Author Patrick Flores-Scott, who is pursuing an MA in Creative Writing at EMU, has published a new Young Adult novel, No Going Back, to strong reviews. "No Going Back is about a kid who has been paroled from juvenile prison, and how he must deal with old demons and a host of new issues that hit him almost the minute he gets home," said Flores-Scott. No Going Back is Flores-Scott's third YA novel, following the award-winning Jumped In and American Road Trip.

"No Going Back came out at the end of my first year in EMU's Creative Writing Master's program," said Flores-Scott. "I've had some success with YA novels, but the scope of my writing has been very narrow. I was drawn to the Master's at EMU because I knew I'd be stretched big-time. The professors here are all known for their boundary-pushing work—work in many different genres—and for encouraging their students to experiment with language and form. My first year was exactly what I had hoped for. On top of that, I'm working with the Office of Campus and Community Writing, working on the BathHouse Journal, and I even learned more about the history of young adult fiction in a great course in the Children's Lit program. As much experience as I have publishing books, it's been thirty years since undergrad. I'm still adjusting to life as a student so I'm grateful for the writers in my cohort for being so helpful, gracious, and inspiring."

Flores-Scott's professors praise his contributions to the Creative Writing program. "Patrick Flores-Scott has already distinguished himself as a generous, curious, empathetic, and brilliant student of creative writing," writes Professor Christine Hume. "His capacity to invest in a range of genres and interdisciplinary modes is truly impressive—using audio, film, experimental and traditional literary forms all in his first semester! His work exemplifies a high risk/high reward approach to narrative. At the same time, his deeply considered language and well-placed wit shows how much discipline is at work in his playful and electric story-telling. We are fortunate to count him in our ranks."

Flores-Scott launched No Going Back in a conversation with Associate Professor of Criminology Rita Shah in Ann Arbor on April 4. Readers will have an opportunity to hear Flores-Scott read from his work on May 22, when he will appear with Professor of Africology and African American Studies Dr. Toni Pressley-Sanon and Ypsilanti-based author Caroline Huntoon at the Ypsilanti-Area Authors Reading sponsored by YpsiWrites. This free event will take place at the Whittaker branch of the Ypsilanti District Library, 5577 Whittaker Rd. in Ypsilanti Township.

Scholarships have been awarded to fourteen students in recognition of their excellent presentations at the 44th annual Undergraduate Symposium. These endowed scholarships have been established through the generosity of friends of the Symposium. The recipients and their faculty mentors are:

Talal Ali, faculty mentor: Stephen Jefferson
Anna Bennett, faculty mentor: John Wegner
Manal Chishty, faculty mentor: Paul Price
April Dembinski, faculty mentor: Paul Price
Antonia Gitau, faculty mentors: Jamie Lawler and Angela Staples
Sofia Ivanko, faculty mentor: Catherine Gammon
Syrena Kapsa, faculty mentor: John DeHoog
Amara Kwesiaku, faculty mentor: W. John Koolage
Hoa Le, faculty mentor: Michael Koscielniak
Brooke Lopo, faculty mentor: Hedeel Evans
Maggie Parks , faculty mentor: Guey-Meei Yang
Lauren Sulak, faculty mentor: Jackie McGinnis
Ciara Wheeler, faculty mentor: Khairul Islam
Allison Zwiker, faculty mentor: Tauheed Khan Mohd

Hosted by the College of Arts and Sciences since 1981, the Undergraduate Symposium is EMU's premiere showcase of undergraduate research and creativity. This year's event, which took place Friday, March 22 at the EMU Student Center, featured presentations from 220 students, including poster sessions, oral presentations, and a design-based gallery show. 

"From my perspective as both a faculty mentor and as a member of the EMU community, I truly believe that this is the best day of the year at EMU," said Harriet Lindsay, Symposium event chair and Department Head and Professor of Chemistry. "Like graduation, the Undergraduate Symposium is a milestone for student presenters as they present the fruits of months of effort."

The Eastern Michigan University Forensics team secured third place in the National Championship Tournament of the National Forensics Association, which took place April 18-22. This achievement marks EMU's 51st consecutive year of participation in the tournament, underscoring its enduring commitment to excellence in competitive forensics.

