What's Up Spartans ? Get the inside scoop on East Lansing

Advice, tips, and tricks to navigate the land of Green & White straight from your fellow Spartans

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Welcome to East Lansing

Letter from the Editor: A friendly welcome to East Lansing and MSU BY RILEY MURDOCK RMURDOCK@STATENEWS.COM

When I first came to East Lansing, I did not imagine calling the city "home" was what I'd be doing a few months down the road. Whenever I tell someone in my family that I'm hanging out at home nowadays I have to clarify which one I mean. This home-away-from-home isn't just a place I happen to be while missing my family. It's almost a separate life. For myself and an endless number of others, East Lansing started as the place where MSU was. A means to an end for my education, where I had to go to get where I'm going. Now I'm halfway through my degree and I really, really don't want to leave. As my first home-away-from-home, East Lansing feels like a gateway to the rest of

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my life. It might just be my perspective, but it's so much more than that. Like life, it's exactly what you want out of it. The campus across the road is not the only place I learn. That place might teach me more about what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life, but East Lansing teaches me how to live in more ways than just being able to survive when I have to buy my own food. It’s teaching me how I want to live. East Lansing is a city that's both as sleepy and electric as you want it to be, simultaneously. For every party, there's an afternoon with a book in a sunny neighborhood, a day on the town or a night of studying. Each day offers the opportunity to do something completely different. You can have it all here, and you can adjust just how much of each kind of experience you want. One of my favorite quotes comes from a man named Peter Russel, who once said “if you don’t like the emotional experience you’re having, change your mind.” In this city, that’s easier done than said.

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It's a perfect place to find out who you are and what you want, and you can make changes to your lifestyle to fit that. Whatever you decide to be, East Lansing is a comfortable fit. For me and I’m sure for a lot of others, as well, high school wasn’t the greatest experience. I spent most of my time wondering when I’ll finally feel like a teenager, bouncing from each attitude and perception and never really settling on who I wanted to be. Like a pinball in life’s giant machine. In a way, getting to East Lansing is what freed me from this. It gave me the freedom to find myself. This town pulses with life, this city oozes character. You're never far from a sunny day or a fun-filled night. When you arrive here with the rest of the Fall 2017 Spartans, you'll find just as much to do in East Lansing as on campus, and you'll see hundreds of people doing it. In this issue, you'll find information about East Lansing. I hope it will help you get to

know this town better. You’ll meet important individuals in the city’s government. You’ll read unique perspectives from our writers about their experiences in this town. You’ll learn about current development projects and the issues surrounding them, as well as learn a bit more about the city’s laws. This issue focuses on the City of East Lansing, while next month’s paper will feature stories related to MSU. These issues will be a microcosm of the coverage we provide over the course of the year. We hope you'll stay with us for informative and innovative news during your time as a Spartan. So, on behalf of all of us at The State News, I'd like to welcome you to our city. As future Spartans, we hope you grow to enjoy living here just as much as we do. I couldn't think of a more open, welcoming and comfortable place to begin life on my own. I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.

Contents ONLINE

Nassar prelim exam concludes

Auston Robertson prelim exam

Board of Trustees raises tuition

Ex-MSU doctor Larry Nassar’s preliminary examination hearing concluded June 23

Robertson’s preliminary examination hearing began June 22 for an alleged sexual assault

MSU’s Board of Trustees met June 21 and decided to raise tuition for the 2017-18 school year

VOL . 107 | NO. 60 CONTACT THE STATE NEWS (517) 295-1680

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Riley Murdock

NEWSROOM/CORRECTIONS (517) 295-5149 feedback@statenews.com

CONTENT EDITOR Souichi Terada

GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

DESIGN EDITOR Alexea Hankin PHOTO EDITOR Jon Famurewa

COLOPHON The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday and Thursday during the academic year. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community. Additional copies $0.75 at the business office only. State News Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation. Its current 990 tax form is available for review upon request at 435 E. Grand River Ave. during business hours. Copyright © 2017 State News Inc., East Lansing, Michigan

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THE STAT E NE WS

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Welcome to East Lansing

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CATA buses come and go from the CATA Transportation Center. During the school year, students can purchase bus passes for unlimited access to the CATA bus system for the semester. Multiple bus routes, such as the No. 30 and No. 31, make it easier for students to travel around campus. Others, like the No. 1 and No. 26, travel off-campus to locations in both Lansing and East Lansing, among other cities. PHOTOS BY KAIYUE ZHANG

Welcome to East Lansing

QUIZ: How well do you know E.L.? 2. Which name(s) were in the running for the city until East Lansing was decided? A. Collegeville B. Bird Center C. College Park D. All the Above 3. How far is East Lansing from Downtown Lansing? A. 6 miles B. 4.5 miles C. 3.8 miles D. 2.6 miles 4. How many businesses are there in Downtown East Lansing? A. 128 B. 185 C. 204

5. In what year did East Lansing stop being a dry town and allow the sale and possession of alcohol? A. 1964 B. 1968 C. 1930 D. 1953

9. What is East Lansing's tallest building? A. East Lansing Marriott at University Place B. Charles Street Garage C. Division Street Garage D. The Residences (HopCat building)

