At The Eastern Echo, it's our mission to inform the Eastern Michigan University and Ypsilanti community by highlighting newsworthy content in a fair, accurate and timely manner. This year, we had plenty to report on, from changes on campus to news in the Ypsilanti community. We also covered campus events, local arts and EMU sports. Below are the top headlines from 2025, selected by our editorial staff.
Campus changes
At Eastern Michigan University, the campus saw changes, from dining options to new green spaces, in 2025. Here are some of the changes we reported on at The Echo.
E|Dining
- EMU students launch petition drive demanding restoration of campus food markets by The Eastern Echo Staff
- Staff, faculty struggle with dining changes, loss of student community spaces by Ameera Salman
- New self-service markets open; students express continued disappointment to Regents by Ameera Salman
Bookstore
- EMU closes campus bookstore, unveils spirit store 'Eastern Outfitters' by Lauren Holloway and Natalie Kyle
- Eagle Outfitters soft opens to public, students suggest improvements by Katherine Tatomir
Green spaces
- Halle Library green space unveiled on campus invites students to decompress by Lauren Holloway
- Eastern Michigan University to open second green space for campus park by Lauren Holloway
Cultural Graduation
Oestrike Stadium
- Oestrike Stadium becomes first Division I baseball diamond to feature gray playing surface by Caleb Henderson
Campus pharmacy
Campus news and happenings
At the The Echo, we reported on campus news and happenings at Eastern Michigan University. Here are the campus news headlines that marked 2025.
Campus chalking
- Anti-abortion student group sparks chalk war across EMU sidewalks by AnnaBelle Favre
- Planned Parenthood Generation Action responds to chalk on campus sidewalks by AnnaBelle Favre
- Political chalk resurges on Eastern Michigan University campus by AnnaBelle Favre
Parking system
- EMU regents approve parking system repurchase, litigation settlement plan by Lilly Kujawski and Natalie Kyle
Trey Reed vigil
Student loan borrowing
EMU presidential search
EMU Sports
From changes in coaching personnel to a new EMU football tradition, here are the top sports headlines from The Eastern Echo in 2025.
- EMU men's basketball coach Stan Heath scores 250th career win by Caleb Henderson
- Raiders superstar, EMU Alum Maxx Crosby named assistant GM of football program by Caleb Henderson
- Chris Creighton scores 200th career win as Eastern Michigan football downs Ball State, 24-9 by Caleb Henderson
- The MACcoon chain: how a YouTube comment birthed Eastern Michigan football’s newest tradition by Caleb Henderson
- Robbie Britt steps down as Eastern Michigan baseball’s head coach for MLB opportunity by Caleb Henderson
Ypsilanti highlights
City Council news, a proposed data center, housing, local responses to federal action and more: here are The Echo headlines that marked 2025 in the Ypsilanti community.
SNAP benefits during government shutdown
- Growing Hope urban farm creates SNAP Gap program to fight hunger by Israel Shriki
- SNAP benefits pause amid federal government shutdown, Michigan food pantries offer hope by Gray Connor
- Michigan SNAP benefits pause to comply with emergency appeal ruling by Lilly Kujawki and Gray Connor
No Kings protest
- Protesters march for Ypsilanti's first No Kings demonstration by Lilly Kujawski
- 'No Kings' organizers, public officials call for community building amid federal cuts by Lilly Kujawski
Data center
- Ypsilanti City Council passes resolution opposing UM, Los Alamos data center by Lilly Kujawski and Ameera Salman
Housing
- Tenants at 108 Washtenaw apartment building rally for better conditions by Quanzelle Wyatt
- With new management at Arbor One amid difficulties with city, residents hope for improvements by Korinn Perron
- Judge orders Arbor One landlords to make immediate repairs by Ameera Salman
- Ypsilanti seeks renters for open seats on new Tenants' Rights Subcommittee by Matt Hodges
- Ypsilanti leaders support resolution for permanent shelter, unarmed crisis response by Ameera Salman
Special election
- Ypsilanti Special Election results: Career Technical Education proposal passes by Lauren Holloway and Natalie Kyle
Rx Kids
Echo Editorial
In 2025, The Echo editorial staff focused on the value of journalism in its editorial writing.
