Electrical Trade Labor Standards

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Electrical Trade Labor Standards

September 8, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Allied non-profit organizations and unions play a critical role in training electricians, ensuring skilled, safe, and competent professionals. The National Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers offer structured apprenticeship programs combining classroom instruction with hands-on training. We review the basics today at 15:00 UTC. Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Michigan Electrical Administrative Act §338.883

 

Michigan’s 2024 Public Act 172 amended the Skilled Trades Regulation Act, the state law governing licensing and regulation of electricians, plumbers and other skilled trades. Among the subjects addressed by the legislation are the number of apprentices who may work under the supervision of licensed journey or master tradespeople.

For electrical work, Article 7, MCL 339.5717, continues to permit a ratio of one journey or master electrician to no more than three registered apprentice electricians. The requirement applies on a jobsite basis, rather than across the overall workforce of an electrical contractor. The enforcing agency or the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is responsible for enforcing the ratio.

The provision illustrates an important distinction between technical standards and labor standards. The National Electrical Code and related technical documents establish requirements for electrical installations. Michigan skilled-trades law separately establishes requirements concerning the people permitted to perform that work and the conditions under which apprentices may participate.

For large institutional owners — including school districts, colleges and universities — these requirements affect not only electrical safety and workmanship but also apprenticeship opportunities, contractor staffing, project scheduling, maintenance operations and the long-term availability of qualified electrical workers.

August 26, 2025

Free Journeyman Electrician Practice Test 2025 Study Guide

United States national electrical trade standards prioritize safety, reliability, and economic efficiency in electrical systems. Governed primarily by the National Electrical Code upon which the University of Michigan has had a vote since 1996.

The NEC outlines requirements for wiring, equipment installation, grounding, and overcurrent protection to prevent hazards like electrical shocks, fires, and equipment failures. Compliance ensures safe operation in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Standards also promote energy efficiency, encouraging practices like proper insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and renewable energy integration to reduce costs and environmental impact.

Organizations like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) further enforce safety through regulations and product certifications. Adherence to these standards minimizes risks, ensures system longevity, and supports economic benefits through reduced energy waste and maintenance costs, fostering a safe and sustainable electrical infrastructure.

European Union electrical trade standards prioritize safety, interoperability, and economic efficiency across member states. Governed by the Low Voltage Directive (LVD) 2014/35/EU and harmonized standards from the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC), these regulations ensure electrical equipment operates safely between 50-1000V AC or 75-1500V DC. Standards like EN 60335 address appliance safety, while EN 50110 outlines safe maintenance and operation practices. Compliance with CE marking requirements certifies adherence to safety, health, and environmental standards, facilitating market access.

For economy, the EU promotes energy efficiency through directives like the Ecodesign Directive 2009/125/EC, mandating efficient lighting, motors, and renewable energy integration to reduce consumption and costs. National regulations align with EU standards, ensuring consistency. These measures minimize electrical hazards, enhance system reliability, and support sustainability by reducing energy waste, fostering cost-effective, safe electrical infrastructure across the EU’s diverse markets.

Non-profit organizations and unions play a critical role in training electricians, ensuring skilled, safe, and competent professionals. Organizations like the National Electrical Contractors Association And unions such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Offer structured apprenticeship programs combining classroom instruction with hands-on training.

These programs cover electrical theory, National Electrical Code compliance, safety practices, and emerging technologies like renewable energy systems. Non-profits often provide certifications, scholarships, and continuing education to promote workforce development. Unions advocate for fair wages and safe working conditions, while their training centers emphasize practical skills, ensuring electricians meet industry standards and contribute to reliable, efficient electrical systems.