6. Which came first, MSU or the City of East Lansing? A. MSU B. East Lansing

10. Who designed the first housing plots in East Lansing? A. W.J. Beal & Rolla C. Carpenter B. George Lahanas C. Lou Anna K. Simon D. Tom Izzo

7. In what year did the East Lansing Film Festival begin? A. 1983 B. 1997 C. 1967 D. 1975 8. What is East Lansing’s permanent resident population? A. 48,579 B. 35,700 C. 60,342 D. 51,071

BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI

Answer key: A, D, C, B, B, A, B, A, D, A

1. When was East Lansing incorporated? A. 1907 B. 1923 C. 1850 D. 1915

The crowd gathers during the East Lansing Art Festival on May 21. How much do you know about East Lansing? Take the quiz to find out! PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG

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Welcome to East Lansing

Moped policy rolled into 2-year plan BY CASEY HARRISON CHARRISON@STATENEWS.COM

Changes have been made to the university's new moped parking policy. It now requires shifts to be implemented in two yearlong phases, MSU Police announced Wednesday. Phase one requires all students to purchase a $50 moped permit from the MSU Parking Office. Phase two requires mopeds to be parked in designated areas, which takes effect during the 2018-19 academic year, according to a release by MSUPD. When the policy is in full effect, mopeds will be prohibited to park at bike racks on campus. Rather, there will be designated parking areas for mopeds located around campus. Starting in the fall semester, moped operators are recommended to walk their mopeds to bicycle racks, as they are

not permitted to drive on sidewalks. “Requiring the moped permits is phase one of the transition to prohibit mopeds from being allowed to park at the bike racks on campus due to the dangers of mopeds driving on the sidewalks," MSUPD Public Information Officer Cpt. Doug Monette said. "The transition of requiring mopeds to park in the designated moped parking areas on campus is expected to take effect during the 2018-19 academic year." According to the release, drivers who choose to park in a metered or pay-by-plate parking area are not required to register their moped. Monette said the new regulation is part of the Move Safe campaign, which focuses on informing motorists and pedestrians about different safety measures while walking, biking or operating a motor vehicle. Monette also said come the

Mopeds are pictured on June 13 at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

beginning of the fall semester, mopeds will first have to be registered with the Secretary of State before they can be given permits by the university. After phase one has been in effect for a whole month, Monette said tickets will be issued to unregistered mopeds that are parked at bike racks. "Warning tickets will be writ-

ten to unregistered mopeds for the first month of the Fall 2017 (semester) which is August 30, 2017 - October 1, 2017," Monette said. "Starting October 2, tickets can be written to unregistered mopeds and mopeds can be towed for outstanding six unpaid parking tickets, or more." The new regulation is in

response to a recommendation made by the All University Transportation Committee and feedback received from students who submitted a proposal at the summer AUTTC meeting, according to the release. Some students believe the new policy is just another way for MSU Parking Services to generate more revenue. A petition on change.org has received over 5,100 signatures to repeal the policy in its entirety. The petition has not yet been updated to address the new two-phase rollout. "MSU police will not allow students to park their mopeds at bike racks," Jacob Viazanko, the creator of the petition, wrote on the petition's description. "Instead, they will have limited moped parking lots in which owners will be required to purchase a permit, just another way to squeeze a dollar out of MSU students. The main advantage of having a moped

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is the ability to park it at a bike rack, and that right should not be taken away from students." ASMSU President Lorenzo Santavicca told The State News the policy was able to be rolled out in two separate phases because of student government's negotiations with administrators. According to Santavicca, not all administrators were even aware of the issue. Regardless of what students think, Monette said change is needed to match similar policies of other Big Ten institutions. "The change is necessary to promote pedestrian safety and provide needed bike parking space at the bike racks," Monette said. "One of the things that we try to do is make campus is a safe place and part of that area is to make sure the sidewalks (are) a safe place for the pedestrians to walk on." READ MORE AT STATENEWS.COM

Welcome to East Lansing

Chief Murphy retires after 30 years of service BY CASEY HARRISON CHARRISON@STATENEWS.COM

Over 30 years ago, Jeff Murphy arrived at the East Lansing Police Department, eager for his first job in law enforcement. He was unaware he would eventually climb the ranks to become the city's Chief of Police. Originally, he thought ELPD was just a temporary gig so he could move back to his hometown of Grand Rapids. After leaving the force, that's just what he did — albeit three decades later than anticipated. Ending his tenure in celebration earlier this month, Murphy has taken a new job back in Grand Rapids as the Director of Security for MSU's College of Human Medicine research facility. Looking back at his time with the ELPD, Murphy said he quickly learned how cut-throat policing could really be. On his first day, Murphy and another officer responded to a call regarding a troubled student at East Lansing High School who was holding a knife up to the principal's neck. Murphy worked his way up from a patrol officer to multiple supervisor positions with the East Lansing Jail, the Special Response Team and the Crime Scene Investigation Unit while climbing the ranks from sergeant, lieutenant,

