Thursday, July 31, 2014

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Top 10 Must See Places in Michigan!

While attending EMU you are not limited to just Ypsilanti and the surrounding cities
in the area. Michigan is a huge place and has a variety of things to offer for people to see. So I have compiles a list of the top 10 places that I think are a must see when your in Michigan.
10. The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village

The Museum not only shows the life of Henry Ford and the history of the Ford Motor Company but also shows artifacts from America's history as well. Some of these artifacts are the bed used in army camps by President George Washington, the chair President Abraham Lincoln was sitting in when he was assassinated and the limousine President John F. Kennedy was riding in when he was assassinated.
Next to the museum is Greenfield Village which is a living history museum that shows life in America in its early days. It also includes a farm, Thomas Edison's workshop and a Ford's Model T car.
9. Frankenmuth

Frankenmuth a.k.a "Muth" a.k.a. "Little Bavaria", is a little German city in Michigan. The town was founded by Bavarian immigrants from Germany back in 1845 and the town (as well as the surrounding towns) still holds on to these roots. The city is mostly known for Bronner's Christmas Wonderland which is supposedly the worlds largest Christmas store.
Me and my family used to visit every year to visit the Bavarian-themed shops and restaurants. It really is an interesting little town and I recommend anyone in Michigan to stop by.
8. Mackinac Island


To get to this gorgeous little place you take a ferry boat and once you finally get there you are taken back to a Victorian time. Motorized vehicles are banned so bicycles, horseback, and horse-drawn carriages are the norm. The island is a national historic site and the majority of the island is a national park. I have never been there myself but the island hosts lilac, fudge, and music festivals.
7. Sleeping Bear Dunes


Sleeping Bear Dunes is a National Lakeshore that takes up a large portion of Michigan's eastern coastline. This park was mainly established for its beauty and it includes forests, beaches, dune formations, and ancient glacial phenomena.
I have never been to this park either but in 2011 the area won the title of "The Most Beautiful Place in America" from Good Morning America.
6. Great Lakes

Michigan is surrounded by three lakes: Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Erie. Lake Michigan has the largest surface area of any freshwater body in the world and tons of people come here to camp, swim, picnic, fish and hike. On the coastline of the lakes include beach towns, wineries, golf courses, lighthouses, and amusement parks. I have had the privilege to visit all of these lakes as well as 4 of the 5 total great lakes (the fourth being Lake Ontario). All of them are equally gorgeous so you only need to visit one.
5. The General Motors Building

The General Motors Building is the tallest building in Michigan and is still home to General Motors and sits in the city of Detroit. Inside the building includes shops, restaurants, a hotel, and other businesses that you can visit. Also the building houses a movie theater that me and my friends used to regularly visit which shows movies for 5$ before 6:00 p.m. Behind the building is the river walk which sits on the Detroit river across from Canada. You can walk up and down this riverfront and just enjoy the sights or go get an ice cream and ride the carousel. It is a nice change from the hustle and bustle of the city.
4. Dearborn
The city of Dearborn was the home of Henry Ford and is the world headquarters of the Ford Motor Company. Even though this city was settled by French farmers in the 18th century, it is known for having the most people of middle eastern descent outside of any middle eastern country. So because of this fact it is not uncommon at all to see signs in Arabic or buildings, shops, and restaurants dedicated to middle eastern culture.
3. Belle Isle

Belle Isle is an island state park located on the Detroit River and is between the US and Canada. It is connected to Detroit by the MacArthur bridge and is the largest city-owned island park in the US. The island is home to the Belle Isle Aquarium, the Belle Isle Conservatory, the Belle Isle Nature Zoo, the Detroit Yacht Club on an adjacent island, the James Scott Memorial Fountain, the Dossin Great Lakes Museum, a Coast Guard station, a municipal golf course and many other numerous monuments.
 
