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Pine Press April 2021 Spartan Housing Cooperative Brought to you by the Education Committee TABLE OF CONTENTS Cover design by Emma Ashley-Grose and Erik Berg of Orion 01. Note from the Editor: SHC Updates 02. Let’s Talk Mental Health 04. SHC-wide Composting Program 05. HAUS LUV 05. Sounds of SHC 06. Submission: Book Excerpts 07. Horoscopes
Note from the Editor: SHC Updates Hey pals! It’s me again, coming at you with the 12th Pine Press of my time as Vice President of Education. I am so thrilled for the prospect of producing twelve more to come, during my second term! You might notice that at the top of this page, it says “Spartan Housing Cooperative.” That’s because the SHC name change is a go! Back in March, members voted in a referendum regarding making the change from “MSU Student Housing Cooperative” to “Spartan Housing Cooperative.” 81% of those who cast ballots voted in favor of the name change (131 members voting yes, 27 members voted no). A name change also affects the Articles of Incorporation, the most supreme governing document of the co-op; altering the Articles requires a 2/3rds affirmative vote of the entire membership. This threshold was not reached; however, the point was made that many businesses and organizations end up using a different name from what’s in their Articles, and use a DBA (“doing
Spartan Housing Cooperative Pine Press 30 April 2021 | 2 business as”). The matter was discussed at the Board of Directors meeting, and the conclusion was reached that the name change represented the desire of the vast majority of members who made their voices heard. The name change will be official beginning May 1st. Another update: the new Executive Officers for the coming term (effective May 1st) have all been selected! VPs of Membership and Education, as well as President, were elected into office by the membership, and VP of Facilities and Corporate Treasurer were interviewed and appointed by the President, with approval of the Board. Here’s the new executive committee: President: Erik Berg of Orion Vice President of Education: Emily Tyler of Vesta Vice President of Facilities: Zach Crewes of Vesta Vice President of Membership: Claire Hibbard of Orion Corporate Treasurer: Leah Rogers of Vesta Congratulations to the incoming executive committee, and good luck! Thanks y’all for picking up and reading the Pine Press, and if you ever have anything you’d like to contribute, contact me at education@msu.coop to submit! Coop luv, Emily Tyler Vice President of Education, Executive Vice President
Let’s Talk Mental Health ( ͡❛ ͜ʖ ❛ ͡ ) By Devon Diaz-Ferguson of Bower Hello folks. I’m Devon. I have a mental illness, and I know yall do too haha. I was going to write this article back in like december about seasonal depression, but i had seasonal depression and didn’t do it oop. So here we are, in April, talking about mental health. So I guess we could focus on how to bounce back from winter blues and be our best selves this spring and summer. Fun fact, Venus is in Taurus, meaning new beginnings are coming! While we may be experiencing forms of burnout and low energy, we are entering a phase of rebirth and new investments. Good news I’d say, very helpful to our mental health situation. As a mentally ill veteran, I know it feels like you’re a new person once the spring hits. As soon as you get a taste of that vitamin D it’s like you’re cured for a moment. Then, summertime sadness hits ( ˘︹˘) So we are gonna try to combat this year, especially since last year sucked so bad. In order to sustainably recover from seasonal depression it's crucial to put yourself first. That means before school, work whatever. I don’t care how many urgent responsibilities you have, make time for that walk; make time for crafts, journaling, yoga, whatever butters your bun, let it be a part of your DAILY routine. I cannot fully express how important it is to make designated time for the things you enjoy. When I “don’t have the time” to do leisure, I lose interest in my favorite
Spartan Housing Cooperative Pine Press 30 April 2021 | 3 activities. To my fellow students, I know the end of the semester is here, and I am sending you all abundance of motivation. That goes for everyone, spring is the time of change and rebirth. Some of you will be looking/starting new jobs; some of you may be moving, some may be taking summer classes, or something else. With these changes it’s hard to tweak your schedule to the changes. I literally last night set out a daily schedule for my weekends and weekdays. I mean it's vague, with time slots dedicated to multiple options, given what I need to do that day. But str8 up, having a strict routine is so good for your mental health. Our ancestors like, lived under such different conditions. But in order to maintain a healthy well being following a daily routine addressing your immediate needs is how we evolved to the advanced beings we are today. And you know, society doesn’t take that into account. So being self aware and responsive to your needs will keep you in it for the long run :) Bruhs, I cannot stress this enough, try to move your body, and make it a ROUTINE. I am beyond guilty of not doing this, but when I do goodness gracious does it drastically