EMU Forensics sent 18 students who participated in more than 50 performances in the national competition. The tournament, hosted by Central Michigan University, featured 60 schools and 399 students. This achievement follows the recent fourth-place finish in the American Forensics Association Competition.

"This is my first year as director and joining a team with such a prestigious history was extremely intimidating," said Bill Heinze, director of Forensics at Eastern. "It's safe to say that as a team, the students were very uncertain about whether or not they could repeat past successes. Our strong finish indicates that EMU forensics can adapt to changing leadership and hold onto the commitment to performance and advocacy that makes us strong."

Read the full EMU Today story.

The EMU Trumpet Quintet was invited to give multiple performances at the 2024 International Trumpet Guild (ITG) Conference in Anaheim, California (May 28-June 1, 2024). Students of Dr. Anderson Romero, Assistant Professor of Music in the School of Music & Dance, the quintet will be one of only 15 chamber music groups selected via competitive audition to perform in the Ryan Anthony Memorial Trumpet Competition.  Additionally, the quintet will also perform as a prelude to a conference session presented by Ko Skinsnes and Javier Gonzalez.  

Earlier this year, the EMU Trumpet Quintet was invited to perform at the National Trumpet Competition. While the quintet is very thankful for the support they have received from the School of Music and Dance, these accomplishments have required significant travel expenses. If you would like to consider donating to support their travel to perform at ITG, please follow this link. 

Approaching life with an all-or-nothing attitude is the motto for April 2024 EMU graduate Angelo DePollo. A veteran who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq and Kuwait, he is graduating with honors with a degree in International Affairs. He plans to obtain his Master's and work for the U.S. State Department or a government agency, where he can help shape global policy through peaceful and diplomatic means. 

DePollo didn't consider himself a college-bound student and didn't place an emphasis on his academics because he aspired to enlist in the U.S. Marines. Upon completing his term of enlistment, he began applying to schools, but the acceptance letters weren't flowing in due to his GPA.   

"Just as I thought it was time to pack it in and put the uniform back on, Eastern Michigan University, an institution that very well knows the impact of military service on an individual, was willing to give me a shot at being the 'college-bound kid,'" said DePollo. "I wouldn't say it was fatal attraction between me and Eastern, but more of the stars aligning and me ending up exactly where I was supposed to be."

DePollo said, majoring in international affairs was always his plan from the moment he decided to attend college. He credits his strong interest in politics, which attracted him to wanting to serve his country and now towards international affairs. 

Giving his all helped Depollo achieve a 3.9 GPA and serve as a leader for the Eastern Michigan Model United Nations Club, a group that fosters conversations around peaceful and diplomatic solutions to global issues.

Read the full EMU Today story.

Physics Research Major Allison Muschong and Physics Major Hannah Popofski both presented their research at the Spring Meeting of the Eastern Great Lakes Section of the American Physical Society (APS EGLS), conducted jointly with the Spring Meeting of the Michigan Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers, held on April 12 – 13 at Kettering University. 

Muschong contributed a talk entitled "Exploring Scientific Ethics Requirements for U.S. Undergraduate Students in Physics." This poster was an extension of her EMU Symposium poster, "Are Scientific Ethics Courses Commonly Required in Collegiate STEM Programs?" Allie is mentored by Professor of Physics Marshall Thomsen, and her work is supported by a grant obtained from the National Science Foundation by Thomsen together with EMU collaborators Prof. Greg Argeros and Dr. Sonia Chawla. Regarding the opportunity to give a presentation at the APS EGLS meeting, Allie writes that, in addition to "connecting with other future STEM graduates and expanding my knowledge of physics-specific current issues, the meeting was a great opportunity to practice reciting my research on an academic level--I even spoke to some professionals with a special interest in my research topic!" Thomsen says that "Allie's research replaces anecdotal evidence with methodical research on the question of how common ethics courses are in college-level science departments. She is continuing to help lay the groundwork for the survey that is at the heart of our NSF project." 

