Latest news with #UniversityofMichigan-Dearborn
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Petoskey High School bids farewell to Class of 2025
PETOSKEY — Petoskey High School welcomed a new class of alumni on Sunday, June 1, as the school hosted its 140th commencement ceremony. More than 200 students received their diplomas under sunny skies as a packed stadium full of their loved ones cheered them on. The Class of 2025 were celebrated for all that they accomplished during their school career, whether that was starring in the school musical or setting records on the football field or earning accolades in robotics. Seniors had the chance to play one last time with the band and the Madrigal Singers performed a version of 'From Now On/This is Me' arranged by graduating senior Lillian Bott. Senior Honor Speaker Jackson Darden, who will be attending the University of Michigan-Dearborn to study mechanical engineering, urged his classmates to continue pursuing their passions in the future. 'No matter what you end up doing, always at least give it a chance,' he said. 'Trust me, you will never regret it. And if you are still feeling uncertain about what you are going to end up doing, that's OK. No one knows how things will turn out in the future. Things change. Life happens. Passions shift. Choose the path that lets you pursue as many things you love as you can.' Senior Honor Speaker Charlotte Todd, who will be attending Michigan State University to study pre-law, reminded her peers that 'You are Northmen forever.' 'If there's one thing I hope you take away from this tonight, it's this,' she said. 'At the Public Schools of Petoskey, you're given the chance to become your own version of a Northmen. To any underclassmen, no one is going to tell you to be louder at a football game, raise your hand in class or follow Spirit Week, but it's going to be highly encouraged by many. You only get to experience this opportunity once, so do what you feel is necessary to be your version of a Northmen. It's not an ending but an opportunity to continue the legacy of the Petoskey Northmen.' — Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@ This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Petoskey High School bids farewell to Class of 2025 at graduation
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
U-M Dearborn's Black Celebratory honors students who've achieved so much
What's in a name? In most cases, simply replying 'a lot' would suffice. But in the case of an annual event held at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, a name represents more than I could ever have known. Since 2012, U-M Dearborn's annual Black Celebratory has been held on the last Thursday of April, a few days ahead of the university's commencement ceremony. This event is the highlight of my year, and as a U-M Dearborn alum, I've had the privilege to either host or co-host the Black Celebratory each year since its inception. The Black Celebratory is unique and sacred, and it accomplishes three things: 1) Recognizes and celebrates the academic success of African American students, 2) Provides an opportunity for campus faculty, staff, family and friends to honor graduating seniors. 3) Serves as a reunion-like reminder that upholding black excellence is a collective responsibility. Minutes after the program is over, especially in the early years, I'll often be asked by students' parents why I want to host or be part of this event every year. I smile, and tell them the simple answer: It's fun, and it's not about me, it's about the students. As host or co-host, it's my job to read each student's name and accomplishments with enthusiasm ― and this comes easily and naturally to me, simply because of what each name represents. Many students also add notes about their academic accomplishments, post-graduation plans, or details about their lives. The students each make their way down the illustrious red carpet, then onto the stage where they are greeted by a faculty member from the African and African American Studies department and given an authentic Kente stole, made in Ghana, that officially becomes part of their graduation attire. More from Freep Opinion: DEI isn't about hiring quotas. It's about opportunity. U-M Dearborn has the same high academic standards as the Ann Arbor campus, but it attracts a different student body. Students at U-M Dearborn may be making their families proud by being the first to graduate college. Others are nontraditional students who began their education, and then returned years later to finish and receive their degrees. Or they may be working professionals seeking degrees to advance career or personal goals. As a commuter campus, it's a good fit for students who are juggling life and college. Many, if not all, of the graduates worked and went to school while maintaining academic scholarships, their standing on the dean's list and other academic honors, and participated in clubs or other campus groups. Some accomplished this in addition to being husbands, wives, mothers and fathers. In the early years of the event, the students being recognized were primarily receiving undergraduate degrees. But, over the years, those receiving their master's and doctoral degrees have participated in the celebratory. I have had the honor to read their names, too, totaling well over 500 individuals since 2012. Black excellence, indeed. More from Freep Opinion: Detroit principal teaches students about character, opportunity — and college But this year was extra special. There's the underlying current of diversity, equity and inclusion being challenged by the current presidential administration. In fact, in weeks prior to the Black Celebratory, the University of Michigan announced the closure of its DEI office, leaving students faculty, staff and alums, including myself, stunned. Monies absorbed within DEI efforts were shifted to the Go Blue Guarantee and the Wolverine Pathways program to help low-income students. I was momentarily concerned about the effects this DEI decision might have on programming such as the Black Celebratory. But the university raised no objections to holding the Black Celebratory, and, as the saying goes, the show