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September 2020 Pine Press TABLE OF CONTENTS 1- Letter from the Editor 2- Left Bower Update 5- Interview with Vincy D 7- Solar Panels Installed at Bowie 10- DIY Home Ownership: Interview with VPF Nikki Phan 12- Handling Anxiety during COVID 12- New Executive Vice President 13- Fall Movie Marathon 14- Autumn Recipe: Roast Cauliflower over Seasoned Rice 15- Staying Green during Quarantine 16- COVID Corner 17- Loey May Warner
Letter from the Editor Hey folks! Autumn is fully upon us, and the month of September drawing to a close brings us another Pine Press. This edition contains plenty of content, both informational and fun. I’ll keep this letter short and sweet, and just say that reading this Pine Press is probably the best way to learn what’s going on with your co-op and community. Thanks for picking this up, and I hope you learn something about our co-op by reading it! Yours truly, Emily Tyler, Vice President of Education
Left Bower Update
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By Maddie Elliot from Ferency As many of you know, the SHC is strongly considering adding a new house, 131 Whitehills Dr., to the SHC. This building is to the left of Bower, and is, for the time being, fittingly named Left Bower. SHC members have expressed both enthusiasm and consternation about adding this new coop house to our organization. The SHC has been in talks with the former owner of 131 Whitehills since 2013, Hans Larsen, who unfortunately passed away and left the house to his family. Hans’ family agreed to sell it to Jim Jones, who was the first president of the SHC and has since done incredible work for other housing coops and NASCO (the North American Students of Cooperation). This year, the SHC entered into an option-to-purchase agreement with Jim Jones. Our SHC President Erik Berg explained that “this agreement is basically a (refundable) $263,000 down payment on the property from the SHC”, and the deadline to make a decision on this agreement is May 31st, 2021. A referendum will be held sometime in the spring to fully commit to buying Left Bower, in which all SHC members will have the opportunity to vote to buy or not to buy 131 Whitehills Dr. The down payment, $263,000 and full price of the building, $682,418 seems like a daunting financial undertaking at first glance, but we must consider the SHC’s total budget and equity from the 17 houses that it owns. Even amid this pandemic, the SHC is well-positioned with its budget. Erik Berg explained, “The money used to buy and convert 131 Whitehills Dr. would primarily come out of our development reserve, which we set aside a few tens of thousands of dollars a year into, and through a lien against SHC's equity, of which we have around $6,500,000 available as a more conservative estimate. Back in May we were able to take advantage of the (pandemic-induced) favorable changing market and decreasing interest rates by refinancing our existing debt, which allowed us to cash out over $400k to go toward both our passthrough loan to GRACC and the "down payment" on 131 Whitehills.” As of now, about $285k is in the SHC’s reserves that can be used either for a pandemic-related emergency or for purchasing 131 Whitehills Dr. So far, the SHC has not been in financial trouble, since they were able to borrow for the potential of only 75% occupancy, and luckily occupancy is much higher: between 88-89%. In short, the SHC has a LOT of equity, and 131 Whitehills also has equity to allow the SHC to take out a loan on this property. If complications due to the pandemic do not arise, an investment into a new house would significantly increase the SHC revenue each year. Vacancies are one of the points of contention for some SHC members. According to an SHC member, at the beginning of each year, Bower fills up, but throughout the year people drop out and leave the house with many vacancies. However, after looking at the numbers in the Bower occupancy spreadsheet, this does not appear to be true. The average number of occupants in Bower each month for the past five years was 18 people, out of the 19 available spots. Yes, there have been dips in the occupancy, but life happens, and sometimes coop members have to move out. There were also some issues in 2017 with an unhealthy drug culture, but this came to the attention of the SHC and they intervened. Aside from house culture and the potential of a student graduating or having other life changes that prompt them to move out, another drawback of living in Bower for some members is that it is far away from the other coops. This would be solved by adding Left Bower next door! The bond of the two houses would create a Whitehills Dr. community within the larger SHC community, similar to some of the other houses situated close to one another, like Ferency, Miles Davis, and Hedrick! Bower Occupancy Data, 2015-2020