Popofski contributed a talk entitled "Analysis of Rumble Strip Generated Sound." This talk was an extension of her EMU Symposium presentation, "Music from Rumble Strips: Developing an Experiment for Undergraduates," which also served as the basis for Popofski's Honors Thesis. Her mentor, Professor Marshall Thomsen, says, "Hannah has a curiosity about the role of physics in everyday life that drives her interest in research. Collaborating with her on this project has been an invaluable experience for both of us." Popofski, who finished her degree during Winter 2024, was inducted into Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society, on April 12.  About her very eventful and exciting final semester, Hannah said, "I find it so amazing that as an undergraduate student, I've been involved with multiple research projects and presented my work at a conference. Five years ago, as a freshman without a major, I never would have thought that I would have these kinds of opportunities. I'm so grateful to all the people in the department who have helped make this a reality for me." 

Muschong and Popofski were both members of the EMU APEX student group, and actively participated in the launch of a high-altitude balloon in the path of totality during the eclipse of April 8, 2024.  

Eastern Michigan University Theatre presented a world premiere staged reading of "Cause Play," authored by EMU Alumna Shavonne Coleman. "Cause Play" was commissioned by Eastern Michigan University Theatre and Spinning Dot Theatre as part of the National BIPOC Superhero Project. A staged reading of this new work was performed May 10 and 11. 

Written by Shavonne Coleman and directed by Spinning Dot Theatre's Ella Soto, the play takes the audience back to 1996, when students Zuvi, Zipper and Aaron meet at an after-school Cosplay Club at Southwest Academy Magnet Middle School in Detroit. Together, they create identities, discover surprising powers and work as a team to tackle various problems, including catching stray cats, defeating monsters, and facing fears. 

TYA/USA, the leading national organization for the professional field of theatre for children and families, is calling the TYA BIPOC Superhero Project, "the largest and most comprehensive partnership of theatres ever undertaken in the field." This initiative, created by Jose Casas, aims to feature stories of BIPOC superheroes and will culminate in a year-long celebration with productions, co-productions, and a published anthology of all the plays.

Read the full EMU Today story.

From April 18 to 21, eleven students enrolled in ESSC 329 Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology traveled with Assistant Professor Hannah Blatchford and Geography & Geology Department Head Christine Clark to learn first-hand about the geology of the Upper Peninsula near Marquette.

Students gained experience identifying, describing, and interpreting rock types at various outcrops (e.g., Photo 1), as well as tracking changes in rock types across the region and linking their observations to the billions-year tectonic history of the area—putting into practice what they learned over the semester in the classroom and lab. Additional highlights from the 2024 trip included a guided tour of the Upper Peninsula Geological Repository (Photo 2) and attending a lecture given by the 2024 Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) distinguished lecturer Dr. Adam Simon. Each of these experiences highlighted the importance of critical minerals for renewable energy and Michigan-based geoscience career opportunities for our students.

In his new book, Vicious and Immoral: Homosexuality, the American Revolution, and the Trials of Robert Newburgh, Professor of History John Gilbert McCurdy tells a compelling story of male intimacy which provides an unparalleled glimpse inside eighteenth-century perceptions of queerness.

"I was delighted to find a case of homosexuality from Revolutionary America that no one had really looked at," said McCurdy. "The level of detail in the documents I found is unsurpassed and, I believe, provides new insights into LGBTQ+ people in the eighteenth century. It also gave me a chance to put homosexuality and the American Revolution into conversation with one another, something that no historian has done before."

Vicious and Immoral relates that in 1774 the British army considered the case of a chaplain, Robert Newburgh, who had been accused of having sex with a man. Newburgh's enemies cited his flamboyant appearance, defiance of military authority, and seduction of soldiers as proof of his low character. Consumed by fears that the British Empire would soon be torn asunder, his opponents claimed that these supposed crimes against nature translated to crimes against the king. 

McCurdy shows that by demanding to have his case heard, Newburgh invoked Enlightenment ideals of equality, arguing passionately that his style of dress and manner should not affect his place in the army or society. His accusers equated queer behavior with rebellion, and his defenders would go on to join the American cause. Newburgh's trial offers some clues to understanding a peculiarity of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century: while gay acts were prohibited by law in much of the British empire, the newly formed United States was comparatively uninterested in legislating against same-sex intimacy. 

The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia will host a launch of the book on June 6. 

In an analysis of new data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Professor of Sociology Grigoris Argeros found that while the Detroit metropolitan area remains one of the most segregated areas in the United States, the region became more racially and ethnically diverse between 2010 and 2022.

