In a very subjective blog post, a student is going to talk about their opinion on homework. Homework is always a controversial topic from the eyes of students, parents, and teachers. All three parties seems to have a different take on the topic. Time to dive into the popular positions from all the different viewpoints and figure out what the real deal on homework is. ·         Students: Spoiler alert here: students hate homework. It’s not even one of those low-level hates, where it’s more of an annoyance than a dislike; it is a full blown hatred comparable to few other things that could be going on in a student’s life. The fact that students have to go to school for (typically) 8 hours a day, just to have multiple hours of extra work for home piled up after that, is just unfathomable to people from the ages of about 10-22. It has been reported that homework adds unnecessary stress; some schools have even gone as far as to eliminate homework from their district ...

It’s obvious homelessness in Detroit has been a problem for decades now. Not even just Detroit, almost every major city in the United States has a homelessness problem. It’s possible that Detroit’s homeless problems seems more prevalent because it has a smaller downtown area, causing the city's homeless population to appear more prevalent and condensed. However, one problem that is very prevalent in Detroit that may not seem so in other big cities is youth homelessness.  The demographic of homeless youth in Detroit hit a staggering number in 2017, according to  this article  by the Michigan Chronicle. In the article, it states that, "On any given day 5,000 Detroiters are embroiled in a daily struggle to survive the ravages of poverty and homelessness, and approximately 25 percent of that population falls between the ages of 18 to 24." The main question about Detroit's youth homeless problem is, "Why s homeless youth the fastest growing demographic of Detroit...

DETROIT, MI, May 13, 2019 – With Mother’s Day passing, we want to celebrate all the mothers – including those who are homeless. When we think about homelessness, we generally think about those who are not financially stable or face food insecurity. Unfortunately, we sometimes forget about rare cases, such as the feelings that homeless mothers may face on Mother’s Day. . Life is hard enough for women facing these circumstances. They have to deal with the pressure of providing for themselves and their families. They may struggle with maintaining things such as feminine products, safety, health care, and child care. This combination of daily hardships is a lot to take in, in itself. Even though times may be hard, these women continue to fight for survival the best they can. We honor every mother this Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day was Sunday, May 12, 2019. We honor every mother for all of their hard work and sacrifices. All mothers deserve to be celebrated, regardless of their...

DETROIT, MI, May 3, 2019 – On Thursday, May 2nd and Friday, May 3rd, Wayne State University held their commencement ceremonies at the Fox Theatre. The graduates deserved every moment of celebration for earning their degrees. Long, sleepless nights of studying have finally paid off. Your undergraduate journey has finally come to a close. We hope that you’ve taken something away from your experience as a Warrior in and out of the classroom. This year’s commencement ceremonies honored over 4,000 students receiving their diplomas! We are extremely proud of each and every student and congratulate you as you join over 260,000 other members of the Alumni Association. The HIGH Program would like to send a special congratulations to all of the 2019 graduates of Wayne State University! Continue to Go HIGHer as you enter the real world and take the next step toward your future! Thank you for being Warrior Strong.

DETROIT, MI, April 15, 2019- The Detroit Pistons may have won in their face off against the Memphis Grizzlies 100-93, but the real winner of Wayne State Night at Little Caesar’s Arena was the HIGH Program. On top of discounted tickets and various incentives (such as a co-branded Wayne State and Pistons t-shirt and a chance to take a shot on the court following the game), $5 of every ticket sale was donated to the HIGH Program. The game on April 9 was the most recent in a series of Wayne State Nights, all of which have benefitted the HIGH Program. The HIGH (Helping Individuals Go Higher) Program helps Wayne State students who are homeless, precariously housed, or otherwise in financial crisis to ensure that no student abandons their dream of earning a degree solely because of housing or financial challenges. For more information about the HIGH Program, visit http://highprogram.wayne.edu/ The Wayne State University HIGH (Helping Individuals Go Higher) Program is d...

March is Women's History Month, which means it's a perfect time to discuss an issue faced by homeless women that often goes without consideration and many shy away from talking about due to stigma — menstruation and access to menstrual products while homeless. The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report  published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that on a single night in January, 39% of the homeless population consisted of women. Fewer than 1% identified as transgender or gender-nonconforming, and a percentage of those individuals likely deal with menstruation as well. Though we think of menstruation of a strictly female issue, not all women menstruate and not everyone who menstruates identifies as a woman. All of the individuals reported this night ranged in age from under 18 to over 24; on average, a person who menstruates will do so from the ages of 12 to 51, making it safe to assume that a significant number of those reported homeless de...