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According to Jim Jones, this house is essentially the same building as Bower, with 8 apartments and 14 bedrooms. A building inspector deemed that the building is in very good condition, so work on the house would only consist of renovating to change it from apartment style to coop, group-living style. Renovation costs will be determined in the coming months. Since Bower was started, they renovated their building by replacing the kitchens and living rooms in each apartment with bedrooms, and this is one possibility that the SHC is considering for their renovation of this building. Holly Jo, the Executive Director of the SHC, explained that there are three options for renovations: 2 buildings, 2 coops; 2 buildings, 1 coop (one kitchen facility and a less extensive kitchen in the other); and 1 building, 1 coop (the most innovative option, which involves connecting the building entirely to create more rooms in the middle).There are many coops around the country, including all of the Ann Arbor coops, that have between 20-50 members. While this does seem like a lot of people, based on the successes of other coops, it is a feasible option. Holly Jo said that if either of the 1- coop designs are chosen, the SHC will interview other coops to understand what goes into a coop of that size, and how to make it work. One benefit of creating a larger coop is that the addition that connects the houses will increase the number served by the SHC and given affordable housing. SHC Coop Map (Bower is #10)
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There are many exciting prospects that the addition of this house would bring to the table. Most importantly, adding a new house would increase the SHC’s ability to fulfill its mission of providing affordable housing that is inclusive and cooperative. The SHC is a huge asset to the East Lansing community. According to Erik, it provides affordable rent that is only 56.5% of what has been deemed the “Fair Market Rent” in East Lansing. A single bedroom (without house charges) is $435, whereas the Fair Market Rent from 2019 was $770, and with inflation, it rose to $790 in FY 2020 and will rise again to $830 in FY 2021. The last house that the SHC bought and converted into a coop was Phoenix in 1994, and since then the houses that have joined the SHC were existing coop houses that needed the SHC’s financial stability to stay afloat (these houses are Beal, Howland, Rivendell, and The Shire). This means that over a 26 year period, the SHC has not significantly increased the number of affordable community housing options. For this reason, Left Bower is a great opportunity to provide more much-needed housing in East Lansing. A benefit to the SHC that Erik highlighted was that adding an additional home with more SHC members would increase the SHC’s cash flow. Buying Left Bower would provide more annual revenue to put into other areas of the organization. One argument that SHC members have voiced is, “What about the other houses in the SHC? We want more maintenance workers so that the houses can be fixed and maintained in a timely fashion.” This is a very valid concern, and one that I share. However, Holly Jo explained that >50 cents to every dollar you pay goes to the routine maintenance of our properties and property taxes, and the other 50 cents goes toward paying the staff, overhead, and educational trainings. 50% of the budget should be enough to maintain our houses, but the fact still remains that sometimes house repairs take too long. This is not only an internal facilities issue – a big barrier that the SHC faces is dealing with outside contractors’ busy schedules. Many facilities issues must be resolved by an outside contractor, and they are often booked up or prioritize bigger jobs that pay more money. This issue would not be resolved by increasing the SHC’s revenue, but hiring more maintenance workers would nonetheless cut down on wait times for fixes that they are qualified to perform. Holly Jo explained that the only way to increase the budget is to increase revenue, and to do that you would either increase the assessment (the amount that each member pays per month) or increase the number of assessments (have more rooms for members to pay into the SHC monthly). The SHC wants to continue to provide affordable housing, so they do not want to increase the amount that members pay each month. This means that the only way to increase the budget is to expand the SHC by adding a new coop – Left Bower! Once renovation costs are covered and revenue increases, there will be more money in the budget to hire more maintenance workers and get maintenance projects done in a timelier manner. It is very unlikely that another opportunity as conveniently arranged, with a house in such good condition, will come around again, so we should jump on it! We will continue to keep you informed about this project as it progresses. Members of the SHC, particularly members of Bower, are encouraged to ask questions about this project and provide their own ideas and feedback so that this process can be collaborative. Thanks to Holly Jo Sparks, Jim Jones, Erik Berg, and SHC members who replied to the google survey for providing the information for this article! Keep the questions coming, and look out for a follow up article with more answers to your questions in the coming months!