captain and deputy chief all the way to the top. Now that he's retired from police work, Murphy will no longer have to direct police operations on welcome weekend, big game days or riots with burning couches. Instead, he'll trade it all in for the leisures of kayak rides with his wife of 10 years, Danielle, and vacations with his family. "I'm excited," Danielle Murphy said. "I'm excited for him to do something different. He's had a wonderful career with East Lansing Police, but it will be a challenge and a nice change of pace for him to do something with MSU. It seems like he hasn't even started, but MSU is really excited to have him on board." Murphy claims he still loves the daily vigor of police administration and what he called a "contact sport-type job," but wanted new challenges to keep him on his feet. But retiring two years into the job wasn't something that Murphy said crossed his mind when he first took the job. Rather, the opportunity to work with MSU seemed to be the best route for him, despite throwing a wrench in what he called his, "fiveyear plan." "It is hard to leave just in the respect of, there's more that I planned on doing," Murphy said. "Instead of two years, I planned on being here three, four, maybe five years. So

you kind of have that five year plan and then all of a sudden something's in the middle of it and then it makes sense to leave.” However, what Murphy was able to accomplish in his two years as Chief of Police will have a long impact, according to members of the East Lansing City Council. Murphy strived to expand ELPD's transparency protocols in an era where Murphy says the public is holding officers increasingly accountable. "He really set a culture of professionalism

and fairness and how we do our jobs," East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas said at Murphy's retirement ceremony. "I think that those are things that (will) serve us well for years to come, that set us on the right course." Expanded mandates for officer body cameras, along with community outreach programs like public forums and neighborhood meetings to gauge and enhance the public's perception of the police were all initiatives emphasized by Murphy.

East Lansing’s Chief of Police Jeff Murphy laughs as he listens to a speech during his retirement ceremony on May 30 at East Lansing Hannah Community Center at 819 Abbot Rd. Murphy was honored for his 30 years of service with the East Lansing police department.

East Lansing’s Chief of Police Jeff Murphy and his wife Danielle Murphy receive gifts during Jeff Murphy’s retirement ceremony on May 30 at East Lansing Hannah Community Center at 819 Abbot Rd. PHOTOS BY: JON FAMUREWA

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Welcome to East Lansing

COLUMN: A guide to adjusting to East Lansing, your new home BY MILAN REVELS MREVELS@STATENEWS.COM

I bet your feelings for college are all mixed up right now. I would compare it to throwing a bunch of ingredients into a blender and hoping for a really good smoothie; except that smoothie is going to have to last four, maybe five years. This third-year Georgia native felt the same way. Before I came to MSU for my orientation, I had only been here one time — a tour in the middle of one of the worst winters Michigan had seen in a decade. Fun, right? Not exactly. Nonetheless, I kept telling people that I felt more "at home" in East Lansing than I did at

any of the nine southern universities I visited, despite knowing nothing about anything off-campus. I knew everything about campus, I had taken so many virtual tours online that I began to tell myself, "stop, before you get tired of the school before you get there." However, the neighboring city of East Lansing was one big question mark to me, just as I'm sure it is to many out-of-state students. My gift to you: I'm going to tell you about East Lansing and Lansing. Downtown East Lansing is convenient because it's literally across the street from campus. You'll find a majority of the city’s popular restaurants, stores and more just a walk from North campus and Brody neighborhood. "Freshman-15" contributors Five Guys and Chipotle are also on Grand River. I'm not sure if this is good or bad, but they're there. The

downtown area is also developing, with more shopping, food spots and off-campus living options coming in the near future. On Grand River, which also turns into Michigan Ave, you'll find MSU Federal Credit Union, Huntington Bank and Chase Bank. It’s helpful to have a bank a couple steps away. Downtown East Lansing itself is rather small. You're in it for as far as you can see the fraternity houses and dorms on each end, then you're out of it. The side of campus closest to Brody will lead you into Lansing, which is home to Sparrow Hospital, plenty of internship opportunities for my political science majors and just about anything else that you would expect to find in a state capital. As someone who lived in Atlanta, a state capital, Lansing is pretty slow for one. If you're coming from a small city, you have nothing

to be worried about. It's also about a five to 10-minute drive and a 30-minute bus ride so you wouldn't end up in the city by accident. On the northeast end of campus is where you'll find the McDonald's and late-night pizza spots. If you hop on the No. 1 bus, or the “Grand River pipeline” as I like to call it, it'll take you to Meridian Mall, Meijer, Best Buy and pretty much anything on both sides of that street. The No. 1 bus goes from campus, to Meridian Mall in Okemos, all the way to downtown Lansing and back to campus. This bus route takes you to everything that is within the proximity of campus. That's pretty much it for the East Lansing and Lansing area need-to-know. I'm going into my third year and still have not fully explored the area. Good things come with time.