"The population of people who identified as white and non-Hispanic grew by 41% in the city but dropped by 9% in the suburbs," Argeros writes. "While white people were moving into the city of Detroit, Black people were moving out. The Black population dropped 9% in the city and grew 19% in the suburbs."

In contrast to this decreasing segregation among White and Black residents, Argeros found that, "Both Asians and Hispanics were more likely to live in neighborhoods with higher shares of people who share their ethnicity in 2020 than they were in 2010. In other words, their neighborhoods – in both the city and the suburbs – grew more segregated over this 10-year period." 

Read Argeros' column in The Conversation.

The Shepherd, a new cultural arts center created by Anthony & JJ Curis in the East Village neighborhood of Detroit, will present as its inaugural exhibition an expansive survey of the work of former EMU Professor of Art Charles McGee. Titled "Charles McGee: Time is Now," the exhibition will run from May 18 to July 20. 

The Curises have also spearheaded the development of a public sculpture garden, the Charles McGee Legacy Park, to honor the life of the late Detroit artist. The Legacy Park offers space for play and creative exploration, and features three large-scale sculptures, ranging from 8 to 12 feet in height, as well as the debut of the artist's first figurative work in public sculpture. McGee completed the designs for the Legacy Park before his passing in 2021 at age 96.

Professor McGee taught art at EMU from 1969 to 1987. His work is represented on EMU's campus by the sculpture "Lineage," which is installed near the Student Center. 

"Charles was a great benefit to Eastern during his nearly 20 years here," said Professor of Art History Julia R. Myers. "His connections to the Detroit art scene were beyond compare, and he was extremely devoted to the learning process."

In 2009 McGee told Eastern Magazine, "Where nature may have given you the ability to run fast, nature has endowed me with the ability to observe and to create art. I have no choice. I breathe it, I sleep it." 

Jeff Daniels found his way to Broadway while performing with the EMU Theatre in the summer of 1976. The Chelsea native participated in a Bicentennial Repertory program at EMU, where he performed in The Hot l Baltimore by Lanford Wilson and three other plays performed in repertoire. The Hot l Baltimore was co-directed by Professor James Gousseff and guest director Marshall W. Mason, who invited Daniels to come to New York to work at the Circle Repertory Theatre.

Daniels told the story in an 1986 interview with Don Shewey:

I was going to Central Michigan University, which is up in Mt. Pleasant – out in this cornfield. I read in the paper that Eastern Michigan University, right near Ann Arbor, was having this rep thing, where you could go audition. I'd been doing well at Central the first three years, and I wanted to see how I'd stack up against kids from all over the Midwest. I got the lead in the best play. It was kind of annoying, because I had tickets to a hockey game that night, and I had to go to callbacks. It was like, "Shit!" I just wanted the audition experience. But one of the guys who came down from Central with me said, "I think you better go to the callbacks, because the guy who's directing the play that you're up for is from New York." So I stayed and we did the play.

Before the first performance Marshall took me out for a drink. I didn't know what he would say to me. All I was going to do was ask him, "Should I try New York, or should I not waste my time?" Before I could say anything, he goes, "Well, you know what you should do with your life, don't you? You should be an actor." That was it. He said, "I want you to come to New York if you'd like, and become an apprentice at Circle Rep." So I did. I went the following September. There I was just out of the cornfield, holding the Hot l script, and there was Lanford. He's the first star I ever met. And I started meeting these people who come to this theater, and they're good people. Bill Hurt came into the company, walked in a star.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics is one of six mathematics departments in the U.S. accepted into COME-IN, a program of TPSE Math. COME-IN stands for Creating Opportunities in Mathematics through Equity & Inclusion. TPSE Math is short for Transforming Post-Secondary Education in Mathematics. COME-IN provides resources for departments to conduct a holistic self-assessment of its policies, practices, and outcomes related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Department teams work with COME-IN consultants to analyze their institution's data, brainstorm possible DEI improvement projects, and utilize COME-IN resources to focus on implementing the projects. Two years of financial support and honoraria are provided by TPSE Math. The work of TPSE COME-IN is supported by the National Science Foundation. The department's acceptance into TPSE COME-IN is a welcome addition to the department's ongoing activities to implement inclusive teaching strategies and curriculum that address barriers to student belonging, persistence, and success. These activities include EMU Math Leap, the Math/Stat DEI Book Club, the Math/Stat Equitable Teaching Fellows Program, and the Inclusive STEM Teaching Project learning communities. The EMU Math/Stat COME-IN team will be led by Lynn Bahena, Program Administrator for Math Pathways Support.

