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The loneliness of college that Ferris students don’t talk about
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…

First United Methodist Church lends a helping hand to the hungry
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…

Big Rapids welcomes a new sculpture at Hemlock Park
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…

When financial aid becomes a financial stress
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…

Torch Tunes
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…

Ferris students celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
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…

New $38 Million residence hall opens at Ferris State
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…

Vikings honor veterans
Four quarters weren't enough to settle Friday night's defensive football battle between Tri County and Big Rapids. The Cardinals finally broke through in overtime, defeating the Vikings, 6-0, at Parker-Goodin Field. The Vikings’ first home game of the season also included a…

Labor Day Festival fills downtown Big Rapids
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,…

Bulldogs win big against Falcons
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…

Bulldog volleyball begins new season
Following a 27-8 season in which they finished first in the GLIAC and reached a national championship appearance, the Ferris State Bulldog Volleyball team has started the new season 4-0. Hosting the Ferris State Invitational, the Bulldogs won a combined 12-0 sets over their four…
Goodbye print, hello digital
Harmony: As we step into this year, the torch is sad to announce the end of our weekly print editions. Since our start in 1931, our student staff has worked together to create the printed publication. The decision to do away with print was a tough decision; however, it was one…