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Welcome to East Lansing

Get to know the East Lansing City Council and some city tips, rules Welcome to East Lansing. The city has its own rules and laws to live by, which may be different from your hometown. Below are the members of the East Lansing City Council. While the City Council is not the only major group of people in E.L., it’s a start. To the right, you’ll find rules to know as a freshman at MSU. There are plenty of tips to keep in mind while calling E.L. home. BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI

Tips and Rules: - Parking tickets in E.L. can be costly. If Parking and Code Enforcement, or PACE, issues you a violation, you will often be out $35. Make sure to carefully follow posted rules when parking in East Lansing’s downtown or neighborhoods. - East Lansing allows the use and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana by persons older than 21 years of age on private property. Violators in possession of less than one ounce face a civil infraction fine of no more than $25, community service and/or substance abuse screening. - While MSU bars freshmen from keeping a car on campus, the city of East Lansing offers three parking garages along Grand River Avenue as options. The garages, however, require a renewable monthly permit.

Mayor Mark Meadows

Mayor Pro Tem Ruth Beier

Meadows has served as mayor twice, once from 1997-2005 and again beginning in 2015. Meadows brings years of government service and has helped shape the direction of the city since the late 90s.

Beier holds two degrees in economics, a bachelor’s from MSU and a master’s from Duke University. Beier is in in tune with East Lansing’s economic decisions, often playing a role in shaping the details when it comes to future developments.

Councilmember Erik Altmann

Councilmember Shanna Draheim

Altmann is currently a psychology professor at MSU and has been a resident of East Lansing since 2000. Altmann has been very visibly involved as he appears at many city meetings outside of his requirements.

Draheim brings years of federal government experience to the table, having done environmental work at the EPA and other organizations for roughly 10 years. She was elected in 2015.

Councilmember Susan Woods Woods has been known for her community involvement and is the Founder and Director of the East Lansing Film Festival. Woods and Beier are up for re-election in 2017. T H U RS DAY, J U NE 2 9, 2 01 7

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To the parents of our new Spartans: I am happy to welcome you to East Lansing and to the Spartan community! As the director of sales and marketing for The State News, the local student newspaper in East Lansing, I receive much information regarding the housing market in and around the university, and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of that information with you as early as possible. Michigan State University has approximately 50,000 students, with around 7,000 of those being freshmen, required to live on campus if they are not local. It is a very important decision as to whether to stay on or move off-campus after your freshman year, and 57% of undergrad students end up living off-campus1. In speaking with our housing advertisers over the past year, I’ve heard pros and cons to either option. On Wednesday, October 11, 2017, Michigan State University will hold their annual “Off-Campus Housing Fair”, which is an opportunity to explore potential housing for the 2018-2019 school year2. The State News will publish an issue preceding the event on October 9th with additional information as well. Why did I take a full page of this issue to tell you this? Because your child will likely be calling you within the first few weeks of class to tell you they need to decide where they’ll be living next year, and you shouldn’t be blindsided. There is a day known as “Opening Day”, which is the day leasing begins for apartments, and often, students see this as a deadline for making sure their lives are not ruined by selecting the wrong option. They won’t be. To better prepare you for this fast approaching season, I reached out to our advertisers, both on and off-campus, and asked for their feedback and advice for you as you enter green and white land. Some of their comments are shown below. Additionally, some have chosen to advertise in the surrounding pages in support of this communication. Please take a moment to view their ads, and even go to their websites to familiarize yourself with their offerings in the East Lansing market. The State News is an entirely student run publication mentored by a professional staff, of which I am a member. The paper has been published since 1909 and is a unique representation of student life. I encourage you to follow us on social media and subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of the local environment while your child receives a world-class education. Welcome to the Spartan family! 1 2

liveon.msu.edu/faq/do-i-have-live-campus studentlife.msu.edu/off-campus-housing/2095-2

www.statenews.com The State News

@thesnews

“There is typically a referral bonus at most apartments available and if they get their friends on board they get a monetary reward.” x “When they have their own room/bathroom off campus the studying tends to happen in a more relaxed environment and focus stays strong.”

Michelle Morris Director of Sales and Marketing

statenews

“The top three things about living on-campus are the fantastic food, the true college experience, and the location. Our fight song says ‘on the banks of the Red Cedar’, but how about living there?”

“Will all the houses and apartments be gone if you don't rent one in October? Absolutely not. If you want something that’s in high demand you usually have to get it quickly.” x “Find the most all-inclusive package you can find so there aren’t five separate bills to worry about.”

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“Leasing information can be found online in advance of the signing and is gone over again at the signing.” x “Take advantage of amenities that you don’t have to pay for. Free coffee, gym memberships, hot tub/pool, grills, and having a location near a grocery store instead of the on campus food plan.”

HURRY, LIMITED NUMBER OF ROOMS AVAILABLE! Apply online or stop by our temporary leasing office.

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Welcome to East Lansing

COLUMN: Freshmen, keep the idea of sophomore year housing in mind BY SOUICHI TERADA STERADA@STATENEWS.COM

There's a certain reality every MSU freshman faces soon after they set foot on campus in East Lansing — dorm housing. Whether it be in the isolated realm of East campus or the almost literal island of Brody neighborhood, the stereotypical dorm life movies love to portray is very real. However, the dilemma at hand for freshmen comes just a handful of weeks into the exciting new time known as the Fall semester. You, the newcomer plastered in green and white Spartan apparel, have finally adjusted to college. Or at least you're well on your way. Hopefully. Here's the kicker: right after college and MSU have finally sunk in, you're expected to consider housing options for sophomore year.

