News Release

UDM community joins together to "Celebrate Spirit!"

Each year, University of Detroit Mercy faculty, staff and students gather in Calihan Hall for the annual "Celebrate Spirit!" event. This longstanding tradition is a symbol of the beginning of the new academic year for students, faculty and staff and will include a worship service for all faiths, a picnic lunch and a student organization fair.

This festive event will take place on Thursday, Sept.20, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on UDM's McNichols Campus. "Celebrate Spirit!" gathers the entire University community together to rededicate everyone to UDM's mission, to renew friendships, and to welcome new members. The yearly event is part of a religious tradition that dates back to the great European universities in the Middle Ages who celebrated the new school year. Celebrating the services will be University of Detroit Mercy President Gerard L. Stockhausen, S.J., Ph.D.

Joining the event will be Isaiah "Ike" McKinnon as this year's guest speaker. McKinnon is an associate professor at UDM and had previously worked as the City of Detroit's former Chief of Police. He is also an accomplished author of three books and numerous articles on crime victims and criminal justice. A graduate from Mercy College and University of Detroit with a B.A. and M.A., he earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. He also graduated from the FBI National Academy and United States Secret Service School.

For more information regarding Celebrate Spirit and a complete list of Founders Celebration activities, please visit www.udmercy.edu/founders-celebration.

A picnic lunch with food, music and fun by the fountain will take place after the service. A student organization fair will also be held at this time to acquaint students with the numerous ways they can become involved in student activities on campus.

Release date: September 14, 2007

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