The Ferris State Torch

Being the case of a sports fan, sports have been a massive part of my life. Growing up in a household surrounded by sports definitely influenced my life. My parents and my brother played tennis, so naturally I followed suit, playing throughout middle and high school. I was also a competitive swimmer from a young age and continued to do so through high school.

The student sitting next to you in class, the teammate laughing with you at practice, or the friend you see every day might be feeling lonelier than you realize. Ferris State University, a school that houses almost 4,000 students on its campus, might not be as tight-knit as it seems. Although Ferris is smaller than other schools, such as Michigan State University, or University of Michigan, feeling at home is still hard to achieve for many students.

Every Thursday evening, First United Methodist Church of Big Rapids opens its doors to anyone in the community who’s hungry or looking for a place to gather. This free community dinner has been going on since 2012 and continues to serve the community weekly, offering good food and great connections. This dinner is open to anyone and is supported by volunteers who prepare, serve, and clean up after every meal.

Members of the community gathered at Hemlock Park as Big Rapids held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 18. The ceremony took place from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., filling the park with excitement as members from the General Federation of Women’s Club Big Rapids (GFWC) joined with the fifth-grade class at St. Peter’s Lutheran Middle School and Ferris State Welding Engineering Technology program members Case Hummel and Jace Burns.

Financial aid at Ferris can be helpful, but I think the communication needs to be better for students. Since I have been at Ferris, I have had to contact Financial Aid three different times because something was wrong with my financial aid. Honestly, I feel like it is ridiculous that I have had to keep dealing with the same type of problem. I am not saying this to bash the Financial Aid Office or the people who work there.

For our first Torch Tunes of the year, a group of our staff has decided to share songs that remind them of the fall season. Below is the list of songs that brings us into the fall spirit as the fall season approaches. Harmony Goodman | Co-Editor-In-Chief: We Fell in Love by girl in red “We Fell in Love” by girl in red is a classic go-to fall vibes song. While the song, as the title suggests takes place in October, it’s not just the breezy fall month that makes this a go-to fall song.

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, and to celebrate, many organizations on campus have teamed up to plan events throughout the entire month. One such event, “El Orgullo,” was held at the Robinson Quad, outside of the David L. Eisler Center, on September 16 to kick off the celebrations.

Ferris’s brand-new $38 million dorm opens its doors after less than 2 years of construction. Ferris State’s newest dorm, Stadium Hall, welcomed over 200 incoming freshmen for the 2026 fall semester. The new four-story dorm is located at the center of campus, sitting directly outside the north end zone of Taggart Field.

Hundreds of people filled downtown Big Rapids as it held its 58th Annual Labor Day Festival on Monday, September 7th. From 10 AM to 2 PM, South Michigan Avenue was shut down from Linden Street to East Bellevue Street, and it was filled with vendors, food, live music, a car show, and more. The Band of Locals hosted the event, which featured activities for all ages.

A week after they took down Pittsburgh State 42-14, the Ferris State football team followed it up with the home opener against Bentley at Top Taggart Field. Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Bower started the game for the Bulldogs and led a 7-play, 42-yard drive that ended with a 33-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jaylin Townsend. Junior Luke Warnock started at quarterback for the Falcons but was forced to a 3-and-out by the Bulldog defense.