Campus Update - Sept. 22, 2022

 To the Eastern Michigan University community,

We may not want to say goodbye to summer just yet, but it sure feels like fall today. We are beginning to see some of our beautiful trees on campus drop their leaves and change colors. At Eastern, this means it is a perfect time to celebrate an exciting fall tradition: Homecoming!

Homecoming week begins next Tuesday, Sept. 27 and runs through Saturday’s football game against Massachusetts at 2 p.m. at Rynearson Stadium. More than a dozen events will take place during the week to help everyone get involved in the festivities. From a free ice cream social Tuesday at noon on the Student Center patio to Thursday’s Green and White “Family Feud” to Friday’s Green and White Ball, there’s something for everyone. Our Homecoming theme is “Where It All Started!,” reflecting Eastern’s dynamic role in shaping the lives of thousands upon thousands of people in our 173-year history.

I hope you will wear your green and white and proudly display the block E. For a full list of events and game day information, visit the Homecoming website.

In today’s campus update, I will share brief updates on the following:

  • Spin E-Scooters Arrive on Campus
  • “Career Closet” to Open
  • Eastern Excellence on Display

Spin E-Scooters Arrive on Campus

You may have noticed new scooters around campus. They were introduced this week and many of our students, faculty and staff are using them to get around campus. Thanks to a partnership with Spin, a leading micro-mobility service provider, the battery-operated scooters powered by 100% renewable energy are available across campus. This new green transportation program advances EMU's long-standing commitment to sustainability.

The e-scooters are available for rental at marked corral stations adjacent to existing bike racks on campus. Riders must be at least 18 years or older, have a valid driver's license, and download the Spin app for Apple or Android devices.

Once you download the Spin app, use promo code SPIN2CAMPUS to enjoy $5 off of your first ride.

“Career Closet” to Open

The University Advising and Career Development Center (UACDC) is helping students and alumni get a jumpstart on their professional attire by opening the EMU Career Closet. A grand opening event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27, in McKenny Hall, room 200. Students will be able to shop the Career Closet Monday-Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. throughout the semester.

In addition to the Career Closet, UACDC has partnered with JCPenney to offer Suit-Up, providing students an opportunity to get career and professional items up to 60% off each semester. Starting Sep. 28, students and alumni can text EMUEAGLE to 67292 to get their coupon and visit the JCPenney Suit Up landing page to shop online or in-store until Oct. 2.

Career Closet items are provided by community members who donate clothing, shoes, and monetary donations. UACDC is accepting donations to keep the initiative running for upcoming semesters. People interested in supporting the initiative can donate through the Career Closet website.

Eastern Excellence on Display

  • The College of Arts and Sciences recently announced that Professor Petra Kuppers was named the 2022-23 McAndless Distinguished Chair in the Humanities. Professor Kuppers is an internationally recognized scholar, performer, and creative writer whose work is interdisciplinary and community-engaged. She will share how humanistic and arts-based methods can offer new perspectives on lives and the places where people work and live. Every year, EMU’s College of Arts and Sciences hosts a McAndless Distinguished Professor Chair who is a visiting scholar, writer, or artist of national prominence in the arts or humanities. Learn more about Professor Kuppers and the events she will hold at Eastern on EMU Today.

  • Award-winning alumnus Nathan Bomey will return to campus Oct. 3 to join EMU Associate Professor of Journalism You Li for a conversation about careers in public service and journalism. His visit will include the screening of his acclaimed documentary, “Gradually, Then Suddenly: The Bankruptcy of Detroit.” The events are free and open to the public, with LBC credit available for attending students. For additional information or virtual options, please click A Visit with Nathan Bomey.

    Bomey graduated from Eastern in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and journalism. He wrote for news outlets such as Ann Arbor Business Review, AnnArbor.com, Detroit Free Press, USA Today, and is currently a business reporter for Axios.

  • Eastern Michigan’s football team was named National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America for its 30-21 win over Arizona State University last Saturday. The win marked the first time a Mid-American Conference (MAC) team beat a PAC-12 team in the regular season, and also marks the fourth time Eastern football under Coach Chris Creighton defeated a Power 5 conference opponent (Power 5 conferences include Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and Southeastern).

    We hope you can join us this Saturday at Rynearson Stadium for our MAC opener against the University of Buffalo. Game time is at noon. Among the festivities, EMU’s Marching Band will present a gospel music-focused halftime show, entitled “Take Me to Church.” The collaboration will include the EMU Gospel Choir, EMU Choir, the Wayne State University Choir, and local vocalists.

  • This weekend also marks Family Weekend. Sponsored by Campus Life, students are encouraged to invite relatives, children, friends, and those who know them best to campus for a weekend filled with fun activities. Learn more and get tickets by visiting the Family Weekend event webpage.

As I conclude, I would like to encourage students to take advantage of the exceptional support services we have here at Eastern. Believe it or not, we are already about a third of the way through the fall semester. Now is a great time to ask for help from our dedicated faculty and staff, and also from your peers, to ensure your academic success.

Stay well and stay safe.

James Smith, Ph.D.