When I was six, I clearly remember my family preparing for a big move. We spent a week planning a big goodbye bash to which all of our close friends were invited. Although young, or maybe because of that fact, I was excited about this big change that my parents had been talking to me about for weeks. I didn’t understand the tears and sadness because I was about to embark on the adventure of my life: my family was moving closer to my cousins and grandparents, “to the land where everybody eats hamburgers,” which was the description I gave to curious playmates. America.

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After nearly forty years of service to EMU, current provost of eight years, Dr. Beryl Brubaker, is retiring after serving in the nursing program, enrollment management, and of course, provost. The provost primarily serves as the chief academic officer as well as the temporary “primary administrator” on campus in cases of President Loren Swartzendruber’s absence. The provost also supervises various on-campus organizations and individuals like the vice president for student life and the director of institutional research, in addition to supervising the deans of the undergraduate, graduate, and seminary programs. Due to the imminent retirement of Dr. Beryl Brubaker, the EMU faculty is hosting a potential candidate, Dr. Lawrence Ressler, this week. Continue Reading...

Mild Winter is the next best thing in Indie Folk Rock. Comprised of three core members Melanie, Ben, and Nik, it combines multiple sounds that bring a feel-good listen together. The first EP was originally recorded with a different drummer and bassist, but these days Melanie hits on the violin, Ben rips on the guitar, and Nik finishes with drums and bass. Both Melanie and Ben do vocals, combining their voices to create some pretty cool harmonies. Continue Reading...

Hurdler Michelle Leaman and thrower Chelsea Lawhorn posted first place finishes for EMU as the women’s track team finished fifth at the ODAC indoor championships at Liberty University on February 29. Leaman, a sophomore, won the 55 meter hurdles, and then helped the 4x400 relay team to a third place finish, contributing 16 total points to the Royals team score of 42. Through the preliminary heats, she was seeded second in the hurdles behind Roanoke’s Meredith Withers. “I was nervous, but somewhat confident at the same time. After coming out of the blocks, I don’t really think anymore.” In a dead heat, Leaman edged Withers by .04 seconds, setting a new ODAC meet record and EMU school record of 8.48 seconds. “I crossed the line and just smiled. I knew Meredith was close and had started to catch up with me, but I still held her off.” Continue Reading...

During the early morning hours of March 19, 2003, it was determined that American forces had a chance to “take out” (kill) a “target of opportunity” (Saddam Hussein). So, American military leaders did what one might expect of anybody who sees him or herself at “the tip of the spear.” American warships fired forty Tomahawk cruise missiles and two stealth fighters dropped four bunker-busting bombs on the location known as Dora Farms. Despite the statement by then Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld’s on March 21 that “the strike on that leadership headquarters was successful,” Hussein was not at Dora Farms; the bunker below the site did not even exist. The bombs that did hit the target—some missed the complex altogether—landed on homes with families inside. More than a dozen civilians were killed, including one child. Continue Reading...