Interview with Vincy D
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By Danny Olweean from Bowie Vincie D are a Lansing-based band of veteran co-op rockers! Ian (Vocals, Guitar), Vince (Bass) and Cam (Drums) sat down (over zoom) to discuss Quarantine, Mosh Pits, and the Companionship of David Bowie. You guys used to be Vinci D and the Sensations, so what happened to the Sensations? Ian: There were a few different things with that. Around that time is when our first drummer, Ali, was leaving the band. Once Cam was coming in we were looking to rebrand. People would already ask enough about how to spell our name, so the “and the sensations” was just too much. We needed to shorten it and make it something easier that was just, “Vinci D”, something quick. Vince: We were debating it, and decided to change before we released anything official and put it on Spotify. It’s a lot slicker off the tongue and… Ian: Slicker off the tongue! Vince: I like that saying. It makes me a little uncomfortable but… Ian: Same! Vince: Rolls of the tongue! Rolls of the tongue! Ian: Very different vibe! You guys all have nicknames. Vince is Vinci D, which I’m guessing is short for Vincent Dincent. But Ian, you’re Jelloman and Cam you’re Captain Safari, where did those names come in? Ian: Jelloman was from… I had a weird medical condition going on for a while where my neck was super, super stiff, I could barely move my head. They prescribed me these pretty intense meds I had to take for it, like muscle relaxers and pain meds to get it under control. There was a while where I could hardly function because I was so relaxed. We started calling me Jelloman because I would say things like “Pick me up! I’m Jelloman I can’t do anything!” We would have practices during that time and I would say “I’m Jelloman I can’t right now, I’m screwed.” Captain Safari is just something I came up with for Cam. Cam: Yeah because of that picture. Ian: It’s basically this picture of Cam with a big round safari hat. You have two albums out as of now, would you say there’s a difference between the two in how your band functioned or sounded? Cam: There’s a difference! Ian: Yeah Cam’s on the second album but not the first. That was a major difference. Really our whole writing process changed when Cam joined. We tried to put more thought into the songs. When we were playing at first, we were doing whatever was natural, but a lot of the songs weren’t very deep or thought out. Now we’re more in an actual writing process. We talk about what we want to add and why we want to add it. Also, I put a LOT more time into the lyrics of the second album. In the first album, the lyrics
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were written in the studio that day, some of them were ad-libbed, it was just “whatever, they sound great!” For the new ones, we were a lot more intentional with our music. Cam: On top of that, the music we are writing now is a lot more developed than even the music we’ve just released. Ian: Yeah I would say definitely right now, we have close to half an album right now, and we’re really starting to do a lot more time signature changes, and chop up flow to make them feel a lot more unique. Vince: There’s a lot of nonsense on that first album. The song Dirty Grapes is literally named that because we bought a bag of grapes from Kroger, and they were really dirty. We had to wash them a lot in the studio. So we named it dirty grapes because we didn’t have a name for it. Ian: They were literally the DIRTIEST grapes I have ever seen. When people say “Wash your fruit,” this was the moment where I thought “These people are serious, you gotta do this. These grapes are disgusting!” I guess quarantine has been good to you guys then! Ian: It was definitely tough in that first bit. Obviously there were a few months there where we weren’t able to physically get together and practice. But we’ve been using this time just to write. Instead of having practices prepping for shows, we’ve just gotten together and had fun writing music. Cam: There’s definitely something different about pre-pandemic practices. We want to write music, but we can only get together one day this week so let’s just practice the music we’re gonna play on Friday. But now, we ain’t got ANYTHING going on! Let’s write! Vine: For the past 2 ½ years, it’s been 75% “Let’s prep for this show” and maybe throw a few new songs in there. But now it’s been time to just relax and roll with it. Is there a particular co-op party you remember fondly? Vince: Our first Bowie show we played was memorable, because it was the first time someone outside of our immediate group was saying “That was great guys, that was incredible!” Ian: Honestly, every co-op show we’ve played… it’s hard to pick a few favorites because they’re always so high energy. We’re spoiled from them, because when we go from a co-op show to playing at a venue, it’s such a different vibe. There are so many times where I look out and don’t see people moving and dancing, and get discouraged. I think playing co-ops all the time kinda spoils you because everyone is having fun and everyone wants to listen to music. So I take it you like the Mosh Pits right? Ian: I used to almost strictly use the “Cane Mic”. It was a tv tray with a mic that was hairtied to the top of the cane. As the shows got more and more intense, I had to stop using it because all it took was a little tap on the TV tray and cane would fall over. Vince: The front row of people at co-ops are the real heroes. Ian: They have saved my life. Last question, and you can answer this however you want to. You name four bands in your Spotify bio as influences: David Bowie, the Strokes, Vampire Weekend, and Beach House. Now…. I don’t know if you’re aware of the game MFK, but that PLUS one of them will be the only thing you can listen to for the rest of your life. Vince: Tough. Cam: Oh wow. Vince: I think… Listen to the rest of my life would be Beach House…. I’m in between marrying and fucking David Bowie… Ian: Oh I’d fuck David Bowie for SURE!