March 13th (or 3/13) is 313 Day, a day in honor of the City of Detroit. As part of Wayne State, the HIGH Program is among the proud residents of Midtown in the heart of the city. Our team comes from all walks of life, from Detroit natives to out-of-state transplants and everything in between. To celebrate our pride in living and working in Detroit, we asked some of the HIGH team to tell us their favorite places right here in Midtown! Here's what they said: Pearlanne, Executive Assistant — Mario's Restaurant "[An] elegant supper club offering old-school service, relish tray starters and dancing. It’s been a go to place for my family for many years. We celebrate anniversaries, birthdays and we love their Easter Brunch." 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, MI | $$$ |  Website Ryan, Videographer — Bronx Bar "Good little dive with a pool table, good food and an outdoor patio. Pretty fun on weekends but also a nice chill place to go mid-day or after work." 4476 ...

Sometimes, we struggle to find ways to give back to our community — for example, we might not have extra money to contribute or time to volunteer. But what if you could give back by doing your shopping as usual, with no extra cost to you? Chances are, you've ordered from Amazon at some point in your life. With items ranging from books to groceries to clothing and everything in between, there's a reason that they're one of the biggest companies in the world. And if you're from here in Michigan, you've probably shopped at Kroger, too (that is, if you don't buy  all  your groceries there). The HIGH Program has partnered with two different company programs that help shoppers give back to their community just by shopping like normal — Amazon Smile and Kroger Community Rewards. Both programs only require a quick one-and-done setup, meaning that once you've registered to have part of your purchases benefit the HIGH Program, you won't need to remember to do...

In the past week, the story broke about an Arkansas legislator who proposed cutting lunch funding for school districts that struggle with improving their reading skills. This would cut national funding for districts that are unable to show improvement after "a period of time," serving as an incentive and a push towards improving. However, many parents and caregivers are outraged, and understandably so. Many students rely on their school lunches — according to No Kid Hungry , over 13 million youth come from food insecure households, meaning that they may not have regular access to food at home. Over the years, schools, organizations such as No Kid Hungry and Feeding America, and federal programs have worked together to fill in the gaps that students face outside of regular school hours. Services such as school breakfasts, after-school meals, and summer meals help assure that these food-insecure students are able to receive the food that they need. Aside from food being...

Here at the HIGH Program, our office family is made up of a wonderful team of staff, interns, and volunteers. Each individual is a vital part of our operation, and we want to showcase those who have dedicated their time and efforts with the program! Today's feature is someone whose time at the program is coming to a close, but has made a lasting impact. Alecia Burke joined the HIGH Program in September 2018 as our YouTube Specialist, creating videos on homelessness and other relevant topics for our digital signage around Wayne State's campus. She shortly transitioned to our Communications Specialist, using her phenomenal research and writing skills to create scripts and help develop the Go HIGHer podcast, a podcast focused on tackling issues commonly faced by college students. On top of this, Alecia co-lead the #SarnaikChallenge , creating a campaign to help the HIGH Program raise $25,000 in donations.  Here's what Alecia had to say about her time here at the pro...

If you keep up with us on social media, chances are that you've seen at least one of our countdown posts this past week, leading up to today. Now, we here at the HIGH Program are so excited to announce the #SarnaikChallenge ! In 2017, Drs. Ashok P. and Sharada Sarnaik — both of whom are professors at Wayne State's School of Medicine and pediatricians at Children's Hospital — created the Sarnaik Endowment benefiting the HIGH Program to “support these individuals during the times of their greatest needs, helping them reach greater heights.” The husband and wife duo pledged to match each donation to the endowment dollar for dollar, up to $100,000. Now it's up to us! The #SarnaikChallenge seeks to raise $25,000 to match the most recent generous donation by the Sarnaiks. So, why donate to the Sarnaik Challenge? Since 2013, the HIGH Program has helped over 150 Wayne State University students who are homeless, precariously housed, or facing other significant finan...

This past week, a polar vortex slammed the Midwest with historic frigid temperatures with some places dropping as low as -61°F. While temperatures here in Detroit only reached a low of -37°F, the bitter cold still proved dangerous; in Michigan alone, four people were reported as having frozen to death during the cold snap. Though these conditions are considered dangerous for everyone, the homeless population is especially at risk for exposure to the elements. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless , homeless individuals are "at risk for a variety of conditions caused by exposure to the cold, including frostbite and hypothermia, both of which can be permanently damaging to one’s health and can sometimes be life-threatening.  Many of the chronic problems faced by the homeless people, including inadequate clothing, malnutrition, and underlying infection, further increase the risk of developing and dying from hypothermia.  In addition, many homeless people stru...

Winter in Michigan is certainly no laughing matter — between the tendency for unpredictable weather and the proximity to the Great Lakes, winters are frigid and brutal more often than not. That uncertainty, however, also means that some years are warmer than others (this year included). While this winter might seem unseasonably warm for most, it's another story for homeless or precariously housed individuals. According to the National Weather Service , even 40°F temperatures can feel below freezing with winds as low as 20 MPH. When you also take into account that temperatures drop significantly at night, that winds are intensified by tall buildings in urban areas (where many homeless individuals stay), and that these individuals often don't have access to weather-appropriate clothing, it's no surprise that the homeless population is one of the most at-risk when it comes to exposure-related conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite. For Wayne State student...