2. Ambassador Bridge/Detroit-Windsor Tunnel
Ambassador bridge evening.jpgDWTunnel.JPG

The Ambassador Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, in Canada. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America and is one of the only two Canada–US border crossings, the other being the Detroit–Windsor Tunnel. The Detroit-Windsor Tunnel is an underground tunnel connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario in Canada. So if you are planning on visiting Canada these will be your ways of getting there.
1. Motown Historic Museum

Because I am an avid music lover my top place to see in Michigan is Hitsville USA/Motown Historic Museum. It was the first studio and offices of Motown Record Corporation  where the company got its first start to produce hit records. You can go in and see where stars like Smoky Robinson and the Miracles, Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Temptations, the Jackson Five, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye stood as they recorded music. Also it was not only a recording studio but was once the home of Berry Gordy Jr. who is the founder of Motown. You can view exhibits explaining the company's entire history, listen to Motown music and buy souvenirs.

There are so many things Michigan has to offer, too many to list but I hope that my list helps you to narrow your decision on a place to visit or tour during your stay here.

by Kemia

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Protecting Your Identity




Image Source: http://blog.froehlichfinancial.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/ID-Theft56-300x213.jpg

Every student that attends EMU is given an Eagle OneCard. This card is not only your ID, it is also connected to a bank account, meal plans, refund deposits, student payroll, and more. You need it to sign into certain accounts and for staff and faculty to identify you. Your card and other information should be cared for properly so your information is not stolen or misused. Below are a few tips to keep your important information safe and secure.

Never send an email with your credit card information.


Image Source: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02182/master_2182364b.jpg

Your credit card information should not be emailed to anyone. You never know who is on the other end reading that email. A bank would never ask you to submit that kind of personal information unless it is over the phone. You also should not email login information like user names and passwords. If the wrong person gets your information you could lose access and control over your accounts.

 

Do not take pictures of your Eagle OneCard and post it online.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Image Source: http://www.socialmediasmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/social_media.jpg

Your Eagle OneCard is physical proof that you are a student at EMU. Some students are so excited that they want to take pictures of their card to show their friends and family. You should never post a picture of your card online. The card not only has your student EID number on it, but it also has your debit card information on it. Not all sites are protected, anyone could see that information and misuse it.

 

Never leave your computer unattended while logged into any accounts.


Image Source: http://www.beinggeeks.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Protect-your-password.jpg

You should never leave your computer unattended while logged into accounts in public. EMU offers students an opportunity to use school computers but you have to be careful. If you print in one of the computer labs, make sure important information isn’t visible when you leave the computer to get your prints. If you still need to access the account after you print and do not want to close it, minimize the window so others around you cannot see your personal information.

 

Do not leave belongings containing personal information unattended.



Image Source: http://purpologydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/img00137-20121022-1141.jpg

You should never leave your bag unattended, especially if it contains electronic devices, wallets, and other personal information. You also should not leave papers with personal information on them visible in public. If something is important to you then you should never leave it unattended in public, always take it with you or have someone you trust watch it for you.

I wanted to write about this because I see a lot of international students that are too trusting. I have seen a lot of students leave important things around like book bags, important documents, and electronic devices. I have also had a lot of students that have asked me for help and gave me their EID numbers or tried to send me their credit card information. You should not share that kind of information with other students. Faculty and staff can be trusted with your EID number, and will only request it for identification purposes. Some of the student workers that can request your EID number for identification purposes include Night Watch, SEEUS, and students working in offices that have agreed to keep your information confidential. Just remember that not everyone is as nice and trusting as you or the country you come from.

This is not a complete list of ways to protect you identity, so if anyone else has any tips or questions please leave them in the comment section below.
 
by Tyrie Adams

Student organization feature: ISA


EMU has many student organizations. Learn about the International Student Association (ISA)!


ISA is composed of foreign and American students who come together across national boundaries to create a sensitive and diverse environment at Eastern


Mission
I.S.A.'s mission is:
·         To support EMU's international students & to cater to their needs.
·         To promote cultural awareness, appreciation, and harmony through interaction and activities open to all students at EMU. 
·         To provide an atmosphere in which each student involved in ISA can have an opportunity to grow spiritually, academically, and socially.
·         To guide students by leadership through service.
                         
Events

·         Volleyball/ Basketball game
·         Parade of Nations
·         Halloween
·         Monthly events - movie night, game night, culture night
·         End of the semester party
·         Colours In Harmony
·         Zap Zone/Paintball

If you are already around campus you can check out our summer event, which is going to take place on August  9th.


Organizations's Website: 
Also you can find us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/isa.emu?ref_type=bookmark

by Elina