05-29-2020-Pine-Press

PINE PRESS MAY 2020

Brought to you by MSU-SHC Education Committee

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Hey everyone!

I know what you’re thinking: since when does the Pine Press have a note from the editor? Since now, yo! Actually, I was looking through the archives of old Pine Presses and found that in years past, the Vice President of Education has actually acted as the formal editor of the PP. So I’m bringing back that practice! One of the things I want to work on as VPE this year is producing a mind-blowing Pine Press such as you’ve never seen before. I aspire to include more submission-based content in this year’s PP, in hopes of improving member engagement. This is our community, our Pine Press! Also, I just wanna include more content overall. This year, the Pine Press is gonna get ​buff​.

I’m so excited to be your new Vice President of Education! I have lots of ideas for cool events and stuff to get done with the Education Committee. If you’re ever wondering what we do, ask your house’s education officer! Or, better yet, attend an EduCom meeting! Per the Code of Operations (4.06.01 to be exact), any “interested parties” may attend. That means YOU! This is a great way to get in the know about co-op stuff.

In this Pine Press, you’ll find some cool submission-based content, such as HAUS LUV, music recommendations, poetry, and more! As always, if you ever have something you wanna see “printed”, shoot your shot! All submissions can be emailed to me at ​education@msu.coop​.

I know this is a weird time for us all, given the global pandemic. I genuinely hope each and every one of you are safe and healthy. I told my friend about a month ago that I think if anything good comes out of this, it’s a heightened awareness of our impact on each other, as well as an increased sense of community solidarity. And hey, that’s what co-ops are all about!

I hope you guys like what we’ve got for ya. Enjoy reading!

Yours truly, Emily Tyler Vice President of Education

MEET THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE & VISTA Leah Rogers, Vice President of Membership Hey, I’m Leah! I am a recent MSU graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. I was introduced to the co-ops by my friend Matthew, and moved into Vesta during my junior year. I love being outdoors, reading, and learning to cook new things. I am super excited to be your Vice President of Membership and to get to know you and our co-op better!

Emily Tyler, Vice President of Education Hi friends! I’m Emily, your new VPE (and Pine Press editor!) I graduated from MSU in the spring of 2019 with a degree in English. I moved into Toad Lane in December of 2017, and have been living at Vesta since August 2018. I’ve served as office laborer for Vesta, as well as education officer, until I was elected as VPE. I love reading, writing, and spending time with my housemates. During my term, I intend to maintain a rad and regular Pine Press, as well as increase engagement of education officers with their houses and engagement of members with the SHC overall. After my term as VPE, I will be attending the University of Chicago to pursue graduate work in English.

Casey Paskus, Climate Resilience and Development Coordinator VISTA Howdy folks! I'm Casey, the new Climate Resilience and Development Coordinator VISTA! I'll be working with the membership and staff of the SHC on sustainability and green design for existing houses and new properties.

I am so lucky to be returning to the co-op community! I lived in Vesta for two years (Fall 2016 to Spring 2018) while studying at MSU, where I majored in International Relations. After graduation I moved to DC to work at a nonprofit called KABOOM! where I helped groups from across the country apply for playground grants.

DC was fun, but Michigan was calling me home! Also, I missed going grocery shopping at Meijers.

I’m so excited to work with you all on climate resilience and sustainability within the SHC, to learn from practices your houses have already put in place, and to be a proud member of the SHC once again!

Nikki Phan - Vice President of Facilities Nikki moved into Rivendell in Fall of 2017 and has lived there ever since, A passion for sustainable and accessible living situations inspired her to get involved in both co-op and local city governance. She served on the Board of Directors for a year and a half, before being appointed to the executive committee as VP of Facilities. She served as President of the SHC from 2019 to 2020, and has now returned to her former position as vice president of facilities.