Join us today with the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

 

2029 National Electrical Code Panel 3

September 8, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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Electrical Safety Catalog

2029 Revision Calendar

CMP-3 Task Group 1

CMP-3 Task Group 2

CMP-3 Task Group 3

Update: July 21, 2026

Articles covered by CMP-3:

Article 206
Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 300
General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials | Article 335
Instrumentation Tray Cable — formerly Article 727 | Article 720
Limited-Energy System Installations | Article 721
Limited-Energy Power Sources | Article 722
Limited-Energy Cables |  Article 723
Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems | Article 724
Class 1 Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits | Article 725
Class 2 and Class 3 Power-Limited Circuits | Article 726
Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Systems | Article 728
Fire-Resistive Cable Systems | Article 760
Fire Alarm Systems | Article 772
Chapter 9 Tables

Top 10 Issues

Issue Summary
1. Consistency of Code Language Standardize terminology throughout the NEC by eliminating inconsistent wording, duplicate phrases, and varying expressions that describe the same technical concepts.
2. Compliance with the NEC Style Manual Many proposals seek removal of redundant requirements already addressed elsewhere in the Code, resulting in a cleaner, more concise document.
3. Restoring Lost Requirements Numerous submitters argue that important technical provisions disappeared during recent article reorganizations and should be restored.
4. Article Organization Improve article formatting, numbering, and overall structure to make the NEC easier to navigate and maintain.
5. Emerging Technologies Expand the Code to better accommodate fault-managed power, battery energy storage, portable power systems, EV-based power sources, hydrogen technologies, and new circuit classifications.
6. Installation Clarification Clarify requirements for raceways, wet locations, roof decks, cable trays, conductor spacing, barriers, and other installation practices.
7. Installer Safety & Reliability Enhance electrical safety through improved wiring practices, better physical protection, stronger cable support requirements, and fewer failure points.
8. Definition Ownership Assign definitions to the Code-Making Panels having primary technical expertise to improve long-term consistency and maintenance.
9. Coordination with Other Standards Improve harmonization between the NEC and companion standards such as UL, ANSI, NFPA 79, and hazardous-location requirements.
10. Reducing Complexity A recurring objective is to simplify the NEC by reducing duplication, improving readability, and making the Code easier for installers, inspectors, designers, trainers, and licensing authorities to use.

The Public Inputs demonstrate a broad desire to make the National Electrical Code more consistent, technically complete, better coordinated with related standards, and easier to understand without compromising electrical safety. Many proposals emphasize restoring requirements inadvertently lost during recent reorganizations while preparing the Code to accommodate rapidly emerging electrical technologies.

Mike recommends these issues as priority for the Joint IEEE IAS/PES committee
Atul Arunkumar Shenoy, P.E., SMIEEE is Mike Anthony’s Alternate on CMP-3
Susan Newman Scearce is the Chairperson for CMP-3
Ω

2029 Public Input Submittals CMP-3

N.B.  Public Input No. 2633-NFPA 70-2026 [ Global Input ]  PDF Page 6, regarding re-organization of the NEC into below 1000 V and above 1000 V.  

Noteworthy proposal concepts:

  1. Cable trays interfering with HVAC ductwork and fire sprinkler lines.  Parallel cable tray feasibility
  2. Difficulty accessing lighting fixtures and fire alarm components for maintenance.
  3. Potential violation of plenum clearance and airflow requirements.  Some cable trays in plenums reportedly contain non-plenum-rated cables, which is a fire code violation.
  4. Document flags this as a high-priority remediation item before any LED lighting retrofit proceeds.
  5. Existing security wiring (CCTV, access control, intrusion detection) is a mix of old analog coax and early Cat 5 cables.
  6. Many runs exceed recommended length for reliable video transmission.  Frequent signal degradation and reliability complaints.
  7. Security cables are sharing overcrowded cable trays with power-limited lighting control wires and fire alarm cabling.
  8. Risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) noted due to proximity to higher-voltage lines.
  9. Plenum space constraints make it difficult to add new IP-based security cameras without major reorganization.
  10. Current security wiring cannot support newer high-resolution IP cameras or PoE+ powered devices.
  11. Several editorial proposals by Mike Holt. (He’s generally correct on clarity improvements that he needs for educational purposes)
Ω
For discussion next meeting, when we march through all proposals of interest to IEEE:
  • When electricians work in ceiling plenums above hallways while students pass below, several serious hazards emerge. Tools, screws, cable scraps, or ceiling tiles can fall, causing head injuries or slips. Disturbed dust, fiberglass, or potential asbestos particles may rain down, creating respiratory risks.
  • Live electrical work on lighting or cable trays raises shock/fire dangers if a fault occurs or debris shorts circuits. Open plenums can compromise fire-rated barriers, allowing smoke or flames to spread rapidly in an emergency.
  • Noise and visual distractions increase trip hazards for students. Without full barricades, lockout/tagout, and proper fall protection, these overhead activities expose young people to preventable injury. Scheduling work after hours or using full corridor closures is essential.
  • Power-limited (Class 2) cabling operates at low voltage (<60V DC) with current/power caps (~100VA), dramatically reducing shock and fire risks. Installation is simpler and cheaper—no conduit or heavy mechanical protection needed in many cases, allowing flexible routing. LEDs run cooler and more efficiently with remote drivers, improving lifespan and energy savings. Easier maintenance and safer for retrofits.
  • Severe distance and power limits due to voltage drop and 100W/5A caps require multiple drivers or shorter runs. Higher upfront costs for specialized power supplies. Potential reliability issues from more connection points. Less suitable for high-power or long-distance applications compared to line-voltage wiring.

Public Inputs Relevant to School and College Facilities

Campus Facility Relevant Issue Why It Matters
Student Health Centers, Medical Schools & Campus Hospitals Improved protection of underground feeders, raceways, and wiring methods, together with replacement of conductors damaged by water, fire, corrosion, or severe physical impact. Enhances electrical reliability for healthcare occupancies where continuous operation is essential.
Athletic Stadiums & Arenas Improved protection of underground services, direct-buried conductors, warning ribbons, and raceways. Supports reliable electrical service for stadium lighting, scoreboards, concessions, and outdoor utility infrastructure.
Temporary Athletic & Campus Events Recognition of modern portable power sources, including battery energy storage systems and portable fuel cells, in addition to traditional generators. Useful for commencement ceremonies, concerts, athletic tournaments, festivals, and temporary event power.
Research Laboratories Expanded wiring methods for hazardous (classified) locations, including ITC-HL cable installations. May affect university research laboratories, pilot plants, engineering facilities, and chemical research buildings.
Residence Halls & Classroom Buildings Improved protection against concealed wiring damage caused by nails, screws, and furring strips during construction and renovation. Helps reduce wiring damage during frequent campus remodeling and maintenance projects.
Campus Utility Infrastructure Clarifications involving direct boring, underground raceways, service feeders, and warning ribbon installation. Relevant to the large underground electrical distribution systems commonly found on university campuses.

Although these proposals would benefit campus infrastructure, the CMP-3 transcript contains very little discussion directed specifically at educational occupancies. Topics such as healthcare facilities (Article 517), stadium emergency systems, data centers, laboratories as occupancies, residence halls, libraries, and central utility plants largely fall within the jurisdiction of other NEC Code-Making Panels such as CMP-1 and CMP-15 where Mike has been a Principal or Alternate for IEEE.

April 29, 2026

 

At the request of IEEE Joint IAS/PES Standards Michigan, Mike Anthony moved to CMP-3 from CMP-15.

