Category Archives: EMU Events

Emus vs. Zips (and band day!)

Posted on September 30, 2011 by | 5 Comments

Sadly, it’s another bad weekend for me to see a home football game because of life and because of catching up with that pesky day job.  But it looks like if the weather holds, it might be a lovely day to see the Emus take on the Akron Zips.  People who know better will correct me on this, but this is essentially the first “real” game of the year.  EMU should win– I think I saw them as an 8 or 9 point favorite– and if they don’t win, it’ll be a major bummer/setback for English et al.

One of the oddities of this game (and I guess a lot of other college games tomorrow) is they’ll be celebrating the Ronald Reagan centennial with a coin toss.  Here’s a CNN story about it, and a quote:

The 100th anniversary of the late President Ronald Reagan’s birth is getting the football treatment in September, with teams across the country kicking off their games by flipping a Reagan Centennial Commemorative Coin.

Games played during the weekend of September 23 through 26 will commence with the coin flip, followed by a loudspeaker announcement and Reagan football tribute video, according to the Reagan foundation. Reagan was born on February 6, 1911.

I’m not quite getting this, but whatever.

But more important than any of this– including the game, frankly– is that it is once again band day.  I went to see that once a couple years ago and it is indeed a site worth seeing at least once.  The press release on the EMU sports page says there’s going to be 11 high school bands; that along with the EMU marching band means there’s going to be a lotta tubas and trombones out there.  Check it out!

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Posted in College Fun, EMU Events, Sports

A couple of passing pictures from today’s Pray-Harrold Dedication

Posted on September 20, 2011 by | 7 Comments

When I came into school this morning, there was a Pray-Harrold dedication ceremony going on in the student commons/Eagle Cafe area. So I thought I’d share a couple of iPhone pictures and thoughts.

I was too late to get a seat for the festivities even if I wanted one; it was packed:

Pray-Harrold Speakers in the Student Commons

I’m not sure who is speaking here, but sitting behind that person are members of the Board of Regents and (on the far right) the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Tom Venner.  I’m sure great things were said, blah-blah-blah.

Anyway, I was hanging around outside the commons area where there was a table with the photos and these very odd “keepsakes” for today’s event:


That’s a paper fortune teller game of the sort I recall vaguely as a child.  You know, you fold this thing up, you put it on your fingers, you pick a number, flick your fingers that many times, and then pull up the fold to find your fortune.  For example, under here, you have the fortune “you will be a millionaire” and “the main stage is your future.”

Oh, and the whole thing came in a little “TRUEMU” box.  I can’t imagine who signed off on this or why, but I have to say this is about the goofiest marketing promotional thing I’ve ever seen.  Doing no promo work at all probably would have been more effective.

Anyway, as I was walking away with my paper fortune teller memento, I snapped this picture of construction that was going on not 30 feet away from the dedication:

But the construction continues

Of course there are things that will be works in progress/under construction in Pray-Harrold for a while; I think everyone understands that.  But I have to say it is a little strange for there to be a BoR “let’s congratulate ourselves and everyone else for a job well done” sort of ceremony while a construction guy is reattaching a bulletin board in the hallway.

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Posted in Board of Regents, Buildings and Grounds, EMU Events, Pray-Harrold Renovation Pool

Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story

Posted on September 14, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Colleague and friend of the site Marty Shichtman wanted me to alert everyone to an upcoming presentation/talk by Ira Berkow, a New York Times sportswriter and the author of Jews and Baseball.  The event is being sponsored by EMU Athletics, Campus Life, and Academic Affairs– not many events on this campus involve all three!

Here’s a link to the student life announcement.  It’s going to be Tuesday, September 20, at 7 PM in the Student Center Auditorium.  And it is available as a “Learning Beyond the Classroom” event, too.

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Posted in Academics, College Fun, EMU Events, Sports, Student Life

EMU 9/11 memorial dedicated

Posted on September 12, 2011 by | 1 Comment

From Annarbor.com comes “New Eastern Michigan University 9/11 memorial steel beam stirs emotions at unveiling,” which sums up the steel beam memorial over by Pease Auditorium that was dedicated yesterday.  The picture here is from annarbor.com  I’ll be curious to read impressions from others, especially those who were at the dedication ceremony.

I did happen to be on campus Saturday and I saw the memorial myself, and I’m not quite sure what to make of it.  Basically, it’s a steel beam, but there’s nothing about it that in and of itself signifies anything, and if you didn’t know better, you’d wonder why this was on a pedestal.  Of course, it is the explanation of what this object signifies that is most important, and if the folks in charge of this memorial do that, maybe it will be successful and meaningful.

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Posted in Buildings and Grounds, EMU Events, In the media...

I think an indoor picnic is called “lunch”

Posted on September 8, 2011 by | Leave a comment

From Geoff Larcom:

Students, staff and faculty are invited to the President’s Annual All-Campus Picnic, today, (Sept. 8 ) 11:30 a.m to 1 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom. The event has been moved to the ballroom because of the rainy weather.  Enjoy free hot dogs, veggie dogs, chips, dessert and a beverage, and say hi to your classmates and colleagues. The event is also sponsored by the EMU Federation of Teachers.

“EMU Federation of Teachers is happy to co-sponsor this picnic, and we welcome all new and returning students to our campus,” said Sonya Alvarado, president of the EMU Federation of Teachers. The event will also feature special guest DJ Darrius, from WMXD Mix 92.3 FM.