Connor Meston - Governance & Empowerment VISTA Hello everyone! My name is Connor Meston and I am serving as an AmeriCorps “Governance & Member Empowerment” VISTA with the MSU-SHC while living in Rivendell. I have been focused on the training, democratic process, and recordkeeping for the Board of Directors, plus advising the Executive Committee on a variety of matters. As I finish out my term of service, I will be working on a Strategic Plan for the future of the MSU-SHC, as well as other projects. In addition, I can advise on house meeting process and house norms upon request. If you’d like to submit a request or have any questions on best practices regarding anything co-op related, my email is meston@msu.coop. As a former member of Bower House and SHC President for the 2016-17 term, you could say I’ve lived a slice of the co-op experience and I am an open book; at your service as a resource for a variety of information, including SHC history, and where you can find more resources from the

SHC, NASCO, and beyond. I have general interests in history, public policy, ecology, energy, health, and all forms of co-ops, so don’t be afraid to reach out and discuss whatever makes you feel empowered for the future of the cooperative movement!

Not featured: Shyla Crump, Corporate Treasurer; Erik Berg, President

HAUS LUVÂ Collected by Kiran Lantrip, Raft Hill VESTA To Jarek- i fucking love how you use four tea bags for a single mug.

Keep on doing you

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TOAD LANE Shout out to the Toadettes for giving so much love to our new Haus pet- our rescue could not be happier!

SOUNDS OF THE SHCÂ Collected by Kiran Lantrip, Raft Hill Here are your music submissions for the month of May. Shouts out to Vesta for going hard with the listening this month!

VESTA ★ Rapp Snitch Knishes feat. Mr. Fantastik -- MF Doom ★ "Lovespell," "Before the World was Big," and "Slut mouth" by Girlpool!! ★ She/Her/Hers - "Gender is Boring" ; "we Three" by Patti Smith; "sister Ray" by the velvet underground ★ "Indian summer" by beat happening PHOENIX ★ CharlesTheFirst, Mac Miller, Lo Fi Hip Hop HEDRICK ★ Sawayama (Album) RAFT HILL ★ Running Back to You - The Juan Maclean

SUSTAINABILITY SERIES #3: RE-USE

By Connor Meston, Americorps VISTA, Rivendell PLEASE NOTE: This list was compiled before the COVID-19 crisis began.

As such, be mindful of the risk of being in contact with others during this time. ❖ Are you in need of furniture for your room? Post on the “MSU Student Housing Co-op” group Facebook page if your house doesn’t have what you need! (you can also contact the VP of Facilities for assistance) ➢ Having trouble finding furniture you need? Check out the MSU Surplus Store! (reimbursement may be possible based on financial need & furniture type, i.e. bed frame, mattress, dresser, desk, or chair) ➢ Do you or your house have extra furniture? Post on the “MSU Student Housing Co-op” group Facebook page about it so someone else can use it! (only throw out broken furniture) ■ Contact the VP of Facilities about furniture storage if no one is in current need of it! (some houses can store extra furniture) ■ Having trouble getting rid of furniture? Check out the MSU Surplus Store to donate! (or sell it to make some cash & avoid the dump) ❖ Looking to repaint your room or do a home improvement project?

Check out the Habitat for Humanity Capital Region ReStore! ❖ Want to go thrifting? Check your house free store! (or try another house) Don’t have a free store yet? Talk to your house and see if you need to ask the Facilities Committee about Physical Development funding ■ Is your house free store overflowing? Host a clothing swap and invite SHC Members and the nearby community! (leftover clothes can be donated to the Volunteers of America or turned into rags) ❖ Trying to sell clothing, media, decorations, etc. for a few extra bucks? Check out “MSU Free & For Sale” on Facebook, Facebook

Marketplace, or other sale forums like the Letgo app or Craigslist ■ Know some housemates or other SHC members trying to sell stuff? Host a yard sale at your house and invite others to sell!

■ Trying to sell clothes? Depop allows you to sell by brand, etc. ThredUp (online) & Plato’s Closet will buy select brands for cash ❖ Have an old bike you don’t need? Post on the “MSU Student Housing Co-op” group Facebook page or donate it to the Lansing Bike Co-op! ❖ Doing an art project? Reread this list and check online for further inspiration on using hard-to-recycle materials to divert them from landfills!

■ Some examples include: Colored scrap paper, magazines, bottlecaps, corks, old clothing & furniture fabric, twist ties, rubber bands, small bits of wood, broken electronics & watches, discarded jewelry & book covers, old notebooks, scrap metal, etc.

