May 2025 First Fridays Ypsi

First Friday Ypsi is an event which strives to create community, highlight small business, and showcase the vibrant art community of Ypsilanti. It is held on the first Friday of each month from April - December. The May First Fridays Ypsi consisted of several events in collaboration with local businesses including Riverside Arts Center, Dzanc House Gallery, Putt-R-Round, and Cold Comfort Ice Cream. Many locations were in Downtown Ypsilanti and Depot town on Friday, May 2 2025. (Gallery by Lee Hammock)

Ypsilanti Farmers Market opening day

Ypsilanti Farmers Markets celebrated their first market of the season on Saturday, May 3 2025. The Ypsilanti Farmers Market strives to bring fresh food to the people of Ypsilanti, highlight local vendors, and create community. This market was their first in the new Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace made in collaboration with Growing Hope. The market will be held every Saturday from 9AM to 1PM from March to October at the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace located at 16 S Washington St, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197. (Gallery by Lee Hammock)

McNair Awards 2025

The end of year McNair Awards Ceremony took place on Friday, April 11 2025 in Halle Library and celebrated achievements of current and graduating students in the McNair Scholars Program. (Gallery by Kaleb Stanley)

Cause Play

Shavonne Coleman's world premier of Cause Play ran from April 3 to April 8 2025 in EMU's Legacy Theatre. Featuring ASL shadow interpretation, the play made for younger audiences was about acknowledging the superpower that already lies within you, through the fun of cosplay! (Gallery by Photo Editor Max Taylor)

JSA 2025 Spring Festival

The EMU Japanese Student Association hosted their Spring Festival on Sunday, March 30 in the Student Center. Students were able to experience a wide range of activities including traditional Japanese calligraphy, a carnival shooting gallery, making flower arrangements, board games, and more. There were also many performances in the Student Center Auditorium featuring Taiko and Koto performers, martial arts, a kids chorus, and a kimono demonstration. A free bento box lunch was also provided to a limited number of students upon signup. (Gallery by Lee Hammock)

EMU celebrates 50 years of Women's and Gender Studies

Repainting HerStory

Repainting HerStory was an event hosted in the Honors College on Wednesday, March 19th 2025 to celebrate Women's History Month. (Photos taken and captioned by Kaleb Stanley)

Queer Talks 2025

The EMU LGBT Resource Center and Honors College hosted Queer Talks on Friday, January 31st. Speakers at the event delivered presentations aimed to educate, empower, and uplift queer students on campus to build community. The event also ended with entertainment from 10 local drag performers! (Gallery photographed and captioned by Kaleb Stanley)

The Women of Color Feminisms and Leadership Symposium

The Women of Color Feminisms and Leadership Symposium took place in the Student Center Ballroom on Tuesday, March 11th in celebration of Women's History month. The event consisted of a panel of experience leaders, staff, and students who spoke on topics of wellness, resilience, and transformative action. (Gallery by Carol Detary, Owen Cardenas, and Max Taylor)

Eagle-Con 2025

Eagle-Con 2025 took place in the Student Center ballroom on Tuesday, March 18th. The event hosted by Campus Life included vendors with student artists and businesses, drag performances, live music from the Anime Music Club, and a cosplay competition. A separate game room was also hosted by EMU Esports and Dungeons & Dreadnoughts, as well as a sensory room by EMU AMP! Students were also encouraged to complete a scavenger hunt to win prizes. (Photos taken and captioned by Max Taylor and Kaleb Stanley)

Coffee shops near the Eastern Michigan University campus

At least five coffee shops and cafés near Eastern Michigan University, all within a mile radius of campus. They provide options in hours and menus -- including specialty coffees, teas and pastries -- that might be appealing to students. Each of the shops give a variety of coffee, teas, and pastries. The cafés range in style and menu, offering a different experience and atmosphere. 

Ypsilanti business leaders discuss First Fridays

Created in 2013, First Fridays Ypsilanti is designed to connect local artists and businesses by hosting an evening -- on every First Friday of the month -- with all businesses downtown and Depot Town participating in art and music events, restaurant specials and gallery openings. First Fridays are held April through December.

Students exhibit carving skills at Pumpkins on the Patio

Dozens of Eastern students participated in the Pumpkins on the Patio event held Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, just outside the student center on campus. Students carved the pumpkins into Jack-o-lanterns and competed for prizes, and fun.

Election Watch Party Nov. 5

Plymouth Orchards & Cider Mill

Staff at the Plymouth Orchards & Cider Mill have been pressing apples into cider for 40 years. The mill is on Warren Road in Plymouth, Michigan, about 10 miles north, northeast of the Eastern Michigan University campus. (Photo gallery by Staff Writer Isabella DiPonio)

2024 Black Homecoming Cookout/Alumni Mixer and Yard Show

EMU students, alumni gather for Red Wings game

EMU students and alumni attend the Red Wings game Jan. 27, 2024, at Little Ceaser's Arena for Eastern Michigan University Night, hosted by the EMU Alumni Association.

Winter Fest 2024

Club members discuss their organizations at Winter Fest 2024 held Jan. 16, 2024, at the Student Center on Eastern Michigan University's campus. Winterfest is an event that helps students connect with various activities and organizations.

‘Fresh Looks’ exhibit showcases a variety of student art

Artwork in the University Gallery in the Student Center, in the exhibit "Fresh Looks," displays the work of Eastern Michigan University art students. The exhibit is on display through Feb. 9, 2024.

A blast from the past at The Echo

What were EMU students up to this time of year three, four or even five decades ago? The Eastern Echo was established in 1956 after a long run as the Normal College News, which began in 1881. Student reporters, editors and photographers have worked since then to document the news on and around campus.Launched as a monthly newspaper, The Echo grew in circulation and frequency, moving to publishing three times a week for a while beginning in the 1970s. While the print edition was suspended briefly in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, when the university canceled all in-person activities, the student media team continue to publish through The Echo website. Weekly print editions resumed in the fall of 2021. Flip through the gallery to discover what's changed and what's stayed the same on campus. (Complied by staff writer Shannon Parker)