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The Eastern Echo Friday, July 3, 2026 | Print Archive
The Eastern Echo

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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

Election Watch Party Nov. 5

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Eastern Votes hosted a nonpartisan Election Night Watch Party at the Lake House on campus from 7-11 p.m. sponsored by Engage@emu. (Gallery by Kaleb Stanley)


Plymouth Orchards & Cider Mill

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)


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

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)


EMU Jazz Ensemble April 2024

EMU Jazz Ensemble April 2024

The EMU Jazz Ensemble performed in Pease Auditorium on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. This concert's program featured Valerie Barrymore as a guest singer, as well as student vocalist Fabiola Gayosso and guest tenor saxophone player Ahmid Alexander. Dr. Geoff Stanton was also recognized for 15 years of service to EMU's School of Music & Dance at his last concert at EMU. (Gallery by Max Taylor)


MAPA Championships at EMU G3 Center 2024

MAPA Championships at EMU G3 Center 2024

EMU hosted MAPA Championships in the George Gervin GameAbove Center on April 14 2024. MAPA Championships is a competition between different WGI performance ensembles, which many of our own EMU students participate in. (Gallery by Max Taylor)


Emma Moore stops by the photo booth with her parents April 9, 2024, during the sixth annual Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association at Eastern Michigan University.

The Quinceanera and her parents

Emma Moore stops by the photo booth with her parents April 9, 2024, during the sixth annual Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association at Eastern Michigan University. A quinceanera is a Latino celebration marking a a teenager's transition into adulthood, usually on their 15th birthday. For the university event. the Latinx Student Association voted on one EMU student who did not get the chance to have a quinceanera at 15, who served as the center of the ball.


Five alumni and friends of the Latinx Student Association take a break from the dancing to pose for a photo at the sixth annual Quinceanera in the McKenny Hall Ballroom.

Latinx EMU alumni

The Latinx Student Association's Quinceanera crowd includes a number of alumni whose support keeps the event going. Among those behind the dance event are the Latin Alumni Association, the Latino Faculty and Staff Association at Eastern MIchigan University and the Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc.


Eastern Michigan University freshman Estivin Lebron escorts Emma Moore to the dance floor.

The surprise dance

Eastern Michigan University freshman Estivin Lebron escorts Emma Moore to the dance floor as festivities get underway for the sixth annual Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association on April 9, 2024, in the McKenny Hall Ballroom. For the surprise dance the Quinceanera court changed into more casual clothes.


The Latino Alumni chapter awarded six El Jefe scholarships during the Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association at Eastern Michigan University on April 9, 2024.

Scholarship winners

The Latino Alumni chapter awarded six El Jefe scholarships during the Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association at Eastern Michigan University on April 9, 2024. Marina Reyna, the chapter's president, said she was very impressed with the applications this year and it was the first time the chapter has awarded that many scholarships at the event.


Dancers move to the beat at the sixth annual Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association at Eastern Michigan University.

Surprise dance 2

Dancers move to the beat at the sixth annual Quinceanera hosted by the Latinx Student Association at Eastern Michigan University. Held in the McKenny Hall Ballroom, the dance numbers included the waltz and bachata. The event also included Latin food, the awarding of scholarships, and the presentation of Emma Moore at the Quinceanera. 


Rec/IM hosts a wellness fest

Eastern Michigan University's Rec/IM program hosts a Wellness Fest on Feb. 1, 2024, in an effort to engage students in healthy activities. Eastern Echo reporter Sarai Yanes interviews the organizers and those enjoying the activities.


Eastern Michigan University’s “Enlighten U” has been ranked the top mental health podcast in Michigan by FeedSpot, a platform that compiles blogs, podcasts, YouTube channels, newsletters and other sites in one location.

“Enlighten U” is a podcast geared toward students who are experiencing mental health challenges. Melissa Thrasher, EMU's executive director of media relations and social media, and Lolita Cummings, an EMU public relations professor, serve as the co-hosts. Each episode is released around the 15th of every month and features a student or alum and a subject-matter professional.

Lolita Cummings in an interview with The Echo said that this is not the first time the No. 1 mental health podcast in Michigan has been awarded to "Enlighten U."

"We've been the No. 1 mental health podcast in Michigan from the very beginning," Cummings said. "I think it's an indicator of the fact that what we are trying to do, we are doing well, and that is important."

At the start of each "Enlighten U" episode, Cummings and Thrasher state that the "Enlighten U" podcast is an award-winning show.

"A couple of years ago, I won the best in PR for good campaign from Public Relations Society of America for the marketing and promotions program, because it's important that we get this, the word, out to everyone and about the podcast," Cummings said.

Thrasher and Cummings are both extremely proud of their podcast, but these awards and recognitions are not why they continue with it.

It is important to Cummings that she serves all of her students' needs. She noticed that before the COVID-19 pandemic, the mental health of many of her students was declining. When the students came back after the pandemic, Cummings noticed that her students' mental health was even worse. Due to this, she began brainstorming with one of her students about how she could help.

"She [the student] said to me, 'We watched a lot of podcasts while we were off.' So I said, 'Okay, I don't know anything about podcasts, but I will meet you all where you are.' So that's where the idea came from," Cummings said. "I am able to not just serve their academic needs, but I'm also able to serve their mental health needs. And to get the feedback from them, that is really helping, and is everything to me because the students are the ones who tell us what issues are impacting the most. Those are the issues that we bring to the table at 'Enlighten U.'"

Cummings encourages students to not only watch and listen to "Enlighten U" but to also spread the word about the podcast.

"One of the things we want to do is get the word out about this podcast to as many people as possible, across the nation, across the world," she said. "The need is not limited to our campus — the need is universal; it is worldwide. My goal at this point is obviously to continue to produce quality shows that reflect the mental health challenges that students are facing, but also get it out to wider audiences so we can help more people."

For those who are interested in engaging with "Enlighten U," the podcast can be found on YouTube and Spotify.