I probably won’t be able to make it in part because of my new and improved interest in dieting, but I’d encourage everyone else to get a free picnic lunch.  And it’s nice that the lecturer’s union is co-sponsoring this; wouldn’t be a bad PR move for the EMU-AAUP to imitate….

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Posted in College Fun, EMU Events, EMU-AAUP

9/11 memorial ceremony on 9/11

Posted on September 6, 2011 by | 2 Comments

I won’t be able to attend this because of some previous plans, but I thought I’d pass it along to one and all, via Geoff Larcom:

To the EMU campus community:

Eastern Michigan University will hold a 9/11 memorial event on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m. The memorial event will take place at Pease Park, the site of the University’s new 9/11 memorial, which features a 14-foot, 6,800-pound steel beam from the World Trade Center.

Among those taking part in the memorial event are Jelani McGadney, president of Eastern Michigan University Student Government, Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin, Washtenaw County Sheriff Jerry Clayton and U.S. Rep. John Dingell.

Eastern Michigan University acquired the large artifact from the New York Port Authority earlier this summer. Eastern was selected to receive it following a formal request from President Martin. A committee made up of faculty, administration and students were involved in the design of the memorial and in determining an appropriate site.

The memorial is designed to be approachable and able to be touched by all visitors – those from Eastern’s campus and those from the community.

Pease Park is located on the south side of Pease Auditorium next to Cross Street on the southeast end of campus. The memorial event will last approximately 30 minutes and is open to the university community and to the general public. There will be free parking in the Pease Auditorium parking lot.

The memorial event will take place rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, please bring an umbrella or wear appropriate clothing.

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Posted in Buildings and Grounds, EMU Events

EMU 9/11 memorial in “Pease Park,” probably

Posted on September 3, 2011 by | 6 Comments

I don’t know why I said Larcom’s message to the university yesterday was cryptic– I guess because it was short and I read it kind of quickly.  But according to that message, the 9/11 memorial is going to be in “Pease Park.”  I never knew that space around Pease Auditorium by Cross street was a “park,” but there you have it.   That seems like a pretty good location to me, assuming that’s where it ends up….

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Posted in Buildings and Grounds, EMU Events

There’s something to be said in the truth in advertising about this weekend’s game

Posted on September 1, 2011 by | 9 Comments

As far as I can tell, the marketing strategy for getting people to go to this Saturday’s football game against Howard University is to try to sell the halftime show.  Here’s an excerpt of an email Geoff Larcom sent around the other day:

Come for the bands, stay for the game 

Watch two of America’s greatest marching bands in what promises to be a memorable and highly entertaining show this Saturday evening. Howard University and its world-famous “Showtime” marching band invades Eastern Michigan University and its “Pride of the Peninsula” marching band at Rynearson Stadium. Kick-off is at 7 p.m.

But halftime is only part of the show.

Before the game, enjoy the newly expanded Tailgate Town or bounce around on free inflatables in the Eagles Landing Family Fun Zone. Be among the first 100 fans to receive a free, one-of-a-kind EMU seat cushion. During the game, get your first glimpse of Eagles quarterback Alex Gillett and the 2011 football team in game action during Head Coach Ron English’s third season.

Oh, that’s right– a football game too….

I have heard that the Howard University marching band is really good, and I assume that EMU is favored to win this game, right?

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Posted in College Fun, EMU Events, Sports

Let the critiques in the form of ironic parodies begin

Posted on August 10, 2011 by | 14 Comments

This in today from Geoff Larcom (with my favorite part in bold italics):

To EMU students,  faculty and staff:

Eastern Michigan University will unveil its a new messaging campaign at 11 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday, Aug. 11) on the stage in the Student Center food court area.

The first 100 people to attend will receive a free T-shirt promoting the new campaign theme.

The campaign will soon be visible on billboards, online and print ads, campus posters, and television and radio commercials, as part of an integrated effort to unite the university’s student recruitment, image and athletics messaging under a single theme. The new materials feature EMU students and faculty and are from their point of view.

The development of the campaign was led by EMU’s Marketing Department in the Division of Communications. The student-driven process included the review of 11 initial concepts. The concepts were presented in discussion groups and displayed over a three-week period at the EMU Student Center Admissions Office, where current and prospective students and their families had the opportunity to review, make comments and select favorites.

Universities in SE Michigan have dramatically increased efforts to attract prospective students in recent years. This campaign reflects Eastern’s commitment to spreading the word about our outstanding students, faculty, staff, programs and campus in order to continue build on our positive momentum and growth.

The new campaign theme supports “Education First,” which is Eastern’s overall brand promise.

OMG.

It’s bad enough that we have to think of a university’s “brand” the same way that we think of a brand of toothpaste or automobile or fast food product.  The idea that we’re going to somehow unite “Education First” with “First and Ten” is rather rich, and I’m quite impressed with marketing’s efforts to spring for 100 t-shirts, too.

We’ll see how this evolves, but is anyone out there up for a counter/protest campaign?  Maybe one that highlights employees who were fired and/or thrown under the bus in the recent effort at holding down expenses yet again?  I mean, there’s no reason why what sounds like a fake social media marketing campaign has to stay completely fake, right?

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Posted in EMU Branding, EMU Events, Staff Life

Theater at EMU this week: “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

Posted on June 3, 2011 by | 1 Comment

In happier, non-budget crisis-related news, check out the EMU Theater/Theatre’s production of the musical comedy The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this and next weekend.  Shows run June 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11 at 7 pm, and June 5 at 3 pm.  Read all about it here.

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Posted in College Fun, EMU Events