MEMES Curated by Noah Walker, Harambee

ADVICE FROM THE STREET

By Danny Olweean, Bowie My (21) species (~ 500,000) might go extinct in the increasingly near future. One day I was thinking about it too much and went for a walk.

I saw this man with a fuchsia shirt saying “Licensed Psychologist” and thought I could pay him $5 and (in a socially distanced manner) pick his brain about our impending doom. I tried to summarize but…

Yeah, so, this virus sucks and everything but let’s not forget that a lot of things suck right now. In the end, we all seem to have that understanding that the world isn’t turning well and we might live to see the conclusion of us, in the end. Or at least, a conclusion of what could have been us, or at least— This actually reminds me of a time in early January, 2020. I was with two companions, let's call them Pole and Pauren. So this was after a Phoenix social event where we were among the last to leave.

After walking outside and closing the door, we realized it was pouring. The very much locked door gave no refuge, and so we tried to find the nearest shelter while the rain died down. That shelter was an unlocked truck in the driveway, and with our decision making skills suppressed for the night, we climbed in.

The rain drowned out the ringing in my ears that I forgot to plug for the night. We stared out the window until our breath blurred them foggy. I drew some smiley’s that dripped together after a second. Pole looked at the registration to see if it was someone we knew. It

wasn’t. It was the most zen you could be fifteen minutes after slamming your body into another body. We started ta— Oh then we heard rumbling in the back, and realized the bands were loading up their equipment. There was no way out of this that didn’t look bad, so we just acknowledged that fact and opened the door.

“Hey, the rain was bad, we were in your truck, we didn’t steal anything, do you want help?” Pole blurted as soon as they noticed us.

After an uncomfortable silence they agreed. We loaded everything up, apologized, and marched toward the chips and dip that awaited us at home, the rain no lighter. And as the January rain cleaned my dirty, dirty party face I thought about how this weather might be the new normal, and what the new normal will be like when the world is ending, and if we’ll even realize it’s ending, and how tonight the stars’ll be out, and don’t you know that God is Pooh Bear? and ah those chips sound good right now, and oh I’m so wet but what does it matter at this point, and I hope that guy who drank an almond milkshake then went to hospital is doing alright, and where was I going with this, and— I then ran away, unable to stand it any longer

PRESIDENTIAL INTERVIEW

By Billy Kenney, Hedrick This past week I had the opportunity to interview our SHC president, Eric Berg. He is still new to the presidency, but has lots of motivation and new ideas for where he wants to take the role. Although the interview was posed in a simple question and answer format, constant tangents and expansions upon responses made it feel like casually conversing with a friendly neighbor.

Q1: What are you most excited to work on as the new SHC president?

Starting off with a rather dry, basic question that anyone could expect at a job interview, Eric took it in stride.

“Improving communication is huge. And part of that is bringing the Pine Press back to life. When I first got to the SHC, the Pine Press was a very short, one page, maybe two articles per edition. Now, I see

that this edition is staged to have 11 articles. That's an awesome improvement already and I am excited to help it grow more.”

While speaking on communication and the co-ops, I became curious for Erik’s plans to involve the co-ops more in communicating with the East Lansing community around us and we soon began talking about his plans for that.

Me: “Does the communication you want to expand upon extend to the communities our co-ops live in?

Erik: “Absolutely. Our representatives in multiple organizations such as ASMSU and the University Student Commission representative who works with the mayor are doing an amazing job involving the co-ops in the communities. An idea I have for moving forward with that is working with the Baily Neighborhood Association in order to further develop the co-ops ties with the communities around us.”

Q2: What is your favorite cooperative principle, aka the Rochdale principles as the basis for cooperative philosophy, if you had to choose, and why?

Through the phone I could feel a slight hesitation, which principle so intrinsically twined together could be more important than the others?

It was a trap and he knew it. So, displaying perfect political tact, he stalled for time to think.

“I believe first and foremost all of the principles are important.

Without each other, the co-ops lose their ability to function as a system where everyone has their say in how things are run.”

Boom. He had found his answer.