Articles Under CMP 3

  • Article 300 — General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials
  • Article 335 — Instrumentation Tray Cable (in some references for the 2029 cycle)
  • Article 590 — Temporary Installations (being relocated/renumbered in the 2026 cycle, e.g., potentially to Article 140 in Chapter 1, as temporary wiring is not treated as a special occupancy)
  • Article 720 — Limited-Energy System Installations (new/general article covering wiring methods for limited-energy systems)
  • Article 721 — Limited-Energy Power Sources
  • Article 722 — Limited-Energy Cable (covers cables for power-limited, fault-managed, etc.)
  • Article 723 — Raceways, Cable Routing Assemblies, and Cable Trays for Limited-Energy Systems (newly created in the 2026 cycle)
  • Article 725 — Class 2 and Class 3 Remote-Control, Signaling, and Power-Limited Circuits
  • Article 726 — Class 4 Fault-Managed Power Circuits and Equipment
  • Article 727 — Instrumentation Tray Cable
  • Article 728 — Fire-Resistive Cable Systems
  • Article 760 — Fire Alarm Systems (power-limited and non-power-limited portions)

CMP 3 also handles associated content in: Chapter 9 — Tables, including Tables 11(A) & (B) and Tables 12(A) & (B) (related to conductor properties and other supporting tables for the above topics).

  • Notes on Changes and Scope
    CMP 3 focuses on general wiring rules, cable types, raceways/trays for low-energy applications, and signaling/communications-related wiring (distinct from higher-power utilization equipment or special occupancies handled by other panels).
  • In the 2026 NEC cycle, there has been significant reorganization of Chapter 7 to consolidate limited-energy systems under articles like 720–726 (and related ones), moving away from older structures. This includes new articles for raceways/cable trays specific to limited-energy systems and adjustments to scopes for clarity.
  • Article 206 (Non-Power-Limited Remote-Control and Signaling Circuits) appears in some 2026-related references as newly designated or relocated material handled in this area.
    Temporary installations (Article 590) are transitioning out of “special” categories in restructuring efforts.

During today’s sessions of the IEEE E&H Committee and our own we will prepare draft proposals relevant to the safety and sustainability agenda of the USA education facility industry.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

 

Brown University Electrical Design Criteria | Information Technology Resources Policy

Posted December 20, 2025

The University of Michigan has supported the voice of the United States education facility industry since 1993 — the second longest tenure of any voice in the United States.  That voice has survived several organizational changes but remains intact and will continue its Safer-Simpler-Lower Cost-Longer Lasting priorities on Code Panel 3 in the 2029 Edition.

Today, during our customary “Open Door” teleconference we will examine the technical concepts under the purview of Code Panel 3; among them:

Article 206 Signaling Circuits

Article 300 General Requirements for Wiring Methods and Materials

Article 335 Instrumentation Tray Cable

Article 590 Temporary Installations

Chapter 7 Large sections of limited energy cabling for signaling and information technology

Chapter 9 Conductor Properties Tables 11A & B, Tables 12A&B

Public Input on the 2029 Edition will be received until April 9, 2026.

Related:
  • Since the lifespan of educational buildings make the building core and shell susceptible to multiple changes not typically associated with commercial buildings, additional pathways should be placed in areas where the core and shell components of the facility are likely to re-main for extended periods of time
  • It is recommended that all areas of an educational building have wireless coverage unless prohibited

Michigan Public Service Commission

September 8, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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Agenda: August 6, 2026 Commission Meeting

 

Michigan Public Service Commission | August 6, 2026

1. Reliability-Plus / Utility Performance Incentives. The Commission advanced the second phase of its performance-incentive initiative, seeking comment on metrics that could tie utility earnings and penalties to reliability, safety and customer outcomes. Topics include distributed energy resources, hosting capacity, virtual power plants, 4.8-kV distribution conversions, advanced metering and grid modernization.

2. DTE Securitization. The Commission approved DTE Electric’s plan to securitize approximately $600.5 million of costs through lower-cost debt, with projected financing savings of about $62.5 million. The costs include Belle River transition expenses, coal-shipping wind-down and extraordinary tree-trimming expenditures.

3. Consumers Energy Storm Costs. Consumers Energy received authority to defer accounting for approximately $57 million associated with March 2026 storms. The storms caused more than 6,700 downed wires and required replacement of 515 poles and 1,330 crossarms. The decision did not itself authorize recovery of those costs from customers.