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Combing through lists of tips and tricks of freshman year, it's one secret so often forgotten. Freshmen have to choose their living situation for the next academic year just a few MSU football games into their tenure as a Spartan. It’s a weird concept and I whole-heartedly agree. You freshmen are forced to choose who you're going to live with right after making a handful of new comrades. Those individuals, from maybe your dorm floor or that new club you've joined, are one option for your future roommate. Or maybe you want to go the route of your high school friends, granted you have any on campus. If you're an out-of-state or international student with no friends coming in, the hill is just that much steeper for you. Even if you do room with your best friend, who knows if you'll still have that tight-knit bond by the end of the year. The reality of freedom and limited parental supervision proves different for incoming students ­— for better

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or for worse. Sure, you can certainly procrastinate the decision until you inevitably have to decide your fate for sophomore year. However, by then, the housing market has dried up in East Lansing. There are only so many good, cheap options, and those will be long gone if you wait too long. There's always the potential you do find the perfect roommate and you yearn to continue living with them. That's perfect. A classic Ted and Marshall from "How I Met Your Mother" situation — meet your best friend your freshman year and share a roof with them in New York for years. Of course, there's always the other end of the spectrum where you end up hating your roommate. However, running into problems happens even if you go in blind or if you're rooming with your best friend. Sharing close quarters with a person forces you to get to really know them. As I somehow creep into my junior year at

MSU, my one advice to freshmen about housing is to be conscious of it early in the year. I was nearly blindsided until I found three roommates who were willing to deal with my sloppiness. T here a re plent y of opt ion s — ­ t he always-rowdy Cedar Village, a house near Grand River or even returning to the dorms for another year. A myriad of choices are available for the thousands of students East Lansing calls home. The selection process of deciding where you want to live is arguably more grueling than choosing a roommate. With another person, you can voice your displeasures. Pick the wrong housing option and you’re stuck with that lease for a year. Housing will play a massive role in how your college experience goes, but at the end of the day, it's your call. Just make one so you're not stranded without a home for your sophomore year. So Spartans, welcome to MSU. Now hurry up and pick your housing.

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Welcome to East Lansing

Humans of E.L.: A different view

Economic senior Sun Tao is pictured in front of the Student Housing Cooperative Office. Tao lived in a co-op during his time at MSU, where he said the cultural differences were something he struggled with. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG

"I live in a co-op house, where the majority of the residents are American students. We have a house meeting every other week, where members bring up and discuss house issues in a democratic way, but it used to be one of the hardest times for me. It felt awkward and helpless when I didn't know how to be a part of a discussion under a different cultural context. "It is fun to listen to people talk, we can learn much from listening. But it felt different if the only thing I felt I could do is to listen during the entire discussion. How could I build trust and have a sense of belonging in this house if I could not even let myself present my opinions and ideas in my own home? “A more inclusive community requires everyone’s effort.”

“I had so much interest in higher education, always. I’m interested in adult education, how universities work, how we finance education, who gets a chance to get education. So this was very important for me, how people decide, ‘this person would go to higher education and get a degree and this person would not.’ This was a very important question for me. “Since I started in Japan, I saw ... a very different system here in the United States. There, it’s extremely centralized in Japan, and here it’s very decentralized. They’re opposites completely, so that got me interested into this. I was really interested to learn about these dynamics. Access was also important to me, thinking about how you make education accessible for people.”

READ MORE AT STATENEWS.COM

READ MORE AT STATENEWS.COM

Sara Bano, a doctoral student who is originally from Pakistan, shares her opinion about education at the International Center on June 9. Bano came to MSU in 2011 as a Fulbright Scholar and currently studies higher education administration. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG

ST. JOHN CATHOLIC CHURCH & STUDENT CENTER

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Sunday 8:00am, 10:00am, Noon, 5:00pm & 7:00pm

M.A .C

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MARRIOTT

GRA

ND

CHARLES

St. John

PARKING RAMP

GROVE

ABBOTT

Freshman Ignite (September 8) Fall Undergraduate Retreat (October 27-29) Music Ministry - Collegiate Ensemble Evening Student Masses Theotokos Women’s Group LINDEN College Men’s Group Catholics in Greek Life Alternative Spring Break Free Sunday Suppers Bible Studies Respect Life Group Catholic Book Clubs MSU UNION Discernment Groups

MASSES

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

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Mon, Wed, & Fri 12:15pm Tue & Thu 9:15pm

St. John Catholic Church & Student Center 327 M.A.C. Avenue East Lansing, MI

stjohnmsu.org 517.337.9778

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Welcome to East Lansing

The tale of two developments BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI

ABBOT ROAD

SOLSCHANSKI@STATENEWS.COM

PARK DISTRICT The Park District refers to the two blighted buildings on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Abbot Road, as well as parts of the surrounding area. Both buildings have been labeled dangerous buildings by the city of East Lansing and have been wrangled over for more than a decade.