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Vince: But see, I’d want to marry him because I feel like he’d make a great companion for life. I think I gotta kill the Strokes. Vampire Weekend… they’d be fuck. Wow that was tough. Ian: I think I’d probably be the same. Cam: I think the same for marry, but I’d probably kill Beach House. And Vampire Weekend for listen… fuck The Strokes (in a good way). Ian: I feel like…. I just don’t know. The numbers are running through my head. Vince: The meme of that woman! Catch Vincie D on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube, or wherever else you listen!
Sustainability Spotlight: Solar Panels Installed at Bowie By Casey Paskus from Bower, Americorps VISTA While SHC members are out soaking up this late September sun, the SHC has some new members who are also enjoying the sunlight - solar panels have been installed at Elsworth/David Bowie Memorial House!! Those bad boys will produce 13,140 kWh of energy over the next year based on a daily average of 7.5 hours of sun. Ths solar panel project has been years in the making, and started with one passionate co-op member. Sam Berndt, a member of Bowie House from 2016-2018, founded the SHC Green Energy Initiative in 2017 with the vision of a carbon-neutral cooperative. He was joined by Jimmy Coyer, Marshall Clabeaux, Nikki Phan, Sydney Baade, and Evan Morton, with help from staff members Mike McCurdy, holly jo Sparks, Nola Warner, Mc Rothhorn. Through advocacy, education, and lots of hard work, Sam and his team received funds for the solar panel project from the SHC Board of Directors, the Islamic Society of Greater Lansing, the University Lutheran Church, the Haslett Community Church, and many others through GoFundMe and the greater Lansing community. I spoke with Sam over the weekend to capture his reaction to the solar panel installation. He joined me on Zoom from his place in Los Angeles, as California wildfires raged just 4 blocks away. This exchange has been edited for brevity and clarity!! Sam had tons of great info to share, so much that I couldn’t fit it all in this article. If you want the full transcript, email me at paskusca@msu.coop! How did you feel seeing the pictures of the [solar panel] installation on Bowie?
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That project took so much work. I worked on that everyday for a year and a half, so when I saw [the pictures] it almost closed a chapter of my life. It was like a feeling of accomplishment, and - I don't know. It honestly reactivated that portion of me that I lost for some time, and it felt truly truly amazing. I just can't wait to see what the future of the SHC holds in regards to sustainability and green energy. Just thinking that this is like one chapter in hopefully a much larger saga is just - it just really lifts my heart! Why solar panels, how did this idea get started? I joined Bowie and the SHC and at the first house meeting we were going over our jobs list or whatever, and the first thing on the list was the Board Position. And as they described [the board position] I was like, "wow that sounds like a lot of work, it's kind of intimidating, I don't know if I want to do that." And I kind of feel like everybody at the house felt the same way, and it kind of hit me like, "I've been wanting to help solve the climate crisis now for some time, and now I'm just gonna let this opportunity just pass me by when I have this chance to actually do something or help stop the climate crisis?" So I quickly raised my hand and was like "hey actually I do want to run for the board position!" It was really a defining moment for me in my life at that point! I ended up going to the Board Retreat, and every new board member has to go to the Board Retreat at the beginning of every year just to understand Robert’s Rules, history of the SHC, how this all came to be. And up until this point I hadn't really told anyone that the reason I really wanted to be on the board was because I wanted to do some sort of green energy initiative. But we were in the middle of a presentation on the history of the SHC, it was given by Jim Jones (Jim Jones was foundational in growing student housing cooperatives across the country, especially in the 70’s and 80’s). And he was going over the acquisition of some houses and that got me thinking like, how do you actually get money for these houses? How do we expand? It never really dawned on me that the SHC takes in our dues. But he kinda explained that to me, like "yeah money is coming in and out of the cooperative and you as a cooperative member choose how that money gets spent, cause you're a part-owner/" And at that moment I was like, "alright, we're getting solar panels!" That must have taken so much persistence, cause it was years that y'all were working on [the solar panel project], right? We started the Green Energy Initiative, the Sustainability Committee, we ended up meeting with local organizations like the Meridian Township Energy Savings program. We [spoke with] the Lansing Board of Water and Light and got a $50,000 grant to improve energy efficiency, which we ended up using to increase [the SHC’s] energy efficiency by about 15%. We worked with a bunch of different solar contractors, found a lot of issues in the infrastructure of Bowie which is why it got remodeled - there were electrical fires - it was a big deal! There were a lot of things that went into this project. The roof had to get redone - and it was just a bunch of work, and it all accumulated from just having an idea and wanting to do something, make a difference, and then committing to that and not giving up even when it got hard. How did you convince or persuade or show other people that the solar panels were an important project? ‘Cause you were making connections all over town, you got donations from some local religious groups too, and you talked to the board and got some funding from them. What was that process like?
