In response to the community spread of the COVID-19 virus, as reflected by an increased number of positive cases among off-campus students, NMU will pause recreational sports activities at the PEIF and Wildcat Fit Zone. The two facilities will tentatively reopen Monday, Nov. 16. President Fritz Erickson said the goal is to further mitigate congregating of students, faculty and staff.

NMU alumna Mallory Fischer ('15 BS) is the new communications and membership specialist for Environmental Defenders of McHenry County, a nonprofit based in her hometown of Woodstock, Ill. According to its website, Defenders' teams and committees address issues facing natural areas, water resources and open spaces, as well as decisions being made by county and city officials that could impact the environment.

Kristin Johnson, a marketing professional born and raised in Gladstone, has joined Innovate Marquette SmartZone as marketing coordinator. She is responsible for mentoring the Invent@NMU student marketing team and overseeing all of its client work. Invent@NMU's mission is to spark economic development by providing Upper Peninsula residents with resources to take their product or business ideas to market.

Northern Michigan University will host a virtual Climate@Noon presentation titled “The Color of Bunny” from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6. Assistant Biology Professor Diana Lafferty will present about how a mismatch in seasonal coat color provides a visual metaphor for how climate change may affect Earth's biodiversity. 

They toiled in Upper Peninsula mines and mills. But on weekends, the muscles forged by the sweat of their labor would be on display against some of the NFL's finest football teams. This rich deposit of U.P. football history is being unearthed in a new television documentary titled "Linked to Legends: The U.P. Teams that Played the Packers." The film by Northern Michigan University Professor Dwight Brady will debut later this month on WNMU-TV.