Around NMU

At the end of World War I, American soldiers—mostly from Michigan—were deployed to join the Northern Russian Expeditionary Force for a vaguely defined mission. They found themselves embroiled in a civil war, battling Bolshevik revolutionaries for months after the Armistice ended fighting in France. A new play inspired by these men, known as the Polar Bears for enduring harsh winter conditions, will have its world premiere May 9-11 at Northern Michigan University. The idea for Ghost Soldiers by Keli Crawford-Truckey stemmed from a war-time journal bound by leather from the boot of a dead Bolshevik soldier. It was kept by the grandfather of NMU employees Dan and Paul Truckey.

Northern Michigan University honored several individuals and teams during its recent Faculty and Staff Recognition Celebration. Years of service milestones and retirees were also honored. 

UPDATE 4/19: The union ratified this agreement on Thursday and the NMU Board of Trustees approved it during a special meeting Friday morning.

The Northern Michigan University Dance Team qualified to compete in the National Dance Alliance (NDA) college nationals for the first time in history. Team members traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla, earlier this month. They competed in two Division II categories: pom, placing 8th in the nation; and jazz, placing 11th.

Northern Michigan University is seeking student applications and community project proposals for the second cohort of its Rural Leadership Fellowship Program, which offers immersive project-based learning for students while also supporting Upper Peninsula economic and community development projects. The submission deadline for both is May 31.

Northern Michigan University's Administration of Outdoor Recreation and Nature-Based Tourism program is hosting a campus seminar with guest speakers focused on the theme of diversity, equity and inclusion outdoors. Alex Bailey, the originator of "Black Outside," will deliver the keynote address. The event is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, April 19, in Peninsula I in the Northern Center. 

The Northern Michigan University Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter will be hosting the sixth annual Marquette Coffee Crawl on Saturday, April 20. Attendees will have the option of participating during the following time slots: 8-10 a.m.,10 a.m. - noon, and noon - 2 p.m. Proceeds from this event will be donated to the Marquette Women's Center in support of Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

Northern Michigan University students enrolled in an entrepreneurship course were tasked with creating a business from scratch on a strict timeline. For one team, the assignment has manifested as Wildcat Snow & Lawn. The students are dedicated to donating the proceeds of this lawn care business to the local Habitat for Humanity organization.

The 10th annual Anderton's Earth Week at Northern Michigan University will be held Sunday, April 21 through Saturday, April 27. Student organizations from across have planned a myriad of activities to help campus and community celebrate the Earth and learn about steps they can take to lighten their ecological footprint.