CURRENT LOOK Two buildings labeled “dangerous” by the City of East Lansing.

PROPOSED LOOK

CENTER CITY

GRAN

D RIV

ER AV

A $125 million proposed project by Ballein Management and Harbor Bay Real Estate Advisors which calls for two buildings along Grand River Avenue and Albert Avenue.

ENUE

CURRENT LOOK Many shops, boutiques, bars , restaurants and their adjacent parking lot.

PROPOSED LOOK

-

13-level hotel First floor retail Apartment units Five story condominium Two levels of parking

GRAND RIVER AVE

THE ROAD AHEAD Now that the city has approved the project, actual development will hinge on a due diligence report which will delve into the developer’s financial situation. If the city is satisfied with the findings, the project will go through. If not, the city can back out of the deal.

DEMOLITION BEGINS

2017 16

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-12-story building -First floor Target store -273 rental housing units

-

ALBERT AVE

10-story building First floor retail Five stories of senior housing Four stories of parking

THE ROAD AHEAD The project hinges on capturing a $10 million Michigan Business Tax Credit at the Michigan Strategic Fund meeting on July 25. If the developers cannot capture the tax credit, the developers may back out, Mayor Mark Meadows said.

COST

$125 MILLION THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2 01 7

Welcome to East Lansing

COLUMN: East Lansing has become a home away from home overseas BY KAIYUE ZHANG KZHANG@STATENEWS.COM

I come from a big city; a city that has many times been the capital of my country over a thousand year period. Xi’an, China has a population of 8.7 million, which is 76 times that of Lansing’s population — and 179 times of East Lansing’s. Before I came to East Lansing, I thrived on changes around me. I don’t have strong connections with my family, so I thought it wouldn’t be hard for me to live in a whole new city by myself. “How could it be hard, just eat and sleep, that’s all I need,” I told myself. The first two weeks after orientation went fine, because I only went to places on the booklet and only ordered things I knew the names of. Then problems started to arise. Not only because I ate the same thing for the two weeks, but also because I have to interact with people. I have to talk. People say when you get into a new environment, you need to know your place, know yourself and make friends. So that’s what I did. I joined several student groups, such as the Impact 89FM

radio station, Campus Choir and a band. The people there usually have similar interests with me and that’s how I started making friends. I became an Intercultural Aide at MSU and met a group of wonderful people. It made me feel much more confident and sure about what I will be. By catching all these chances to apply myself, I learned and also improved my professional skills as a journalist. After what I experienced, I believe that every single thing, every little effort you make will be paid back to you one day. When I get out of my comfort zone and have my own life, good things start coming to me. That’s also when I started feeling just how amazing this city is. The diverse population here is something I’ve never seen in my entire life. It’s really amazing how different types of people in East Lansing get along with each other and how many foreign restaurants are in a such small place. It feels like you could travel to different countries by walking down the streets of East Lansing or MSU. I met so many different people from so many different cultures and learned about their culture from them, which is so different than just reading a book or watching a drama television show. The people I have met in East Lansing and MSU have become

Doctoral student Mengying Sun, left, and doctoral student Deliang Yang, right, pose for a photo during the third annual hackathon on Jan. 21, 2017 at Wells Hall. Hackathon is an event where students are invited to create projects utilizing technology available to them. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

a part of my family. We eat together, share our cultures together and support each other every second of the day. What I experienced and what I felt will always be a part of me. East Lansing has become one of my homes, and it always will be.

Resources in the Neighborhoods MSU Neighborhood Engagement Centers offer a wide variety of resources to help you with everything from math to staying healthy!

BS Economic Geography BA Human Geography BS Environmental Geography BS Geographic Information Science

Resources Include: Neighborhood Academic Advising

Chemistry Help Room Health Clinics

Writing Center (WC) ITS Computer Help Desk Yoga, Zumba, Cardio Kickboxing, and other fitness classes Math Learning Center (MLC)

MSU Libraries Help Multi-Racial Unity Living Experience (MRULE) Social Science Help Room

Career Counseling Economics Help Room

And more!

Visit neighborhoods.msu.edu for the complete resource schedule in your neighborhood!

Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

geo.msu.edu

MSUGeography

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@GEOatMSU

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Welcome to East Lansing

Food around the world, EL style BY KAIYUE ZHANG KAZHANG@STATENEWS.COM

East Lansing is home to plenty of new and exciting eateries featuring more global food for those curious to expand their palettes. Here, The State News introduces just a few of them within East Lansing and nearby Lansing.

Alicia’s Authentic Mexican Deli & Catering

Naing Myanmar Family Restaurant

3308 S Cedar Lansing, MI

5025 N Grand River Lansing, MI

Alicia’s Authentic Mexican Deli & Catering is a Mexican restaurant opened in 2008. The owner, Alicia Gonzales, has been cooking her specialty Mexican dishes for years.

Naing Myanmar Family Restaurant is an East Asian restaurant opened in 2013 by a married couple, Moe Israel and Mi Thanda from Burma.

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Hagadorn

Fun for the Whole Family!

Spartan Ave.