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I think deep down everyone has some form of climate anxiety - maybe that's just me projecting, as a wildfire is 4 miles from my house! So I truly believe that everyone has some form of climate anxiety deep down where they know the climate crisis exists, and they don't know what to do about it. ...That is a huge barrier to entry because, unless you have the call to action, it's really difficult to actually make anything happen. I mentioned earlier that I brought it up at the board retreat and got a few members signed up, and at that point people were pretty interested... from there, just having the motivation and having the persistence to continue the project despite obstacles, and just asking people for advice and going to people with your idea and seeing if they can help improve and bringing people into the mix and making it not just your thing but make it everyone's thing, and building up a committee around it and having a shared vision. ‌ being part of something like the SHC where you have ownership in your building, in your organization, is really an empowering feeling because you really do have control over what's going on there! And if you choose to empower people with you, you can completely change the way that everything works. It's up to you and it's up to your friends to come together and organize and make that happen! *** Sam concluded our conversation by calling on current SHC members to create and vote on a new Global Ends policy that members will actively fight climate change, and updating SHC code to include a VP of sustainability as well as a Sustainability Committee. The last bit of inspiration I will share from Sam is a call to action for all SHC members to organize against climate change: “We need to organize and we need to fight back! Because if we don't, we are putting the rest of humanity on the line. We are the first generation to feel the effects of climate change, and we are the last generation to have the chance to stop it. It is up to you, it is up to me, it is up to all of us to organize and fight back! So the biggest call to action I can ask of everyone is to join Sunrise Movement, join Extinction Rebellion, create your own organization to fight your own way, but do whatever it takes to combat the climate crisis. So let's organize together, and let's beat this thing!â€? Huge thanks to Sam for this interview, and for all his hard work to make the Bowie solar panels a reality!
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DIY Home Ownership: Interview with VPF Nikki Phan By Duncan Begley from Vesta
Would you mind introducing yourself to our readers who might not know you? I’m Nikki Phan from Rivendell (She/Her). This is my second term as Vice President of Facilities, with an interim term as President. How has the Coronavirus affected facilities’ ability to maintain and repair our houses? Mike McCurdy (our maintenance coordinator) took a furlough to be the primary caregiver in his house. He’s come back part time but can’t go into houses and risk exposing himself and his family which is something the board has determined is a reasonable precaution. Right now he’s working on the fire exits. Josh is the only one going into houses now. The facilities committee has only been having online meetings. Overall, it’s been hard but we’re starting to catch up. Things are feeling more normal. We’re getting through the list and have new processes. Did you know a lot about facilities going into the job? How much did you have to learn on your feet? About three quarters I learned on my feet. I had a good bit of experience going in though. My job is less about actual knowledge and more how to organize people and communicate. Making sure things get fixed in time. What level of severity do you think people should be able to fix things themselves, have to go to their facilities officer, and have to put in a maintenance request? It’s different for every house. For example, getting gutters cleaned: Bowie is a three-story house so it’s unreasonable for them to do it themselves. There are no real standards, just encouraging members to act on their own. If you feel comfortable doing something, then do it. Obviously, we don’t ask members to work on electricity or fix a broken toilet. We have contractors for those. Some things every house can do as we go into winter is making sure to empty your lawn mowers of gas and make a plan for snow. You don’t need to put salt down if you get someone to shovel early enough. I put a poll up on the SHC Facebook and many of the complaints I received were related to leaks: leaky faucets, leaky toilets, leaks down walls, flooding basements. What would you say is the first thing someone should do when they notice leaking or flooding? You should first figure out where the water is coming from and if it’s a pipe shut off the valves. Next determine how fast it’s leaking. If it’s a drop every few minutes then that’s fine compared to a steady stream. In which case you should get a hold of me right away. Thank you for your time. Was there anything else you wanted to say before we end the interview? I want to remind everyone: each house has a maintenance budget and savings. It’s reasonable to spend your own money if you need a job done quick. Often you can get reimbursed for it. For example, Raft Hill
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ordered a new stove and Beal’s washer was broken so they fixed it themselves with ordered parts and YouTube videos. Just do what you can, each to their own ability. *** I’d like to thank Nikki for letting me interview her and for all the advice she gave. You can reach her at her email facilities@msu.coop. Now then, onto the main article. I wanted to start with something easy, so this month we’re going to talk about how to unclog drains.
