While politics has been a contentious subject for
many, the rise of social media and the volatile political environment has increased polarization, anxiety around politics, and political disengagement—on college campuses and elsewhere. Gen Z, unlike previous generations of Americans, was raised in a society where politics is dominated by
short-form content, an overflow of information, and tense conversations happening through
our screens.

At the start of the Fall 2025 semester, the University Center left the Boardman Lake Campus and integrated itself into NMC’s main campus, based in the Beckett building. Since opening the University Center in 1995, NMC has had the goal of providing the Traverse City area with the ability to earn four-year degrees while staying local. However, before the Fall 2025 semester, the University Center was not located on the main campus, requiring those taking classes through the University Center to commute off campus. NMC currently has five University Partners: Grand Valley State University (GVSU), Ferris State, Davenport, Central Michigan, and Michigan State’s School of Agriculture. With half of NMC’s student population enrolling with goals of transferring, the move was an easy decision to make.

A Water Trail, a film featuring the story and perseverance of Amber Hasan, will premier at NMC’s Dennos Museum on Oct. 18 at 4 pm. Written, produced, and filmed by NMC student, and Hasan’s husband, Tuklor Williams, the film follows the ways in which water is weaponized against marginalized communities, and how grassroots action can reclaim it.

With a $28.9 million state-of-the-art Freshwater Research and Innovation Center (FRIC) planned for the Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) on Discovery Pier’s campus, the region is staking its claim as the epicenter of the blue economy.

The week kicked off on Tuesday with “Queer: Say,” a storytelling event held at The Alluvion and sponsored by Grocer’s Daughter Chocolate. This intimate gathering featured community members sharing personal stories about their lives, identities, and experiences. Through raw honesty and vulnerability, the event fostered a deep sense of connection and emphasized the importance of visibility and sharing lived experiences.

Song: Linger by The Cranberries
Explanation: “It is a classic fall song for me. The instrumentals sound so peaceful and airy, and that just reminds me of looking at all the colorful leaves on a chilly day.”

Michigan is establishing itself as a leader in the future of aviation through the state’s new Advanced Air Mobility Initiative (AAM), implemented this past July. A total of $4.1 million has been issued by the initiative’s activation fund, including nearly one million for Traverse Connect and its partners: Northwestern Michigan College, Munson Healthcare, and the Freshwater Research and Innovation Center. The funding is being used to test how drones can deliver medical supplies, monitor freshwater ecosystems, and potentially aid the Coast Guard in emergency response on the water, reports The Ticker. This local work reflects a larger national trend in the research and development of AAM technology and airspace, backed by a federal executive order,

Audio Technology Coordinator Sam Boase-Miller composed the score to the upcoming horror film, Good Boy. He was offered the role in 2024, when Brian Goodheart, co-producer of the film, reached out.