Liz Hornyak: In this week’s news, EMU has decided to close all campus housing by March 31. The university has also announced that it is suspending face-to-face classes for the remainder of the school year. Governor Whitmer has expanded unemployment benefits until April 14. I’m your host Liz Hornyak and you’re listening to the Eastern Echo Podcast. 

On Friday, March 20, EMU students should have received an email from the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and the Chief Financial Officer stating that residential halls will be closed beginning on March 31. This precaution is being taken to increase social distancing among EMU students. Students who are exempt from moving out are international students, those who live far away and those who have sick family members or other special circumstances. 

Housing and Dining Services are offering a partial refund to students who move out by 5 p.m. on March 31. The value owed to each student will be processed over the next several weeks. Those who commit to residing in university housing next fall will receive an additional $500 dollar housing grant. 

On March 18, President Smith announced that all campus events will be postponed until May 8. This includes Spring Commencement and the Multicultural Graduation Celebration.

Governor Whitmer has signed an executive order to expand eligibility for unemployment benefits until April 14 at 11:59 p.m. Unemployment will be extended to people who have unanticipated family care responsibilities, as well as to workers who are sick, immunocompromised or quarantined and don’t have access to paid family or medical leave. This expansion also covers first responders who get sick and are quarantined. Benefits will be applied for twenty-six weeks instead of the standard twenty weeks. The application eligibility period will be increased from fourteen days to twenty-eight days and the normal in-person registration and work search is suspended. To apply for unemployment you can go to michigan.gov/UIA or call 1-866-500-007.

While sports seasons have been halted indefinitely, we still want to celebrate the success of our Eagles this far! The men’s track team finished second in the MAC, while the gymnastics team finished with three wins before the cancellation of their seasons. The tennis team finished with a 10-7 record.

Th women’s basketball team was also on their way up in the MAC, having finished with a winning record. They closed the season 16-15, 9-9 in the MAC and 9-6 at home.

You can find full-length articles covering all of our stories at easternecho.com. As always, thank you for listening to The Eastern Echo Podcast. The Echo will continue to keep you updated during these unprecedented times. This is Liz Hornyak, signing off. 

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