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Grand River

Mon-Fri: 10-7 • Sat: 10-5 • Sun: 12-5

517.351.7240 1353 E. Grand River East Lansing, MI 48823

Welcome to East Lansing Omi Sushi Omi is one of the most popular sushi places near MSU. A great place to go if you are a sushi lover.

Korea House Restaurant Korea House has served classic Korean and Japanese food for more than 15 years.

210 M.A.C. East Lansing, MI

East Cafe Peking Express New cook He Wei is from Xi’an, China. He was cooking back home for years before he came to the U.S. Peking Express is on Grand River.

978 Trowbridge East Lansing, MI

The owner of East Cafe, Zhang Yao, is from Hong Kong. He’s been in the food business for decades. East Cafe tends to serve dishes from Guangdong or the Hong Kong area. 1001 E Grand River East Lansing, MI

611 E Grand River East Lansing, MI PHOTOS BY KAIYUE ZHANG

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Welcome to East Lansing

COLUMN: MSU students, embrace E.L., support your brand new home BY STEVEN MAIER SMAIER@STATENEWS.COM

Before East Lansing, there was only Collegeville. It started as a collection of houses built for the faculty of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, founded in 1855 — the original iteration of that which would become MSU. There was nothing here. Lansing had just been named the new state capital, regardless of the expanse of wilderness that still presided over much of the area. The city of East Lansing wasn't incorporated until 1907. Bottom line, the university, the capital and the sister cities that housed them were raised alongside one another, each relying significantly upon one another along the way. Each play a key role in the economy and sustainability of the area — they are the cornerstones, if you will.

That's why so many people who grow up here bleed green. It's not just about sports and championships, it's about MSU's bedrock role in the community. It is the quintessential college town. It’s a relationship into which every MSU student enters when they first arrive on campus, whether they're aware of it or not. Each incoming class is the new wave that will bolster the university and community. All of them do this economically — with their tuition checks and spending cash — and those who choose to stay end up contributing in other ways. It's a good place to stay. The public school district consistently posts high marks in statewide rankings, and the community boasts a large number of active groups of all types. If someone were to design a city to entrap recent college graduates looking for a somewhat quiet place to settle down and raise a family, it would look a lot like East Lansing. Just as much as this area clings to the university for its own survival, so too does MSU feed off of the resources of its community. The Lansing and East Lansing metro area was the

eighth-most educated "city" in the nation a few years ago, according to Forbes. And neighboring Lansing was just named fourth-best in the Midwest for college grads by Mid-America Careers, based on prevalence of high-paying jobs and low-cost housing. The community offers a lifeline to students looking for a job and a foothold in the real world, including many who carry loan debt. And Lansing, especially, is on the up. The economic reality in the downtown is a far cry from less than a decade ago, when it seemed the only businesses who could turn enough of a profit to survive were marijuana dispensaries — and there were many. Businesses downtown and all over the city are now thriving, and more importantly, hiring. Many MSU students miss the chance to become a part of the community while they're here — and they shouldn't. It's not for everyone, but those who stay will find a community full of Spartan alumni looking to extend a helping hand to a fellow grad. I've painted a rather utopian picture here,

but don't be fooled. East Lansing has plenty of issues to address. These include negotiations with their teachers union and downtown development, the symbol of which are two large buildings that have stood vacant for more than a decade but are supposedly going to be demolished soon. Lansing still has higher crime rates than it would like, and faces potential pitfalls that will come along with its now-rapid development pace. There's a tendency for MSU students to try to create our own, walled-off community while we're here. Let's not. Let's contribute to the place we live, even if it doesn't turn out to be the place we stay. It takes some effort — taking ownership always does. But there's more to see here than apartment complexes, grocery stores and the occasional trip to the mall. Remember, this community needs us. Let's take ownership of our city, because it is our city.

欢迎来到密歇根州立大学

Proud sponsors of CUSA (Chinese Undergraduate Student Association), CSSA (Michigan State University Chinese Students and Scholars Association), and Chinese Entrepreneur Network and Kollaboration. 20

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Welcome to East Lansing

E.L. parks offer chance to escape BY MARCO SAVARIN MSAVARIN@STATENEWS.COM

The meditative labyrinth as pictured on June 8 in Patriarche Park in East Lansing. The East Lansing and Lansing areas offer students a variety of green spaces and parks to relax and leave campus. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

For Spartans who love the outdoors, East Lansing has much to offer. With over 20 parks around the city there is no shortage of benches to relax, paths to walk and courts to play at. Although MSU has sprawling green spaces, gardens and trails, they can be crowded with students. When you want to escape, the parks of East Lansing are a perfect place to find solitude. Located north of campus is the Northern Tier Trail. This trail connects eight parks and recreational facilities ranging from soccer complexes to wetlands. This trail is paved along the entire route and is great for biking, jogging and leisure. The Northern Tier Trail is ideal for nature lovers and outdoorsmen. Valley Court Park located northwest of campus acts as