“If I had to choose only one principle, I would say Democratic Member Control. Our member-owner status sets us apart and is unique. High levels of apathy and low participation have the ability to weaken the powerful ideals of democracy, but our power lies in the ability to change things we are passionate about. If there’s something you don’t like going on in the co-ops, you have the ability to speak up, start a movement, and change things. Where on the other hand, if you live in an apartment complex, your voice might be ignored by your landlord.

Our democracy is beautiful, especially because it gives the ability to have an open mind. My favorite thing is when people argue with me, and

prove me wrong, making me realize I agree with their point of view. I believe that makes me a better person when that happens.”

Q3: How long have you lived at Orion? How do you like it?

“I moved in Fall of 2018, but came multiple times before that to visit. The main appeal was the built in community that is fostered by 24 people all living together in one house. I’m kinda a workaholic, but I feel that having great housemates has really made my working lifestyle become healthier. The ability to walk downstairs at any time of day or night and find someone to talk with is very cool and special to me. Orion is kinda the city that never sleeps, I love it here.”

After hearing Erik say this, I realized there were so many things I appreciated about my own housemates as well and how we all make each other better no matter what house you are a part of. So, here is my plug to go tell a housemate you appreciate them!

Q4: The topic on everyone’s mind these days is the novel Coronavirus.

Do you have any advice, presidential wisdom, or just a new hobby you’ve picked up since quarantine began to share with our members?

“Well, work will always be my hobby no matter what is going on. It’s not very interesting, but it’s who I am ha-ha. I also had two weeks right at the beginning of quarantine where I may or may not have had COVID-19. I asked to be tested, but I was not because I had a very high likelihood to recover even if I had it because of my age. So, being cautious, I self-isolated for two weeks. This is where living in a co-op really was a boon. We called an emergency house meeting and worked together to make a plan on how housemates would help me without me leaving my room. After two weeks, I finally stopped showing symptoms and made a full recovery. My advice is to make plans before emergencies happen, put contingencies in place so that if COVID does get in your house, you can still function. The inconvenient truth is that COVID might come back. Keep social distancing. Be cautiously optimistic, because this too shall pass.”

Q5: What’s your favorite TV show?

For the final question, I decided on something lighter that could help you get to know the new president a bit more and possibly find something relatable.

“I don’t watch too much TV, but I love the Office. I relate with Michael a lot and sometimes get worried by that fact.”

In conclusion, Erik is very passionate about the cooperative movement.

A humble fellow, who says that he rambles on too much and that people should tell him to shut it more often, but everything he wanted to say seemed very thoughtful in the 41 minute conversation we had. At the end, he thanked me for my time and my work on the Pine Press, even remembering a small article I wrote on horror movies just after Halloween. I look forward to seeing what this well-spoken cooperative member will do as president of the SHC in these unprecedented times.

POETRY SUBMISSIONS “Magic in the Mundane”

By Lauren from Toad Lane I don’t know what fairy brushed my eyes with silver to allow me to see the hidden lights, but I am blessed Grateful for bad eyesight that sees raging passions not a storm, that sinks into bubbling mercury puddles not swamps I don’t know what troll twitched my fingers to dance on wood and brush moss with magic Or what goddess gave me toes that tingle when soil melts into animal prints along secret forest paths I am happy bees stung ears-turned-harps and that moths dance around heads as a halo with eyes that search only for light in dark spaces It could be a curse- but if so then blessed be the witches that poisoned my glass I will gulp them with bravado for eons With blood a mix of rust and dust and warrior’s saliva Hair of burnt honey and eyes of coals before diamonds I will walk with the humility and gratitude of fallen angels Lucky to be alive but still torching the world with fire hearts and Phoenix bodies

~May the Forest be with You Bower House

By Becky Coggins from Bower “[This] is a poem I wrote about my house, Bower, in our “Bower Log”.

The Bower Log is a tradition where we leave a designated blank notebook on the dining room table for people to draw or write in. This can be anything from senseless doodles drawn during a house meeting, or written goodbyes from members on their way out, or a poll to see what we should cook for dinner that week, or themed art projects or writing prompts that everyone in the house can add to. This is one of my favorite personal additions to the Bower Log and I wanted to share it with other SHC residents! I’d love to see what traditions the other houses have.”

THANKS FOR READING!

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