How to fix a clogged or slow-draining drain Lots of things go down the various drains in a house. Food debris, soap, dirt, hair, and occasionally other items. As these things accumulate, they impede and sometimes completely stop the drain from being able to, well, drain. Being able to fix a clogged drain is something every homeowner should be able to do, both because it happens to everyone, and because it’s easy once you know how. First: Use a plunger This may be obvious for toilets, but plungers can also be used on showers and sinks. They even make special shorter plungers for sinks that are easier to handle and prevents having to use the same tool on a toilet and sink. You should start by filling whatever basin with enough water to submerge the head of the plunger and then place it over the drain opening. Maintain a seal and plunge up and down rapidly, keeping the plunger under the water level. Second: Use boiling water The next step is pretty easy. First, remove any standing water from the basin. Use a cup or pot if completely clogged. Next, pour an entire pot or kettle of boiling water directly into the drain with a steady stream. You might have to do this a couple times. Some people also recommend pouring salt down the drain before the boiling water. Third: Use Drano or other chemical cleaners Drano is a safe and inexpensive way to clear a clog. They have various solutions that are best used in specific scenarios such as toilets, sinks with garbage disposals, kitchen drains, bathroom drains, and others. If you’re looking for something else though I’d recommend a baking soda vinegar solution. ● ● ● ●
Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar Place a rubber stopper over the drain opening Wait 15 minutes Take off the drain cover and run hot water down the drain. Fourth: Use a drain snake
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Every once in a while you come across a clog that nothing short of putting a slender and flexible auger as far down the drain as possible and wiggling it around a lot will fix. Lucky for us, there is a tool called a drain snake that is easily accessible and easy to use. You can get them cheap on amazon or at any home improvement store or even Meijer. If you’re using a snake on a bathtub, it’s always better to remove the cover from the overflow (the thing underneath the faucet on the inside of the tub) and put the snake down there, otherwise the snake might go the wrong direction and not clear anything. Make sure to run hot water down the drain when you finish to clear any small debris.
Handling Anxiety during COVID By Brandon Chew from Toad Lane Michigan State students are spending more time at home this year thanks to precautions brought about by the Coronavirus. At times the stress of having to balance school, work, and staying safe can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips in case one is feeling anxious while studying. 1) Take some deep breaths and take a break. Give yourself at least 5 minutes to yourself. Breathe in as much as you can through your nose and exhale slowly. Do this a few times in order to relax a little bit. 2) Call a distant relative or friend. Everyone is feeling a little lonely during these times. If the stresses of life are getting to you make sure to reach out to someone who loves you in order to remind yourself that there are people out there who are proud of how far you’ve come. 3) Go for a walk. If you’re feeling anxious, a quick walk can help clear your mind. Especially if you have the privilege of being able to walk around a nature preserve. 4) Talk with your housemates. Try to connect with those you’re living with today if you can. You don’t know what they’re going through and a quick conversation can help both of you. 5) Contact CAPS If you think that you are having a mental health crisis, please take advantage of Michigan State’s CAPS (Counseling and Psychiatric Services) program that offers free counseling to all students. Editor’s Note: if you are seeking counseling or psychological treatment but are not an MSU student, look into the MSU Psychological Clinic, a sliding-scale therapy provider that serves students and non-students alike. In the event of a crisis, you can call 5 17-355-8270 24/7 to speak with a CAPS crisis counselor.
New Executive Vice President By Chrystel Lopez from Miles Davis Part of the charm of the MSU SHC is that the organization is partially run by people who live within the houses themselves, like Vice
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President of Education (VPE) and new Executive Vice President (EVP) of the SHC, Emily Tyler. As VPE, Emily works with house education officers to help engage their houses in information through the Pine Press and other avenues. On top of this, she has been recently appointed to take on the role of EVP. “As EVP, I will be next in line to the presidency should Erik ever step down or if something happened to him,” she said. “Mostly what I'll be doing as EVP is supporting Erik wherever he needs it.” Responsibilities for EVP include attending board meetings and helping to plan the All Member Meeting. Though, Emily hopes to tie in her passion for the Pine Press into EVP as well. “Although I really enjoy all aspects of being VPE, I might say my favorite part is putting together and sharing the Pine Press,” Emily said. “To incorporate that into EVP, I might publish EVP or board updates in it in the future.” These positions require extensive hours and work, which Emily had tackled head-on. However, she does value her free time at her home, Vesta. “I really enjoy reading (mostly nonfiction these days), as well as writing in my journal and spending time with my housemates,” Emily said. “I also enjoy writing letters to my friends and talking to my family members over the phone.” In the future, Emily believes that her positions in the SHC will prove to be valuable experience. “Career-wise, I think this role will just be a good experience in leadership, as well as making me comfortable with being a public figure of sorts,” she said. As for what her future entails, Emily plans to further her education at the University of Chicago. “I was accepted [at UoC] for this school year but deferred my admission because of COVID,” Emily said. “After grad school, I'd like to get involved in community organizing work or maybe editing and publishing.”