National Newspaper Week
Top Echo social media posts of 2025
What content left the biggest impact on social media this year? Here are The Echo's top social media posts by number of interactions in 2025.
Post: Ypsilanti City Council passes resolution opposing UM, Los Alamos data center
Views: 48,642
Reactions: 694
Comments: 48
Shares: 53
Post: Oestrike Stadium becomes first Division 1 baseball diamond to feature gray playing surface
Views: 227,644
Likes: 4,213
Comments: 67
Shares: 1,000
Roots & Cellar Roots
The year 2025 brought to fruition the 51st volume of Cellar Roots, EMU's student-operated fine arts and literary magazine. A huge shoutout to the staff that made this volume possible: Editor-in-Chief Madison Cantrell, Graphic Design Lead Laurence Bourdeau and Graphic Designer Ashley Schemer!
In Sept. 2025, Cellar Roots also introduced a new Ypsilanti area arts and entertainment publication, Roots, in conjunction with The Eastern Echo. Roots will continue to highlight local artists monthly in the new year.
Cellar Roots 2025
Purchase Cellar Roots Volume 51
Cellar Roots Volume 52 is still accepting submissions! Read the submission guidelines here. To submit work, fill out the form here.
Roots 2025
Echo staff favorite media releases of 2025
Eastern Echo staff members chose their favorite media releases from 2025. This category encompasses staff favorite books, songs and albums, television, movies and video games.
Music
- Ameera Salman, news editor: "Virgin" album by Lorde
- Caleb Henderson, sports editor: "Timmy’s Revenge" album by Lil Tim
- Natalie Heckert, copy editor: "Balloonerism" album by Mac Miller
- Lelaina MacDonald, copy editor: "Breach" album by Twenty One Pilots
- AnnaBelle Favre, news reporter: "The Life of a Showgirl" album by Taylor Swift
- Caroline Buxton, podcast staff: "Success Is Unlikely" EP by Bears in Trees
- Natalie Kyle, editor-in-chief: "Deadbeat" album by Tame Impala
- Lilly Kujawski, managing editor: "From the Pyre" album by The Last Dinner Party
- Gabriella Payeur, marketing director: "If Lyrics Were Confidential" song by Waterparks
- Riley Cantrell, social media designer: "SOS Deluxe: LANA" album by SZA
- Jada Hauser, print layout editor: "West End Girl" album by Lily Allen
- Zachary Yourman, podcast staff: "I'm The Problem" album by Morgan Wallen
- Rylee Curley, graphics editor: "Sinister Minds" album by Churgney Gurgney
- Allie Beecher, copy desk chief: "The Life of a Showgirl" album by Taylor Swift
- Katherine Tatomir, newsletter editor: “MUTT Deluxe: HEEL” album by Leon Thomas
- Max Taylor, photo editor: "The Crux Deluxe" album by DJO
- Jack Monk, sports reporter: "Hurry Up Tomorrow" album by The Weeknd
- Yiri, comics artist: "Sinister Minds" album by Churgney Gurgney
Books
- Gabriella Payeur, marketing director: "The Court of The Dead" by Rick Riordan
- Hannah Borders, arts reporter: "Everything is Tuberculosis" by John Green
Video Games
- Julia Bartlett, comics artist: "Umamusume: Pretty Derby," English version by Cygames
Television shows
- Kaleb Stanley, photographer: "Murderbot" Season 1 by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz
- Owen Cardenas, event photographer: "Dexter: Resurrection" by Clyde Phillips
Movies
- Lyndsay Tusen, copy editor: "Thunderbolts*" directed by Jake Schreier
- Quanzelle Wyatt, business manager: "The Long Walk" directed by Francis Lawrence
- Lilly Kujawski, managing editor: "Sinners" directed by Ryan Coogler
- Gray Connor, podcast editor: "Sinners" directed by Ryan Coogler
- AnnaBelle Favre, news reporter: "Nobody Wants This," created by Erin Foster and "Long Story Short," created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg
- Madison Cantrell, Cellar Roots editor-in-chief and arts editor: "Wicked: For Good" directed by Jon M. Chu
- Bradan Copeland, sports photographer: "Wicked: For Good" directed by Jon M. Chu
- Addie Lutes, podcast staff: "Superman" directed by James Gunn
- Carol Detary, arts reporter: "One Battle After Another" directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
- Bea Dingman, videographer: "Kpop Demon Hunters" directed by Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans
Staff favorite articles
Eastern Echo staff members each chose their favorite written work from 2025.
