Historic icons, venues help define Ypsilanti, Michigan

Incoming students at Eastern Michigan University might find the college's home, the city of Ypsilanti, somewhat overshadowed by the academic environment, but the city and surrounding area has much to entertain and challenge students beyond the campus. Start with the city's name, Ypsilanti – pronounced (IP- sil-AN-tee) and commonly known as “Ypsi." Founded in 1823, the city was named after a Greek general, Demetrios Ypsilantis, who lived from 1793 to 1832 and fought in the Greek war for independence. A white marble bust of Ypsilantis, mounted on a 20-foot column at the base of the city's water tower, greets all who drive into town along Washtenaw Avenue. That's just a start of the icons and venues that are ingrained in the city's identity, which has been forged by history, architecture and seasonal traditions.

EMU Memorial for 25th Anniversary of 9/11

On Sept. 11, 2026, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Eastern Michigan University hosted a Day of Remembrance at Pease Park that community members could attend. EMU President Brendan Kelly attended the service along with Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. Flowers were placed on a steel beam recovered from the South Tower of the World Trade Center, a physical relic of the attacks that anchors the campus memorial.(Gallery by Courtney Prielipp)

Together Walk 2026

The Together Walk was an event meant for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. The event was a walk around University Park Pond featuring different resources around campus and around Michigan that can help attendees with mental health. The Together Walk was held in University Park on Sept. 10, 2026. (Gallery by Lee Hammock)

Center of Race and Ethnicity 2026 Welcome Back event

The Center of Race and Ethnicity held their 2026 Welcome Back event on Sept. 11, 2026. This event is held annually and features various multicultural student organizations from across Eastern Michigan University's campus. The event also featured different cultural dishes to try catered by E|Dining, and dances preformed by members of the student organizations present at the event. The CORE 2026 Welcome Back event was held in the EMU Student Center Ballroom.(Gallery by Kaleb Stanley)

Eastern Michigan University Eagle Fest 2026

Eastern Michigan University students fill the walkways around University Park on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, visiting with members and officers of various student organizations on campus. The event, called EagleFest, is designed to give students an opportunity to find ways to engage beyond the classroom.

Fifth Annual EMU Football Cruise Night

Antique, newer muscle cars, and homemade rides lined the deck overlooking the field at Rynearson Stadium on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, as Eastern Michigan University football fans arrived for the game and participated in Cruise Night. The event was the fifth time car enthusiasts were invited for an EMU Cruise Night, and they displayed their passions from 3:30 p.m. until the start of the game against San Jose, at 6:15 p.m. (Gallery by Savannah DeBock)

Eastern Michigan University Student Job Fair 2026

Photos: EMU students cheer on the Eagles

Eastern Michigan University fans gathered to Rynearson Stadium on Sept. 4 to cheer on the Eagles as they faced the San Jose State University Spartans. The Eagles fell to the Spartans, with a final score of 27-21.The game also included a doughnut-eating contest hosted by competitive eater Joey Chestnut, a Cruise Night that brought classic cars to campus, a halftime show led by the EMU Marching Band, routines from the EMU cheer and dance teams, and a visit from a live bald eagle brought to the stadium by MI Avian Experience. A fireworks show closed out the evening at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti.

Photos: Severe weather causes damages, power outages in Ypsilanti

Following a severe thunderstorm that prompted a tornado warning in Washtenaw County and other portions of Southeast Michigan on Sept. 3, 2026, damage in Ypsilanti included downed power lines and tree branches, power outages and some reports of flooding.

Kroger's Second Annual Back to College Night

To welcome back Eastern Michigan University students, Kroger held their second annual Back to College Night. The event included music, fun games, and plenty of free samples. All EMU students who attended were offered 10 percent off of their total orders. The event was held at the Kroger on 3200 Carpenter Rd, Ypsilanti, Michigan on Aug. 31, 2026. (Gallery by Lee Hammock)

Ypsi Pride 2026

In a sea of rainbow, Ypsilanti community members came to Ypsi Pride in Depot Town on August 30, 2026. Throughout the action-packed day, Ypsi Pride offered performances in multiple locations. Attendees could see drag performances, the Ypsilanti Youth Choir, Out Loud Chorus, live DJs and dancers, drag storytime and more.

Eastern Michigan Football game Aug. 29, 2026 against Sacramento State

Ypsilanti 96th 4th of July Parade

On July 4, 2026, Ypsilanti hosted its 96th annual 4th of July parade. Ypsilanti families and children lined the streets from the Ypsilanti Water Tower to Depot Town, watching the parade go by and children gather candy from the parade. Local Yspilanti businesses, schools, and community programs participated in the parade. (Gallery by Courtney Prielipp)

CMTA Coming Home Celebration May 16, 2026

The School of Communication, Media, and Theatre Arts (CMTA) hosted its Coming Home Celebration at Judy Sturgis Hill building on May 16, 2026. The coming home celebration invited all alumni from the program to celebrate the professors who are retiring, but to remember why the CMTA program is important. Scholarships were given out during the event, such as the Ken Steven Scholarship and the Sally Young Echo Scholarship. Throughout the event, there were rooms fulled of activies such as button making and dancing with music. (Gallery by Courtney Prielipp)

Spring Job Fair 2026

The 2026 Spring Job Fair took place in Student Center Ballroom on Wednesday, March 18. Students gathered to meet with potential employers and build network connections. As they put their best foot forward, many aimed towards getting jobs and internships.

Race weekend for EMU's track and field team

At least nine university track and field teams gather at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, for the 2026 MAC track and field championship competition held Feb. 26-28. EMU athletes eat, practice and compete on the road during the busy weekend.

EMU Brehm Center Symposium 2025

The Brehm Center Symposium 2025 took place on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025 in Room 310 of the Student Center. The event honored the selected 2025-26 recipients of the Delores S. Brehm Endowed Scholarship in Special Education, which supports those students for one year in each of the academic programs within the Department of Special Education. "Scholarship recipients exemplify outstanding pre-professional skills in the field of special education coupled with a commitment to serve children, adolescents and adults with special needs and/or communication disorders/speech and language impairments." More information can be found on the EMU school website at: https://www.emich.edu/brehm-center/index.php

Same Page : Loading Player 2 Event

Same Page: Loading Player 2 took place in Room 310 of the Student Center on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025. The organizer, Same Page, put on the event to encourage and foster healthy relationships between students at Eastern Michigan University. The night involved games, food, fun, and friends as students moved between different gaming areas. Students first started in a group setting and moved their way down to one-on-one games with their new potential friend. Students who completed the final gaming stage were allowed to pick an item from the prize table. Same Page was excited to put on the event again after the success they saw at the previous event last March, and was pleased to see how many students showed up for the event on Tuesday.

EMU Women's Volleyball vs. Ball State 11/6/2025

Eastern Michigan's women's volleyball team went up against the 17-9 Ball State University team on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, falling to the Cardinals 3-0.

WonderFest

AMP! and Pokito Productions came together on Tuesday, Nov. 4 2025 to host WonderFest, an event celebrating student artists and projects in the Student Center ballroom. An artist alley featured multiple artists selling original creations, and others showed off multimedia projects. The event also featured a presentation from Pokito Productions about WONDERCORD, led by director Rylee Curley, and joined by voice actors from the team. (Gallery by Max Taylor)