Fall Movie Marathon By Leah Rogers from Vesta, Vice President of Membership As Halloween approaches, consider this list of Membership Committee’s favorite fall-time movies for a fun and spooky Haus Movie Night! Beetlejuice (1988) A Halloween classic. Beetlejuice tells the tale of a recently deceased couple who haunts their former home and an obnoxious poltergeist named Betlegeuse, who tries to scare away new inhabitants. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, and Winona Ryder, Beetlejuice is a must-watch this Halloween season! Wait… did I just say that three times? Little Shop of Horrors (1986) Little Shop of Horrors is the film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical comedy of the same title. Little Shop of Horrors tells the tale of a florist shop worker who discovers that his Venus Flytrap can speak, and demands to be fed human blood. The film is available on Hulu for your viewing pleasure. Scream (1996) Matthew Lillard. Need I say more?
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Corpse Bride (2005) The Corpse Bride is a stop-motion animated film directed by Mike Johnson and Tim Burton, that follows the struggle of a groom-to-be on his quest to return to the land of the living after unintentionally marrying himself to his corpse bride, Emily. Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) Grab your fishnets, red lipstick, and toast and get ready to dive into this cult classic. For those of you who don’t know, RHPC tells the story of a young engaged couple whose car breaks down near a castle. When they enter the castle seeking help, they encounter a conglomerate of colorful characters, and chaos ensues. The Shining (1980) My housemate said that the book was better. Guess you’ll just have to watch it and see for yourself. Sweeney Todd (2007) Johnny Depp plays the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, who seeks to enact revenge on those who have wronged him. With the help of his neighbor, Mrs. Nellie Lovett, Todd reopens his barbershop on Fleet Street, and quickly descends into madness when his initial plan for revenge fails. Sleepy Hollow (1999) Johnny Depp (what can’t he do?) plays Ichabod Crane, a detective from New York City, called to investigate a series of decapitations in the Village of Sleepy Hollow. Locals suspect that these murders are being carried out by a mysterious Headless Horseman, an undead mercenary from the American Revolutionary War, who rides around on a black steed in search of his missing head. Halloweentown (1998, 2001, 2004, 2006) In the spirit of democracy, take a house vote for which one to watch. All are available with a Disney+ subscription.
Autumn Recipe: Roast Cauliflower over Seasoned Rice By Noah Walker from Harambee Ingredients for roasted cauliflower: Cauliflower sliced in florets ¼ cup of Neutral vegetable oil (use less if using oven) Salt and Pepper Garlic Powder Dried Mint (eyeball) Dried Thyme Oregano Dried Basil Cinnamon Nutmeg Allspice Ground cloves Turmeric Cayenne Pepper (small amount) Juice of one Lemon
Ingredients for seasoned yellow rice: 2 cups of white rice 4 cups of water Liberal pinch of salt Cracked Black Pepper Juice of one Lemon Garlic Powder Cinnamon Nutmeg Allspice Ground Cloves Cardamom Cayenne Pepper (small amount)
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For Cauliflower: -Cut cauliflower into florets and get rid of the stem at the bottom. -Add a fairly liberal amount of salt. -Eyeball the amount of dried herbs that you want to add on the cauliflower. -In a separate container or measuring cup, add the juice of one lemon and combine with garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground clove, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. -If baking, set temperature to about 450 degrees Fahrenheit -Set cauliflower in baking pan and bake for 30 minutes. -If you’re in a pinch, you could also cook the cauliflower in a wok at medium high heat with some vegetable oil. This should take about ten minutes. For seasoned rice: -First get rid of the starchy water until it is clear (ideally, rinse 3 to 4 times). -Add the four cups of water and put the pot to a boil. -When it starts to boil, reduce it to low heat, set a timer for 20 minutes, and add a liberal pinch of salt, cracked pepper, garlic powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, ground cloves, turmeric, cayenne pepper, and cardamom. -Stir continuously until it turns into a yellow color.