4. Rate-Case Restructuring Rejected. The Commission declined to separate revenue requirement, cost-of-service and rate-design issues into independent proceedings, concluding that the proposed structure could increase filings, costs and regulatory complexity rather than streamline the process.

5. Renewable-Energy Law Implementation. The Commission issued additional decisions implementing 2023 PA 235, including treatment of commercially sensitive information submitted by energy providers and further proceedings involving renewable-energy credits and behind-the-meter generation.

Sport News

September 8, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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The Catch, The Catch, The Catch

Tom Brady joins Delta Air Lines as strategic adviser in first-of-its-kind multiyear partnership

Tom Brady joins Delta Air Lines as strategic adviser in first-of-its-kind multiyear partnership

“Man’s life is brief, but through contests he touches the eternal.”

— Pindar, ‘Nemean Ode 6.23-24’

Michigan State University | Ingham County

Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Skiing Association

College Bowl Games

Fernando Mendoza’s post game interview after winning the Big Ten
byu/justletmeregisteryou insports

 

 

 



Michigan Girl, Our Michigan Girl….

Sport Standards

 

 

Mixed Gender Sport by Design

Engineering in Sport



“Rowing is more poetry than sport.” — George Pocock (‘Boys in the Boat’ 2024), a British-born boat builder, rowing coach, and influential figure in American rowing, best known for his craftsmanship of racing shells and his philosophical approach to the sport.

Winter Sport

“There is no greater glory for a man than that which he wins with his own hands and feet.” (Homer, Iliad c. 8th Century BCE)

Graduation, Dating, Engagements, Weddings, Births & Obituaries

September 8, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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Image

 

“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”

— George Santayana

“Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.”

— Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, trans. Constance Garnett



‘In the end, it is character that decides . things, not intellect alone.’ (C.P. Snow, ‘The Masters’, 1951)


Michigan State University

t5rtrtr

Weddings

 



Nine years later and first day as husband and wife they got to finally sneak a kiss in one of the first places they ever passed notes

Hun School Of Princeton

“…I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” –W.B. Yeats | ‘He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven’

“Nature’s Masterpiece”

Several colleges and universities have “kissing benches” or similar traditions tied to romance on campus.

Michigan State University Beaumont Tower: Nick and Myra Kanillopoulos

Syracuse University. Kissing Bench: This bench on the Quad is steeped in tradition. Legend has it that if a couple kisses on the bench, they will eventually marry. Conversely, if a single person sits there alone, they risk staying single forever.

University of Idaho.  Hello Walk and Kissing Rock: While not a bench, this area on campus features a large rock where students have historically kissed. It’s a romantic tradition for couples at the university.

Florida State University Kissing Bench

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Clemson University Lover’s Lane

Illinois State University

University of Cambridge: St. John’s College Bridge of Sighs

University of Oxford: The Bridge of Sighs

University of Bath Somerset County: Sham Castle

Weddings

Clambake

September 7, 2026
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Clambake: A History and Celebration of an American Tradition |  Katherine D. Neustadt 1992 

“A Basket of Clams” | Winslow Homer 1873

Along the Atlantic coast of New England, the clambake became a seasonal rite built from the materials at hand. Stones were gathered along the shore and arranged into a hearth; driftwood and firewood were piled high and burned until the stones held an intense heat. Rockweed, cut fresh from the water, was spread across them, releasing clouds of salt steam. Clams, lobsters, fish, corn and potatoes followed, layered carefully and covered with more seaweed and canvas so that the whole feast cooked together.

The work itself was part of the occasion. Someone tended the fire, someone hauled the rockweed, others prepared the food, set tables or watched the children near the water. Hours of preparation ended in a meal eaten outdoors, often within sight of the tide that supplied it—a practical choreography of shore, fire, water, food and fellowship repeated through generations of New England summers.