must go on. Everyone involved with the event remains committed to celebrating the students who worked so hard to get to this moment. We decided to let the value of the celebratory speak for itself, woven, like Kente, in the words and speeches of students and guest speakers that night. And I'd argue the 10-year anniversary of the unexpected passing of the professor who was the brainchild of this event could not have been timed more perfectly. During this year's celebratory, the video of Dr. Ahmad Rahman, a professor of African and African American studies, was played. The video showed Rahman at the first-ever Black Celebratory in April 2012, giving a speech to explain the significance of Kente. He encouraged graduating seniors to 'remain tight' like Kente, and that all of us should 'lift as we climb.' Timely advice then, and certainly timely advice now. The celebratory has proven its worth and importance on its own. All I literally must do each year is show up, ready to celebrate and honor the latest group of African American students to cross the stage at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. I opened this year's celebratory with this African proverb: 'The river may dry up, but she keeps her name.' Changing circumstances and challenges are inevitable, but a name and its meaning never change ― and that alone will always be worth celebrating. Leah Olajide is the newsletter editor for the Detroit Free Press and a university lecturer. Submit a letter to the editor at and we may publish it online and in print. Like what you're reading? Please consider supporting local journalism and getting unlimited digital access with a Detroit Free Press subscription. We depend on readers like you. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: U-M Dearborn's Black Celebratory recognizes achievement | Opinion
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longtime Fraser bike shop serving triathletes, others closing; owner rolls into retirement
The sign with a bicycle by the checkout counter encapsulates it all: "Life is a beautiful ride." For longtime shop owner Paul Rogers that ride — at least the retail business part of it — is rolling to a stop as he announced this week the closure of Fraser Bicycle, a bike shop that has been in business in Fraser for nearly six decades. "It's all good," he said as he stood inside the crisply organized store in Macomb County hours after posting the closure news on the store's Facebook page, adding that he is retiring. Rogers, the store's owner since 1987, wrapped up talking with a customer and shook hands with him. A short time later, longtime customer Steve Scribner, 58, of Rochester Hills, came in after seeing the Facebook post, which began: "With heavy hearts we are sharing the news that we're closing our doors. And no, this is not an early April fools joke." Scribner, like Rogers, said he has competed in several Ironman competitions through the years. "There's not many bike shops that have the same kind of service ... (that) cater to triathletes," Scribner said, adding that Rogers' shop helped athletes like himself find the right bicycle and service it. "The triathlete wants to go as fast as possible. You want that bike to perform as best as possible." Triathlons involve swimming, cycling and running. More: Study pushes for Belle Isle makeover to boost pedestrian, cycling, transit access Scribner, who teaches organic chemistry at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, said he was at home working Monday when he saw the store's post. He took the approximately 25-minute ride to the store to talk with Rogers and discuss what he should buy next for his bike as he plans to compete Nov. 1 in an Ironman competition in Florida. Scribner also planned to probably leave the store with a bike for himself and possibly his wife for more leisure riding on trails and in neighborhoods. "I'm gonna miss it," Scribner said of the shop, where he has been coming since 2010 and where he said he and others would gather in the basement cycling lab for virtual team rides. During those earlier years, Scribner said, he would drive up from Wyandotte to be with the team two or three days a week in the winter. Rogers, 65, said the shop has been open for 59 years and was first known as Fraser Cycle Center. He bought it from the previous owner after leaving a quality control job at General Motors he had for about nine years. Rogers attended Barnett Bicycle Institute, a bicycle mechanic school, according to his biography on the store's website, and he completed his fourth Ironman with his sons in November 2018. Upon retirement, Rogers said he plans to spend more time with family, including four grandchildren and his wife, Kim, of 45 years, who is a nurse. Rogers said the store has been in its current location on Utica Road since 2001, moving about 1½ miles from its prior location. Its athletic team, Team Fraser, was based there from 2008 to 2022, Rogers said. Scribner said the team brought together people — people who became his friends and part of his social network. The shop has served thousands of customers from metro Detroit and beyond, Rogers said, including a couple who are triathletes and live north of Petoskey who "only came here." More: Custom 1st bike is glorious moment for Macomb Township girl used to being left behind On Monday, Rogers' phone was ringing constantly and Facebook messages were pouring in about the pending closure. Commenters lamented the closure, with one person saying he drove two hours to the store when he needed services or products, and others remembering their time riding in the bike lab or thanking the staff for its service. In addition to closeout sales, Rogers said, they will take care of customers' maintenance needs, thanking those who patronized the store, and saying they will "do our best until the doors are locked." Rogers said business challenges compared to years ago have included online sales hurting brick and mortar stores and finding dedicated employees who want to stay long term. An opinion/analysis piece last month in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News indicated it's possible bike shops are going out of business at unusually high