Staying Green during Quarantine By Roz Schaefer from Howland
Sustainability is a key value of the SHC and it is important to reflect as a community with practices we can adopt and maintain throughout the age of RONA (COVID-19). Below is a compiled list of sustainable cleaning practices that SHC houses can adopt in order to stay safe and sustainable! Swap paper towels with reusable rags: How: Buy rags, cut up old towels or T-shirts. It's that easy. Why: Our paper towel waste goes immediately into our landfills. Not to mention, the plastic that the paper towels are sold in will also go into our landfills. There are other means of cleaning without adding more to the giant trash mountains around the world. https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2012/10/12/paper-towels-whats-the-big-deal-anyway/ Make your own sanitizing spray: How: Use a 10:1 water: bleach solution to replace your fancy disinfectants. Buy plastic spray bottles, or even better reuse old spray bottles. Use 5 tablespoons of 5.25- 8.25% bleach for every gallon of water. Mix well and use on surfaces to disinfect. It is important to know that the bleach solution is only active for 24 hours and should be stored in a dark area because UV light may inactivate the bleach. (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cleaning-disinfection.html Why: coronavirus has catalyzed an increase of sanitization and cleaning practices (at least we hope it has). While cleaning is a necessity, the plastic bottle waste contributes greatly to our landfills. Even if your houses are recycling these bottles, reducing is always a better option. Recycling takes energy, can reduce the quality of plastics and can leak toxic chemicals into our water and atmosphere.
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https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2018/04/04/7-things-you-didnt-know-about-plastic-and-recycling/ Swap laundry detergent with detergent sheets: How: y’all are smart, just stop buying laundry detergent and start buying laundry sheets! https://www.sheetslaundryclub.com/ourproducts/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgoDv2tT66wIVxsDACh2Z6Azx EAAYAiAAEgKyl_D_BwE Why: as said above, plastic bottles will fill up our landfills, and even if they can be recycled, will cost additional energy to recycle the bottles properly. If there is an option to not consume or use plastic it is essential that we choose the plastic free option! Swap out your light bulbs for LEDs: How: ...Buy LED lights...again y’all are not dumb! Why: Coronavirus has forced us to spend more time than ever at home and with that is the increased need for illuminated spaces. By swapping our light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs (LED) we will not only be saving our broke asses some money, but we will be doing mother nature right Wear reusable masks: How: you can buy or make your own reusable mask. Instructions for making CDC approved reusable masks are in the link below: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html Why: There are so many reasons why you shouldn’t use disposable masks!! First of all, disposable masks should be reserved for our health care professionals. Secondly, why use a disposable mask when you can make a mask that matches your vibe? POV blue surgical masks are not cute. Additionally, MSU is not allowing disposable masks in classrooms (cloth masks required). Last, but definitely not least, when you can reduce your waste by reusing necessary products, why would you choose not to reuse?
COVID Corner By Emily Tyler from Vesta, Vice President of Education In light of mandatory quarantine orders around East Lansing, our Executive Director holly jo Sparks has been in communication with Linda Vail, public health officer with the Ingham County Health Department. As many of our members already know, a host of medium to large rental houses around East Lansing have been placed under mandatory quarantine due to positive COVID cases associated with those addresses. Most recently, our own Bowie house was placed under mandatory quarantine due to their positive case. holly jo wants us to know what gets you on the mandatory quarantine list. Any house licensed for over 10 residents can be placed on mandatory quarantine if they experience a positive COVID case. What does it mean to be on mandatory quarantine? According to the ICHD website, “Residents of the quarantined properties should remain at home for the next two weeks... People who do not reside in the residence are prohibited from entering the premises unless they are providing an essential service deemed necessary for the immediate health and safety of the residents.” More details can be found on their webstite.
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Holly jo intends to continue communicating with Linda to ensure that we as an organization and community are working with the health department and following any necessary precautions. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank those houses which have submitted their COVID response policies to the SHC for review. The COVID response team has been reviewing them as they come in, and you can expect to hear back with recommendations or suggestions not too long after submitting. If your house has not yet submitted your COVID response policies, please do so soon! If you need any support in developing them at your house, please contact covidteam@msu.coop.
Welcome to the World, Loey May Warner! Nola Warner, our Member Services Coordinator, just had a baby! Meet Lobelia "Loey" May Warner. 7 lbs 11 oz. Born 9/20/20 at 11:05 pm.
************************************************************************************* This publication is made possible by the contributions of MEMBERS LIKE YOU. If you have a submission or idea for the Pine Press, contact Emily at education@msu.coop. *************************************************************************************
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Mental Health Resources 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 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
Thanks for reading <3