News
- Meet Angelica Esquivel, YpsiWrites' inaugural Writer in Residence by Ameera Salman
- Swoop’s Food Pantry hosts annual Holiday Harvest Donation Drive by Natalie Heckert
- Course registration for Winter 2026 begins this week by Lelaina MacDonald
- EMU campus employees will soon see an increase in their paycheck by Gabriella Payeur
- Tenants at 108 Washtenaw apartment building rally for better conditions by Quanzelle Wyatt
- Anti-abortion student group sparks chalk war across EMU sidewalks by AnnaBelle Favre
- Zero Waste Ypsi debuts in Ypsilanti community with Plastic Free July Challenge by Natalie Kyle
- Student groups report free speech access at EMU despite 'F' rating by Lilly Kujawski
- EMU College in Prison program pushes to fix the system, offers new beginnings by Gray Connor
Arts
- Cellar Roots Volume 51 by Madison Cantrell, Laurence Bourdeau and Ashley Schemer
- Local artist, EMU alumnus Rocco Pisto featured in Michigan Water Color Society exhibition by Hannah Borders
- Shakespeare in the Arb brings 'The Merry Wives of Windsor' to life this summer by Allie Beecher
- Roots Local Artist of the Month: Singer and writer, Dollie Rot by Carol Detary
- EMU Theatre presents deadly dark comedy with 'Big Love' by Gray Connor
- Cellar Roots opens yearly submissions, debuts new arts publication by Natalie Kyle
- Intermedia Gallery Group opens retrospective exploring relationship with face coverings by Katherine Tatomir
Sports
- Eastern Michigan men’s basketball 2025-26 season preview: turning a new leaf? by Caleb Henderson
- Devereaux, McMillan power Eastern Michigan football to win over Bowling Green, 27-21 by Jack Monk
- Habhab’s near triple-double leads Eastern Michigan men's basketball past Oakland 97-91 by Jeffery Ellingsworth
- Eastern Michigan football vs. Ohio preview: season on the line? by Darrell Justice
- EMU women's soccer secures shutout win over Akron, strengthens MAC playoff bid by Ruby Brannon
Multimedia staff picks
Across platforms, from multimedia journalism to print publication, Eastern Echo staff members chose their favorite multimedia work from 2025.
Photography
- Queer Talks 2025 by Kaleb Stanley
- Trey Reed vigil by Owen Cardenas
- Ann Arbor Pride 2025 by Lee Hammock
- EMU Homecoming win vs Louisiana Lafayette, 2025 by Bradan Copeland
- EMU Homecoming win vs Louisiana Lafayette, 2025 by Julius Stewart
- Rock the Patio 2025 by Max Taylor
Video
Ypsilanti No Kings protest
Pumpkins on the Patio 2025
Knight of Mystery
Eastern Michigan University vs. Oakland University Basketball 11/21/25
- Ypsilanti No Kings Protest by Bea Dingman
- Pumpkins on the Patio 2025 Video by Bea Dingman
- Knight of Mystery by Bea Dingman
- Eastern Michigan University vs. Oakland University Basketball 11/21/25 by Bea Dingman
Comics
- Opposite of a gain by Julia Bartlett
- WONDERCORD x Gideon the Ghost (pt.5) by Rylee Curley
- Complexities by Gideon the Ghost
- Dust by Yiri
- Something about a Freshie #3 by Isaiah Sanders
Scoop
Scoop is The Eastern Echo's mascot, and is created by Rylee Curley, our graphics editor. These are Rylee's favorite Scoop graphics from 2025.
