Julia LaRoe

Opinion

Opinion: Covid-19 has uncovered ugly truths on ableism in America

By Julia LaRoe | March 16

The quick accommodations made during the pandemic were needed, and when done right, worked effectively. But when disabled people have asked for similar or even lesser accommodations or accessibility, they are often turned away, shrugged off, or even have action taken against them. The pandemic shows us that these options were always possible—even when the ableism embedded in our culture told us it wasn’t.

Opinion

COVID-19 vaccine rollout exemplifies impact of racial health disparities in U.S.

By Julia LaRoe | March 2

Though they have been hit the hardest by COVID-19, communities of color have not been first in line for the vaccine. To understand what is happening requires inspecting the United States’ past and present, and the ways racism manifests in healthcare and medicine.

Opinion

Opinion: Eli Savit’s first policies bring hope for a fairer criminal justice system

By Julia LaRoe | January 28

After being sworn in at the turn of the new year Eli Savit got straight to work, bringing forward ten policy directives in the past few weeks. They include a range of issues all focused on more restorative methods of justice, while also addressing the systemic discrimination within criminal justice. Though it is too early to calculate their direct impact, this is a promising start for the new Prosecuting Attorney.

Opinion

Opinion: Michigan needs a COVID-19 relief bill amidst significant rise in cases

By Julia LaRoe | December 12

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked the Michigan Legislature to appropriate $400 million for COVID-19 relief in 2021. With cases in Michigan rising dramatically and current pandemic relief expiring soon, passing new COVID-19 relief is essential to the wellbeing of Michigan residents.

Opinion

Opinion: America's defective political system will stay even when Trump leaves

By Julia LaRoe | November 20

Given the harm that Trump has caused domestically and abroad, his departure will be a weight off the shoulders of many. But the exploitative system that thrived under his presidency existed before him and will continue on after he leaves the Oval Office.

Opinion

Opinion: Democrats need to run on more policy and less platitudes

By Julia LaRoe | November 16

Democrats cannot keep running on platitudes. The American people want policies that will bring fundamental change they need.

Opinion

Opinion: Rushing Amy Coney Barrett's Supreme Court confirmation was reckless

By Julia LaRoe | November 9

With a 52-48 vote, Amy Coney Barrett takes the Supreme Court seat formerly held by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The new justice was confirmed in only a month, but her presence will have a generation’s worth of consequences.

Opinion

Opinion: Michigan expungement law will give many residents a new future

By Julia LaRoe | October 29

Bipartisan ‘Clean Slate’ legislation is now law after gaining signature from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, which will expand the eligibility for criminal record expungement. Having a criminal record has effects that reverberate throughout a person’s life, including long after the offense happened. This legislation is a needed step in the right direction to transforming Michigan’s criminal justice system.

Opinion

Opinion: Future Detroit Amazon warehouse may create more harm than good

By Julia LaRoe | October 29

A portion of the Michigan state fairgrounds is set to be sold to build a new Amazon warehouse. Though its supporters tout the jobs it will bring to Detroit, community members and critics have voiced the lack of involvement the public has had in the decision, among other concerns.

Opinion

Opinion: A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for a chance at the future

By Julia LaRoe | October 19

With the presidential election right around the corner, time is dwindling for voters that are on the fence about voting for Joe Biden to make their choice. With valid concerns about the effectiveness of the electoral process, undecided voters might question whether voting in 2020 matters. I’m here to argue the many reasons why a vote for Biden does effect the livelihoods of Americans, and why that is important even if you do not believe his presidency would bring radical change.

Latest Podcast

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.

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