improve my mental health. Winter is over, so it’s a great time to take advantage of the warm weather and space around you to get your blood a-pumping. Maybe even try something new. Find something new to fall in love with. It doesn’t even have to be physical, though I will say I will be purchasing some roller skates and teach myself how to sk8 (don’t judge me I’m tall and never learned). I will also be investing in a bass, so if someone would teach me that’s be sick ( ͡❛ ‿‿ ͡❛) Y’all, therapy is gr8 and all, but sometimes that doesn’t do the trick. It never helped much for me, but these lifestyle changes really do change your life. I’m not trying to come across as some sort of self help article, even though that’s exactly what this is lmao. Just, invest in yourself. You’re all you got. Having a life and body is like, winning the lottery. That vessel requires deep care. Something else that has been sending me on the right path that I have taken up recently is spirituality. That can look like however you want it to, it’s unique to everyone. But manifestation is real my dudes. Meditation and journaling have been a godsend. It is just so helpful in clearing your mind and ridding yourself of anxiety. It takes a lot of effort, every year after the ~d e p r e s s i o n~ hits I try to get back into it, but will seem to hop off the wagon somewhere along the way. It happens. But what matters is that effort. Nothing is gonna be perfect everyday, or ever for that matter. But it is quite the experience taking that extra step in attempts to connect your inner antenna to the universe. Okay fam, thanks for sticking with me thus far. I will end on this: str8 up, sometimes you need to reset. There is no shame in that. On a personal note, this semester was rough and I made the decision to take a fun ol’ trip to the psych ward. IT HAPPENS. Sometimes that is what you need. It is great to recognize that before you’re in crisis. This goes back to being attentive within yourself. You gots to know your triggers, warning signs and thoughts. The SHC is full of awesome kiddos that would be there for you in a heartbeat. I know I would. There are no negatives to reaching out when you need it, it is more of a burden to hold the weight of the world on your own. This season is gonna bring so much for us friends. Let us utilize that to our advantage and kick a$$. I believe in you, and me. Stay healthy and take care folks. Editor’s note: here are a few resources if you’re goin thru it: MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS) Crisis Line: (517) 355-8270 The Listening Ear Crisis Line: (517) 337-1717 Women’s Center of Greater Lansing (counseling services): (517) 372-9163
Spartan Housing Cooperative Pine Press 30 April 2021 | 4 Sexual Assault Crisis & Safety Education Program Hotline: (517) 372-6666 Community Mental Health (CMHA-CEI): (800) 372-8460; (517) 346-8460 MSU Safe Place: (517) 355-1100 MSU Psychological Clinic (counseling/therapy): (517) 355-9564
An Easy Way to Save the World - Sign Your House up for the SHC Composting Project!! By Casey Paskus, AmeriCorps VISTA serving the SHC and Bower House member Have you experienced that pang of guilt that comes from throwing an apple core or banana peel in the trash, knowing that it could be turned into compost? At-home composting is a lot of work, and between classes, work, and social lives, it's hard to find the time. But the SHC Green Team has made it easy for houses to turn their food waste into compost, for free!! In order to divert food waste from landfills, the SHC Green Team is organizing a Composting Project for all SHC houses. Any interested house can sign up to get a 5-gallon bucket of food waste picked up weekly or biweekly by our Financial Cooperator, MC Rothhorn. MC had already been picking up food waste from SHC houses including Raft Hill and Vesta, and feeding it to the chickens at Genesee Cohousing for a few years. With the addition of new houses to his pick-up schedule, MC will also drop food waste at a compost lot maintained by the Ingham County Land Bank! If your house would like to buy the finished compost back from the land bank, contact Garden Coordinator John Krohn at jkrohn@ingham.org. The program kicked-off on April 25th and so far Howland, Beal, and Miles Davis, and Bower House have all signed up. So, what’s all the buzz about? SHC member Abi Knauss explains why Howland House is pumped about the Composting Project: “The coolest part about this project is that it allows us to both engage with our greater Lansing community AND do something important for the environment with such ease! At times it can feel overwhelming to practice environmental stewardship while juggling student life, work, and the pandemic, but this program gives us something to really feel good about that is manageable.” Well, there you have it folks! Sign your house up for the SHC Composting Project by following these steps: 1 - Find more information in the bucket that was dropped off at your house
Spartan Housing Cooperative Pine Press 30 April 2021 | 5 2 - Create a plan to integrate the food waste bucket into your house chores 3 - Sign your house up for the compost project at this link: https://forms.gle/cbKc5x5kkuWF1oY37 Email paskusca@msu.coop with any questions! Happy Earth Month!