rates. Heather Mason, president of the National Bicycle Dealers Association, wrote in a letter in the group's 2024 annual report "that retailer and supplier health remains a priority" and indicated the industry faced challenges last year, including weather-related incidents that devastated businesses, economic hurdles, shifting market conditions and supply chain issues that led to the closure of retailers and suppliers. Rogers said he owns the building where his shop is located and he will rent the space once the shop closes. He said the shop has about four employees in the winter, including himself, and his son worked there, and three or four part-timers in the summer. Rogers said the store may be open for about 60 days, as no new inventory will be coming in and the store will be selling the inventory it has, with sales already in place. The bike shop has many high-end bicycle brands, including Cannondale and Specialized. "This place is closing," one customer said as he was walking away from the counter after making a purchase. "Man, it's sad." Contact Christina Hall: chall@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @challreporter. Support local journalism. Subscribe to the Free Press. Submit a letter to the editor at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Longtime Fraser bike shop owner rolling into retirement, closing store
Khaleej Times
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
Trump floods the zone, leaving opposition drowning
Donald Trump's opponents have spent the days since his inauguration playing political whack-a-mole over a torrent of orders specifically calibrated to overwhelm and bewilder, say analysts, as the new president gets to work on his radical policy agenda. A chaotic first week saw him sign scores of divisive executive orders, as well as pardons or commutations for nearly everyone convicted of crimes — including serious violence — in the 2021 US Capitol insurrection. And then there were the new president's freewheeling media appearances, the feuds with perceived enemies, dust-ups with the clergy, stripping of security details for critics, the launch of a meme crypto coin, and one headline-grabbing social media post after another. "He doesn't just flood the zone, he drowns it," said Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of global crisis PR agency Red Banyan. "It's a classic PR strategy: overwhelm, distract and control the narrative before anyone else can. Flooding the zone is his way of making sure no single controversy sticks because there's always a new one incoming." Longstanding Trump cheerleader Steve Bannon explained the shock-and-awe strategy in 2018, when he argued that the real opposition to the Republican billionaire was not the Democrats but the media. "And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit," he said. "Flooding the zone" is a phrase with roots in sports lingo, originally used to describe the tactic in US football of saturating the opposition's defence until a weak spot opens. But Bannon was also echoing a widespread authoritarian move, premised on the notion that politicians can avoid scrutiny over any individual outrage by bombarding and overwhelming the public's attention span. The blizzard of headlines is disorienting, and it is supposed to be, say analysts. The point isn't to persuade anyone of anything, it's simply to ensure that critics don't mobilise around a coherent narrative and that no one has control over the flow of information. "By throwing out an overwhelming number of policy changes and provocations, Trump has presented his opponents with giant game of whack-a-mole stacked very much in his favour," said political scientist Michael Montgomery, of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. In his first week Trump dived headlong into America's culture wars, ending all federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. There was a stay of execution for Chinese-owned app TikTok, a back-to-the-office demand for federal workers, a hiring freeze, renamings of the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali and a likely unconstitutional order to end birthright citizenship. This week Trump — whose approval rating is at its highest ever — sowed chaos across government agencies with a pause on most federal grants, launching a frontal assault on Congress's constitutional role as controller of the budget. He was forced into something of a climbdown amid a ferocious backlash. But nearly forgotten in the furour were other extraordinary measures, including his firing — widely considered to be illegal — of 18 inspectors-general, who are independent watchdogs of the federal government. The firing of multiple officials who had previously worked on the federal criminal investigations into Trump was likewise overlooked. Katherine Cartwright, a co-founder of media buying agency Criterion Global, sees Trump as a vector of "Disaster Attention Deficit Disorder" — leaving those deluged by demands on their attention paralysed, like the proverbial rabbit in the headlights. Another attention tactic in which Trumpworld excels, she says, is the "Friday drop" — ensuring the most unwelcome headlines arrive late in the week and burn out quickly as people lose interest though the weekend. Trump's new Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth — a TV host with no relevant management experience and serious questions over his character — was confirmed on a Friday and "washed from the news by Monday morning", Cartwright said. Nierman, the crisis PR expert, sees the president's unpredictability as both strategy and reflex. "Trump thrives in the churn, where the public's attention shifts too fast for any one scandal to stick," he said. "While everyone else scrambles to process yesterday's outrage, he's already on to the next, ensuring his version of events dominates both the day's headlines and social media conversation." But the long-term risk of flooding the zone, says Nierman, is the kind of Trump fatigue that caused voters to vote him out of office after his first term. "Even loyal supporters can grow tired of constant turmoil," he said. "And swing voters may ultimately crave stability over spectacle."
