Eastern Spring 2013 Editor’s Note


Vol. 10, Issue 2 EDITOR


Darcy Gifford


ASSOCIATE EDITOR Melissa Jasperse


ART DIRECTOR


Mike Andaloro (BFA75) CONTRIBUTORS


Patricia Cartwright, Dan Feldman, Debra Johnson, Kody Klein, Geoff Larcom, Anita LeBlanc,


Randy Mascharka (BBA85), Dan Mathis (BA07), Lynn Monson, Jeff Mortimer, Jeff Samoray,


Leah Shutes, Jakob Skogheim (BBA11), Pam Young ABOUT EASTERN


Eastern (ISSN 2150-4679) is published three


times a year by the Division of Communications at Eastern Michigan University 1215 N. Huron River Drive Ypsilanti, MI 48197-2351 All rights reserved.


The views presented are not necessarily those of the editor or the official policies of the University.


injured knee couldn’t hold up any longer. Several years later he accompanied a friend to an L.A. casting call—just along for the ride—and wound up as Super Freddy in “A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child.” Door closes. Door opens. Life is funny that way. In this issue of Eastern magazine, we hear from Michael Bailey Smith, in his own


Uncertain Path M


words (p. 40). We also stay with the theme of “what happens after graduation?”— talking to five of Eastern’s most recent, or soon to be, alumni and asking them how they feel about the next stage of their lives. What comes next? Where do they think they want to go? What do they think they’re going to do? (p.22) We also hear from senior Kody Klein (“An Interstate Rite of Passage,” p. 26),


who in an effort to find meaning in his life before he graduates, tries to hitchhike 1,218 miles from Sarasota, Fla., to Ypsilanti. The people he meets along the way help him see that, cliché or not, life truly is about the journey. These stories may remind you of your own graduation from EMU, when the


future was a mystery and you didn’t know how life would unfold. We hope you enjoy the read. —DG


Not knowing how life will unfold is part of the game


ichael Bailey Smith (BS88) dreamed of playing professional football and found himself in an NFL camp with the Dallas Cowboys—until his oft-


ADDRESS CHANGES 1349 S. Huron St., Suite 2 Ypsilanti, MI 48197 734.487.0250


alumni.relations@emich.edu Send story ideas to: 15 Welch Hall


Ypsilanti, MI 48197 easternmagazine@emich.edu


Eastern Michigan University is committed to excellence in teaching, the extension of knowledge through basic and applied


research, and creative and artistic expression. Building on a proud tradition of national leadership in the preparation of teachers, we maximize educational opportunities and personal and professional growth for students from diverse backgrounds through an array of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. We provide a student-focused


learning environment that positively affects the lives of students and the community. We extend our commitment beyond the campus boundaries to the wider community through service initiatives and partnerships of mutual


interest addressing local, regional, national and international opportunities and challenges.


4 Eastern | SPRING 2013


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44