HAUS LUV Compiled by Kiran Lantrip of Raft Hill casey you’re a literal ray of sunshine and your existence makes me oh so happy ✌︎(‘ω’✌︎ ) - bower Emma, you are so thoughtful and bright and I learn from you every day <3 - Orion Dylan, you are an amazing human - Orion This is one of the hardest goodbyes I’ve ever had to face. I found so much love in our big blue house and am forever grateful for everyone in the house for loving me, accepting me, and helping me grow. I love you all so so much and I’ll miss each and every one of ya. y’all better come visit me in Colorado! - Howland To everyone: you all are very epic and I love you. Let’s play some Mario kart soon. - Raft
Sounds of SHC Compiled by Kiran Latrip of Raft Hill Hey y’all! Last batch of tunes for the semester (for the students out of us at least) - hopefully these tide you over nicely as we transition from spring into free, free summer <3. Shouts out to Beal for all the submissions! The Spotify playlist for this month can be found linked here or on the Facebook page. Meet Me in the City by Junior Kimbrough, Bill Bailey by Big Bill Broonzy, My Baby's Gone by Robert Balfour - Phoenix House, also listen to the Progessive Torch and Twang on 88.9FM 8 to midnight Tuesday nights i was dancing at the lesbian bar - jonathan richman - beal girls gone wild - madonna - beal montero- lil nas x - bower Slime - Shygirl - Beal Bussin -Tay Money - Beal Girl Blunt - Leikeli47 - Beal Too Old to Dream, Nick Shoulders (Devon, I'm sorry you've heard this song on repeat in our hallway haha) - Bower Doctor Worm- They Might Be Giants - Vesta
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Submission: Book Excerpts From Emma Ashley-Grose of Orion This book always speaks to some aspects of life and I wanted to share these words for the pine press. From the book Women Who Run With the Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Ph.D. : "Often the creative life is slowed or stopped because something in the psyche has a very low opinion of us, and we are down there groveling at its feet instead of bopping it over the head and running for freedom. In many cases what is required to aright the situation is that we take ourselves, our ideas, our art, far more seriously than we have before. Due to wide breaks in matrilineal (and patrilineal) succor over many generations, this business of valuing one's creative life-- that is, valuing the utterly original, beauteous, and artful ideas and works which issue from the wildish soul- has become a perennial issue for women. ... I have heard all the excuses that a woman might knit up: I'm not talented. I'm not important. I'm not educated. I have no ideas. I don't know how. I don't know what. I don't know when. And the most scurrilous of all: I don't have time. I always want to shake them upside down until they repent and promise to never tell false-hoods again. ... In my heritage, there is a saying cultura cura, culture cures. If the culture is a healer, the families learn how to heal; they will struggle less, be more reparative, far less wounding, farm more graceful and loving. In a culture where the predator rules, all new life needing to be born, all old life needing to be gone, is unable to move and the soul-lives of its citizenry are paralyzed with both fear and spiritual famine. ... Asking the proper question is the central action of transformation-in fairy tales, in analysis, and in individuation. The key question causes germination of consciousness. The properly shaped question always emanates from an essential curiosity about what stands behind. Questions are the keys that cause the secret doors of the psyche to swing open."
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Horoscopes Submitted anonymously Taurus (Apr. 21-May 20):You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Gemini (May 21-June 20): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Cancer (June 21-July 22): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb.19): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Pisces (Feb. 20-Mar. 20): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you! Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 20): You are now eligible to receive a COVID vaccine in Michigan! Visit vaccinefinder.org to find a vaccine near you!
Thanks for reading the April 2021 Pine Press!! Spartan Housing Cooperative 541 E Grand River Ste 6 East Lansing MI 48823 517.355.8313