To learn more about Scoop, read Notes from the Editor: Meet our friend Scoop! by Ameera Salman.
Podcasts
- Next on Deck, Episode 1: "Aidan Campbell talks underground sounds and synth-pop" by Gray Connor and Max Rowe
- Winging It, Episode 4: "SEASA and advocacy with Monica Catalan" by Gray Connor
- The Factory Report, Episode 5 by Caleb Henderson, Zachary Yourman and Gray Connor
- The Factory Report, Episode 7 by Caleb Henderson, Zachary Yourman and Gray Connor
- Living Lanterns, Episode 3: "Bouncing Back w/ Matt Jones" by Josh Nieman and Gray Connor
- Living Lanterns, Episode 5: "Ever Evolving with Professor Melissa Jones" by Josh Nieman, Addie Lutes and Gray Connor
- Weekly Round-up, Oct. 5, 2025, by Gray Connor
Social Media
- National Newspaper Week by Gabriella Payeur (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
- National Banned Book Week by Gabriella Payeur (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
- Fall Editor's Friday series by Riley Cantrell (Instagram)
- EMU's University Park pond serves as home for dozens of koi by Natalie Kyle (Instagram, Facebook)
- The Eastern Echo's guide to celebrating Pride Month in Michigan by Natalie Kyle (Instagram, Facebook)
- Student Media Gala 2025 by Julez DeShetler (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok)
Print Design
- Oct. 7 issue, page 1, by Jada Hauser
- March 18 issue, page 7, by Rylee Curley
- Nov. 11 issue, page 1, by Zeinab Agbaria
- Nov. 4 issue, page 8, by Quanzelle Wyatt
- Oct. 21 issue, page 6, by Myla Speidel
- Cellar Roots Volume 51 by Madison Cantrell, Laurence Bourdeau and Ashley Schemer
- Roots, volume 1, issues 1-4, by Madison Cantrell
Echo & Cellar Roots December graduates
As Eastern Michigan students prepare for commencement, The Echo and Cellar Roots are celebrating our graduating staff members as they wrap up their time at EMU. Congratulations to our graduates and the entire class of 2025!
Ameera Salman
Ameera Salman: editor-in-chief, news editor, Cellar Roots editor-in-chief
What are your plans after graduation?
Co-editing What's Left Ypsi and pursuing community journalism!
What was the highlight of your time at EMU or The Eastern Echo?
Winning Best Writer and accepting The Echo's Newspaper of the Year award!
Madison Cantrell
Madison Cantrell: Cellar Roots editor-in-chief, arts editor, photo editor, lead photographer, news reporter
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I will continue creating and exhibiting my artwork and collaborating with Dzanc House Gallery to bring a community darkroom to Ypsilanti!
What was the highlight of your time at EMU or The Eastern Echo?
The highlight of my time at The Eastern Echo was getting to befriend Poppy, an opossum who frequently visited me at my office window!
Riley Cantrell
Riley Cantrell: social media designer
What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to begin my career in marketing and build experience in the field. I'm interested in exploring social media marketing and working for a professional sports team one day!
What was the highlight of your time at EMU or The Eastern Echo?
A highlight from working at The Eastern Echo would be creating the social media graphic for the most-liked Instagram post! A highlight from my time at EMU would be getting to connect with my classmates and meeting great professors.
Jack Monk: sports reporter
What are your plans after graduation?
Undecided, but would like to travel!
What was the highlight of your time at EMU or The Eastern Echo?
Building the connections that I currently have today because of The Echo!
Caleb Henderson
Caleb Henderson: sports editor, sports reporter
What are your plans after graduation?
Retaking the LSAT and applying to law school.
What was the highlight of your time at EMU or The Eastern Echo?
Getting the opportunity to meet and interview so many wonderful EMU coaches and players.