§

 

A Blockchain-based decentralised university

September 7, 2026
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We first posted this prospect in May 2022, months before generative artificial intelligence displaced blockchain as the principal technological anxiety of the education industry.

Blockchain has not disappeared; its ambitions have narrowed toward credentials, records and decentralized governance while artificial intelligence has raised the larger question of what the university—and perhaps the teacher—is for.

  • Blockchain threatened the university’s machinery.
  • AI threatens to interrogate its purpose.

The blockchain proposition asked: Do we still need a centralized institution to maintain records, confer credentials, distribute money and establish trust?

The AI proposition asks something considerably more uncomfortable: What are students paying the institution and faculty to do when machines can teach, explain, translate, draft, assess, search and increasingly conduct portions of research?

15 February 2025

Blockchain is a decentralized, immutable, and transparent digital ledger that securely records and verifies transactions across multiple computers or nodes. It operates through a network of participants who collectively validate and store each transaction, creating a chain of interconnected blocks. Each block contains a unique cryptographic hash that links it to the previous block, ensuring data integrity.

The distributed nature of blockchain eliminates the need for intermediaries, increases security, and fosters trust among participants. It has applications beyond cryptocurrencies, enabling efficient and reliable solutions in various industries such as finance, supply chain management, healthcare, education and accreditation.

John Domingue | TEDxOpenUniversity:

“I believe that with blockchain technology we can create a radically new type of university: a DAO University. A DAO is a Decentralised Autonomous Organisation which operates with no central control and no humans in the loop and are based on Smart Contracts: pieces of computer code on a blockchain which can represent and enact financial and legal contracts. ”

 

 

Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote): “Ladran Sancho, señal que cabalgamos”  

“Let the dogs bark Sancho, it is a sign that we’re moving forward.”

Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technologies

Blockchain is built so that the system keeps the data across several nodes that form a consensus on the exact position of the data. This storage method is different from the cloud, where data remains in one location and is easily accessible to an individual as a whole.

Accreditation 200

Workcred

September 7, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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“Art of Manliness”

We find relatively few public consultations presented by accredited standards developers in the human resource domain; surprising because human resources are the largest cost center in nearly every industry.  Alas, manufacturers, insurance and conformance companies remain the strongest voices; the “wicked problem” we describe in our ABOUT.

Even before the circumstances of the pandemic inspired a revisit of large government politics and cultural mashing in education communities in the United States we could hear the first footfalls of disruption when ANSI catalyzed the creation of a related entity in 2014, described in the link below:

WORKCRED: Connecting credential, competencies, careers, customers

The proper business of the education industry overall — and the ~$500 billion facility segment we track — is preparing the workforce everywhere to contribute to national economic priorities.   There is a strong cultural component in the human resource domain — i.e. branding — the topic of another post.   For now, we simply suggest that much of the economic activity of education communities is devoted to building a cohort (or guild) that creates an emotional bond that hastens learning and a continual desire to self-educate to remain part of the cohort.

At the moment, the WORKCRED program at this point in its development, appears to provides guidance to conformance and compliance organizations among its members.   The user-interest in the education facility industry, at least dependent on a skilled workforce as any economic sector, and welcomed to participate.  We identify the initiative here and will keep a weather-eye out for commenting opportunities on draft consensus products emerging from it.  The link below should provide a more detailed overview of the program until a “commentable consensus product” suitable for incorporation by reference into legislation is released.

Understanding Successful Career Pathways with Certification & Education Data | January 19, 2021

Of course, there will be cultural competition among the guardians of the cohort.

Organizations with their own credentialing enterprises for skilled trades, ICT, software engineering, etc. — are encouraged to communicate directly with the WORKCRED staff (CLICK HERE).

 

Easy Beef Pot Roast

September 6, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Standards Indiana

Roast beef with potatoes. Roast beef with roasted potatoes and tomatoes

Purdue Memorial Union Dining Room

Memorial Union Dining Room

 

 

Bridges

September 6, 2026
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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