EMU Today

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YPSILANTI  --  On this month's episode of EMU Today TV – Eastern Michigan University recently won the national championship in Moot Court, topping teams such as Yale, Duke and nearly 500 other schools. Find out what makes Eastern a center of excellence. Plus, a behind the scenes look at this year’s campus celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And – a look at Eastern’s Sport Performance and Fitness Entrepreneurship major and why it is growing and attracting many career-minded students.

Eastern Michigan took home the overall national championship in the American Moot Court national tournament finals that were held last month (Jan. 17-18) at the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, La.

Two Eastern Michigan University students, Kelsey Hall, a senior, and Charles Graham, a junior, emerged as the top team in the nation. The two political science majors won overwhelmingly, sweeping all five first place votes from the five judges.

“This was no small feat,” said Barry Pyle, an EMU political science professor and coach of the EMU moot court and mock trial teams. “This is a very big deal. We are one of a very few public universities to ever win this title.”

The episode also features a behind the scenes look at this year's celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The celebration was marked by six days of activities that included a march across campus, many educational sessions, a Presidential Luncheon attended by more than 500 community leaders, including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and a keynote address by Terrence Roberts, a member of the "Little Rock Nine" who desegrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957.

The final segment of the episode features an interview with Assistant Professor Julie Jahn who leads the Sport Performance and Fitness Entrepreneurship major. Professor Jahn describes the rapid growth of the program and the health and fitness oriented career opprotunities for graduating students. 

About EMU Today TV

Now in its third season, EMU Today TV features positive programs, events and initiatives at Eastern, and provides opportunities for viewers to learn more from University deans, faculty, students and administrators about activities at the University.

The student co-host for the program is Alexis Berent, a senior majoring in Electronic Media and Film Studies with a minor in Theatre Arts. Berent, from Canton, Mich., has been acting for 13 years in theatre, film, and commercial work. Mark S. Lee, host of CBS Radio’s Small Talk with Mark S. Lee, is the other co-host. Lee is an Eastern Michigan University alumnus, and part time lecturer of Marketing at Eastern. He is an entrepreneur, Crain's Detroit blogger and frequent contributor to various Detroit-area media outlets on business topics.

Jadan Shorts, a junior majoring in Journalism and a minor in Communications, is a field reporter to provide coverage of events occurring on campus. She is a spots reporter for the University’s student newspaper, the Eastern Echo, and a host of the E-TV production, “The Dish.” Shorts is from Ohio. 

Students in the Communication, Media and Theatre Arts program are actively involved in the production, gaining media and production experience they can include on their resumes and helping lead to careers once they graduate.

In addition to viewing on the University's YouTube channel, the program airs on the following days/times through the month on Xfinity On Demand, beginning Thursday, November 7:

Thursdays @ 8:30 pm (Premier Day)

Saturdays @ 8:00 am

Sundays @ 10:30 am

Tuesdays @ 9:30 am

Wednesdays @ 4:00 pm

The program is directed by Keith Damron, associate professor of Electronic Media and Film Studies. During his career, Damon has worked as a production engineer and writer for E Entertainment Television, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers Animation. He has worked at Eastern since 2002.

Steve Martin, radio and TV engineer in the School of Communications, Media & Theatre Arts is chief engineer and responsible for set design.

Lewis Hershey, head of the department of marketing and professor of marketing in the University’s College of Business, and Walter Kraft, vice president for communications, are co-producers along with Lee, who originated the program concept.

New episodes of EMU Today will be produced monthly through March 2020 and available on Xfinity On Demand. Xfinity customers can access the program by the following: Using their remote press Xfinity>On Demand>XFINITY Services>Get Local. For non-Xfinity customers, all episodes also will be available on the Eastern Michigan University YouTube channel.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.