make him sink.
Alim McNeill vs. the standard
Alim McNeill, the Lions’ star defensive tackle, is slated to make his return from an ACL tear.
McNeill has already won one matchup with the standard in his return. NFL players are expected to take about a calendar year to return from an
ACL tear — McNeill is back in action after less than 10 months.
The question is: how will McNeill compare to his pre-ACL-tear self? McNeill spent most of 2024 as the Lions’ best pass rusher after the loss of Aidan Hutchinson and was graded by Pro Football Focus as one of the league’s top 10 pass rushers from the interior.
Few expected McNeill to be back in action before the Lions’ Week 8 bye, so it will be worth watching to see if he plays on a conservative snap count and eases his way back into a football rhythm, or if the Lions let him loose and he creates huge problems for the Chiefs’ offense.
Prediction
Lions 31, Chiefs 27
Both teams, seeking to reestablish themselves as top teams in the league, play with their helmets on fire.
Detroit’s offensive line keeps Goff relatively clean, and the Lions are able to capitalize and become the first team to score 30 on the Chiefs this season.
Mahomes and the Chiefs move the ball effectively, but the Lions’ defense gets a key turnover and tightens up in the red zone, limiting two of the Chiefs’ red zone trips to field goals, which is enough for Detroit to outpace Kansas City and head home 5-1.
Red Wings set to commence 100th season
MATTHEW LEWAKOWSKI Sports Reporter
The Detroit Red Wings are looking to their centennial season, hopeful that 2025-26 holds a long-anticipated return to the playoffs.
Nearly a decade since they last appeared in the postseason, the Original Six franchise believes its young core, new veteran signees and improved depth may finally get them there.
Detroit regained ground last year under first-year coach Todd McLellan, going 39-35-8 and finishing sixth in the Atlantic Division.
Their second-half charge, playing a .583 points percentage pace, indicated what the team would be capable of if they can be consistent for a full season — but there are still concerns regarding scoring evenstrength, defensive depth and if the team has enough in net to keep with the league’s heavyweights.
The offseason was filled with bold decisions. The Red Wings made the trade for veteran goalie John Gibson, counting on his experience to settle the crease after decades of inconsistency. Gibson, 32, comes over from Anaheim with more than 400 NHL starts and a history of being asked to carry a heavy load.
Detroit also re-signed Patrick Kane to a oneyear $3 million contract, bringing leadership and secondary scoring to a forward group built around captain Dylan Larkin, sniper Alex DeBrincat and playmaker Lucas Raymond. Younger forwards Marco Kasper and Jonatan Berggren should make a
case for expanded roles.
Defensively, Moritz Seider backs a unit that is still developing. The 24-year-old is one of the NHL’s top young blueliners, but Detroit needs more production from its supporting group.
Prospects Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson will be handed major minutes, but veterans provide stability. How much the defensive unit is able to assist Seider and Gibson will be paramount if the Wings are to stay afloat in a competitive Atlantic Division.
Detroit’s centennial celebration merely adds to the urgency. Fans want more than construction — they want delivery.
The franchise survived a methodical, measured
rebuild under general manager Steve Yzerman, who treaded the thin line between patience and ferocity. With an even-keeled mix of veterans and youngsters now in place, there is even more to anticipate.
The keys to Detroit’s season are straightforward.
Goaltending stability
If Gibson can hold up, the Wings have a reliable foundation. Even-strength scoring. Detroit’s top six need to produce more 5-on-5.
Blue line depth
Seider can’t carry it alone; Edvinsson and others must step up.
Health and consistency
A young roster needs to remain healthy across 82 games, so they can continue to gel together.
Oddsmakers are being cautious.
The Red Wings begin the season at +10,000 to win the Stanley Cup, which ranks them in the lower third of the league.
Odds to win the division are at +3,000, and many sportsbooks have Detroit more likely to be a nonplayoff team than playoff team — yet the pieces for the breakthrough are there, especially if the core continues to develop and Gibson brings the stability they’ve lacked in goal.
For Detroit, 2025-26 represents more than a century marker. It’s a proving ground.
The wild-card opportunity is within reach, but another mediocre season would test the patience of fans who have waited nearly a decade for playoff hockey at Little Caesars Arena.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NHL
Tigers defeat Guardians 2-1 in AL Wild Card
MATTHEW LEWAKOWSKI Sports Reporter
The Detroit Tigers have advanced to the American League Division Series. The team and fans alike are seeing their dreams slowly come to fruition.
On Thursday Oct. 2, the Detroit Tigers clinched their spot in the ALDS by defeating the Cleveland Guardians in the best-of-three Wildcard Series.
The Tigers won Game 1 2-1, fell to the Guardians 6-1 in Game 2, and clinched the series with a 6-3 win in Game 3.
This series started Tuesday, Sept. 30 in Cleveland. The ballpark was electric, filled almost exclusively with Cleveland fans. The pitchers for this game were the Tigers’ Tarik Skubal and the Guardians’ Gaven Williams. Skubal dominated this game with 7 ⅔ innings pitched, three hits, three walks and 14 strikeouts.
On the hitting side, Spencer Torkelson drove in an RBI to give the Tigers the first run of the game. In the 7th inning, with the game tied 1-1, Zach McKinstry laid down a sacrifice bunt to give the Tigers the game-winning score.
The win gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2 was a day later on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The game was disappointing for the Tigers.
The Tigers’ starting pitcher, Casey Mize, only pitched three innings with only one strikeout. Cleveland’s pitcher, Tanner Bibee pitched 4 ⅔, allowing five hits, three walks and six strikeouts in his outing.
The eighth inning started tied at 1-1, and then the Guardians started hitting — it became a blowout.
Bryan Rocchio hit a go-ahead home run to start the inning. Next, Daniel Schneeman hit an RBI double. Finally, Bo Naylor launched a three-run home run to establish a Game 2 domination and win 6-1.
The Tigers couldn’t afford another outing like this if they wanted to keep their season alive.
Game 3, on Thursday Oct. 2, was win or go home — winner moves on to face the Seattle Mariners in the Divisional Series, and loser settles in for the offseason.
The Tigers’ pitching staff played lights out — Starter Jack Flaherty pitched 4 ⅔ innings allowing
three hits, two walks and four strikeouts. The relievers were Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Horton and Tommy Kahnle.
Finnegan pitched 1 ⅓ inning allowing zero hits and runs. Horton pitched one inning, allowing one hit and zero runs. Kahnle, however, gave up two hits and two runs to the Guardians.
Will Vest closed, pitching 1 ⅔ innings, allowing zero hits and runs.
On the hitting side, the bats were hot. The Tigers nabbed 10 hits on the day.
All of their runs came in the sixth and seventh innings of play.
Dillon Dingler started the scoring streak with a solo home run to tie the game 1-1 in the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, Wenceel Pérez drove in two runs with a single and Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene both had RBI singles.
The offensive spark led the Tigers to a 6-3 victory in the game and a 2-1 victory in the series.
The Tigers are set to match up with a tough Seattle Mariners team led by MVP candidate Cal Raleigh. The Tigers are an underdog, given a 43% chance of winning and betting odds of +185.
The Tigers have a chance, but it is going to be a challenge. If we learned anything about the Tigers this season, they know how to fight. They’ll look to challenge the Mariners with the same resilience that carried them through the regular season and the Wild Card.