Eastern Michigan University will host the eighth annual Bits and Bytes, a camp designed to educate middle school girls about careers and teaching opportunities in computer science. The all-day, week-long camp will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Eastern's campus from June 24 to 28, 2024.

Bits and Bytes, staffed by EMU Women in Computer Science club members and led by Dr. Krish Narayanan, Professor and Department Head of Computer Science, aims to foster a supportive and encouraging environment. This near-peer mentoring approach has been shown to motivate girls to comfortably navigate an otherwise difficult or unfamiliar concept in computer science and technology.

"At the camp, participants will not only learn about computing and technology from theoretical concepts but also apply their knowledge to real-world projects," said Dr.  Narayanan. “They will get hands-on experience with coding using educational software and robots, and explore the exciting realms of game development, mobile app creation, drone flying, and robot programming."

Read the full EMU Today story.

By Marie White for the Eastern Echo

Housed inside of the Mark Jefferson Science Complex, the Eastern Michigan University Herbarium brings together a collection of over 30,000 dried plants to serve as a plant museum for the scientific community.

While the date of the actual construction of the EMU Herbarium looms large, the oldest specimen the catalog houses is from 1832. There are also 132 specimens collected before 1880, which predate the university itself. 

"The herbarium is a really special place because it preserves and documents explicitly plant diversity," Dr. Maggie Hanes, the museum director, said. "Herbaria [in general] are really important because they are documenting where plants were at a particular time at a particular place."

Read the Echo story.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics co-hosted the Centennial Annual Meeting of the Michigan Section of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) on April 5-6, 2024. The evening program on April 5 was held at the University of Michigan. The all-day program on April 6 was held at EMU. The conference presents the latest in mathematical research and education and provides valuable opportunities for students to present their work. The plenary speaker was Dr. Hortensia Soto, President of the Mathematical Association of America. The local organizer was Dr. Amy Shell-Gellasch in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.  

The 2024 Machine Learning Conference at EMU, organized by Dr. Ovidiu Calin, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and Dr. Ourania Spantidi, Department of Computer Science, took place on April 13, 2024. This annual event brings together AI enthusiasts, including students, professors, and professionals. 

The Formosa Quartet's January 20 performance of the American Mirror Project | An Ypsilanti Mirror can now be viewed online. This McAndless Professorship event included performances by the EMU Choir, the EMU Symphony Orchestra, and student and faculty narrators.

Please click on the links below to view the entire concert or selected highlights.

American Mirror Project | An Ypsilanti Mirror [full concert]

Excerpted videos:

• American Mirror Project | At the Purchaser's Option (R. Giddens) and Testimony (C. Singleton)

• American Mirror Project | Wanting Memories, MLK, and Every Time I Feel the Spirit

• FORMOSA QUARTET | WORLD PREMIERE of 'Mirror' for String Quartet and Narration by Dana Wilson (2024)

By Norbert Vance, Director of the Sherzer Observatory

Sunspot group AR3664 had been an impressive group (some 15 Earth diameters across) all week as the Sun rotated it facing us, spewing copious particles our way. But when it lit up the prediction maps on Friday afternoon on May 10, we Earthlings had a feeling something big was about to happen. It did, wow! I had not seen the prediction map quite like this in years. In fact, this was the biggest geomagnetic storm to hit Earth in more than two decades. I met with EMU alum and astronomy friend Jack Underwood at his home in Pinckney, MI, where we would drive a short distance to a large canopy opening in the Pinckney Recreation Area west of Hell, MI. So, yes, this was the aurora from Hell! Of the more than 200 photos I took with my stationary Canon DSLR T6 camera and 18mm lens, these were among the best. Exposures were typically 5-12 seconds. A waxing crescent moon graced the western sky where it and the aurora would give way to clouds by 1am. The aurora continued on all night. A few slides show the motion of the ISS during a flyover near the peak brightness of the storm. We could hear cheering in the distance. By chance, Jack and I heard a large tree crack and plunge in the woods not far from us during the aurora. Cause and effect? Nah, that was gravity!