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump floods the zone, leaving opposition drowning
Donald Trump's opponents have spent the days since his inauguration playing political whack-a-mole over a torrent of orders specifically calibrated to overwhelm and bewilder, say analysts, as the new president gets to work on his radical policy agenda. A chaotic first week saw him sign scores of divisive executive orders, as well as pardons or commutations for nearly everyone convicted of crimes -- including serious violence -- in the 2021 US Capitol insurrection. And then there were the new president's freewheeling media appearances, the feuds with perceived enemies, dust-ups with the clergy, stripping of security details for critics, the launch of a meme crypto coin, and one headline-grabbing social media post after another. "He doesn't just flood the zone, he drowns it," said Evan Nierman, the founder and CEO of global crisis PR agency Red Banyan. "It's a classic PR strategy: overwhelm, distract and control the narrative before anyone else can. Flooding the zone is his way of making sure no single controversy sticks because there's always a new one incoming." Longstanding Trump cheerleader Steve Bannon explained the shock-and-awe strategy in 2018, when he argued that the real opposition to the Republican billionaire was not the Democrats but the media. "And the way to deal with them is to flood the zone with shit," he said. "Flooding the zone" is a phrase with roots in sports lingo, originally used to describe the tactic in US football of saturating the opposition's defense until a weak spot opens. - Assault on Congress - But Bannon was also echoing a widespread authoritarian move, premised on the notion that politicians can avoid scrutiny over any individual outrage by bombarding and overwhelming the public's attention span. The blizzard of headlines is disorienting, and it is supposed to be, say analysts. The point isn't to persuade anyone of anything, it's simply to ensure that critics don't mobilize around a coherent narrative and that no one has control over the flow of information. "By throwing out an overwhelming number of policy changes and provocations, Trump has presented his opponents with giant game of whack-a-mole stacked very much in his favor," political scientist Michael Montgomery, of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, told AFP. In his first week Trump dived headlong into America's culture wars, ending all federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. There was a stay of execution for Chinese-owned app TikTok, a back-to-the-office demand for federal workers, a hiring freeze, renamings of the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali and a likely unconstitutional order to end birthright citizenship. This week Trump -- whose approval rating is at its highest ever -- sowed chaos across government agencies with a pause on most federal grants, launching a frontal assault on Congress's constitutional role as controller of the budget. He was forced into something of a climbdown amid a ferocious backlash. But nearly forgotten in the furor were other extraordinary measures, including his firing -- widely considered to be illegal -- of 18 inspectors general, who are independent watchdogs of the federal government. The firing of multiple officials who had previously worked on the federal criminal investigations into Trump was likewise overlooked. - 'Yesterday's outrage' - Katherine Cartwright, a co-founder of media buying agency Criterion Global, sees Trump as a vector of "Disaster Attention Deficit Disorder" -- leaving those deluged by demands on their attention paralyzed, like the proverbial rabbit in the headlights Another attention tactic in which Trumpworld excels, she says, is the "Friday drop" -- ensuring the most unwelcome headlines arrive late in the week and burn out quickly as people lose interest though the weekend. Trump's new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth -- a TV host with no relevant management experience and serious questions over his character -- was confirmed on a Friday and "washed from the news by Monday morning," Cartwright said. Nierman, the crisis PR expert, sees the president's unpredictability as both strategy and reflex. "Trump thrives in the churn, where the public's attention shifts too fast for any one scandal to stick," he said. "While everyone else scrambles to process yesterday's outrage, he's already on to the next, ensuring his version of events dominates both the day's headlines and social media conversation." But the long-term risk of flooding the zone, says Nierman, is the kind of Trump fatigue that caused voters to vote him out of office after his first term. "Even loyal supporters can grow tired of constant turmoil," he told AFP. "And swing voters may ultimately crave stability over spectacle." ft/sms