a venue for many of the city's festivals and markets. During the summer the East Lansing Farmer's Market and Moonlight Film Festival are held here. Valley Court offers tennis and basketball courts as well as open green space for other sporting activities. East Lansing's Patriarche Park is one of the larger parks in the area. This park has open green spaces for picnics and relaxation. It also offers baseball fields, tennis courts and a pavilion for events. If you are looking to unleash your inner child Patriarche Park has a new 1.2 acre playground. If you are looking to spend some time on the water, Lake Lansing Park South is a great place to go. Here you can swim, play beach volleyball and on Friday nights listen to a concert. The park is located in Haslett and used to be an amusement park. On display is the historic carousel build-

ing that pays tribute to the park's past. For the fishermen, the park offers a fishing pier and if you are looking to get out onto the water there are paddle boats available for rent. Farm fields and open roads great for biking, running and Sunday drives are located south of campus. You can see pastures full of horses and dairy cows. If you go far enough south you will come across wetlands that are overflowing in the spring. These are just a few of the parks and green spaces East Lansing has to offer, most of which are accessible by the CATA bus system. Outside of the immediate area of MSU there is a plethora of state and national parks where you can explore all sorts of different environments. From sand dunes to waterfalls to ice caverns, there is nothing that Michigan does not have to offer. You just have to get out and explore.

CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING A SPARTAN!

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Come in and take the latest technology for a spin. We have laptops, tablets, audio & gaming accessories, and more.

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ROOM 110 COMPUTER CENTER 7:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. M - F

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Welcome to East Lansing

MSU’s smoking ban an ‘inspiration’ as East Lansing disallows smoking in public spaces BY JACK SCHAEFER JSCHAEFER@STATENEWS.COM

In December 2016, East Lansing City Council approved a smoking ban. The ban disallows smoking in public places such as parks, plazas and recreational facilities. Councilmember Erik Altmann took the lead on the smoking ban. He said his motivation for doing so can be traced back to one moment. “I was standing in (Ann St. Plaza) last summer and listening to a show,” Altmann said. “Someone lit up, upwind of me, and I didn’t particularly feel like moving. And I thought, ‘I should talk to my councilmember and see if we can do something about this.’ Then, it occurred to me that that was me. So, I decided I would check and see if we had the authority to regulate smoking in our public places … and we decided that we did have that authority.” The ordinance was unanimously approved but does not address e-cigarettes or chewing tobacco.

“I thought, ‘I should talk to my councilmember and see if we can do something about this.’ Then, it occurred to me that that was me.” Erik Altmann East Lansing City Councilmember Violating the smoking ban is considered a civil infraction. The fine for violating the ordinance is up to $100 for first-time offenders. The fine for second-time violators is up to $500 dollars. Altmann said he hopes the ban’s effect is similar to the other smoking regulations from the past. “Things have changed a lot, culturally, in terms of smoking,” Altmann said. “It wasn’t

TIPS TO KNOW - NO SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES SUCH AS PARKS, PLAZAS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES - ORDINANCE DOES NOT ADDRESS E-CIGARETTES OR CHEWING TOBACCO - VIOLATION OF THE SMOKING BAN IS CONSIDERED A CIVIL INFRACTION - UP TO A $100 FINE FOR FIRST-TIME OFFENSE that long ago, when pretty much every bar you walked into everybody was smoking. Then states around the country, including Michigan, started changing their laws to make that ille-

gal. And everyone thought, ‘wow that’s a bold step,’ and then, pretty soon everyone came to like it. And that made bars and other public places a lot more pleasant for a most people to hangout… So it’s a net improvement in terms of people’s enjoyment of social activities.” The ordinance follows MSU’s tobacco ban, which was implemented in August 2016. Altmann said that MSU’s smoking ban was part of the “inspiration” for East Lansing’s smoking ban. While East Lansing cannot regulate its streets and sidewalks as strictly as MSU can, Altmann seemed to feel content with regulating public areas. It’s crucial for the citizens of East Lansing to understand the actual policy, Altmann said. Once that happens, he expects the ban to be just a part of everyday life. “You have to make sure everyone understands what the new policy is,” Altmann said. “I think once everyone is on board with that, it will just become one of those norms people follow and it won’t be a big deal.”

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Welcome to East Lansing

COLUMN: Explore the city of East Lansing, don’t just stay on campus BY: ALEXEA HANKIN AHANKIN@STATENEWS.COM

Soon af ter mov ing into MSU, beginning classes and "settling into" my new stomping grounds of MSU's ca mpus, I of ten fou nd myself at a loss for what to do with my free time — a common freshman problem. There's plenty I could've done — MSU has hundreds of RSOs, events and other services available to students, especially catered to bright-eyed nervous freshmen looking to find their niche. And I did pretty much all of those things, right away. I made new friends, explored new hobbies like when I went ghost hunting once with the MSU Paranormal Society or painted flower pots and mugs at the UAB Craft Nights in the Union. It was great, but I'll be honest with you: after a while, MSU's famously large and beautiful

campus started to feel like a trap. I grew tired of my closet-sized West Akers dorm room, the cafeterias and of many of the things that were happening on campus. I went to a lot of events and did quite a few things freshman year just because a friend invited me and “FOMO” is definitely real back then. I enjoyed very few of those events. Thinking back, I think it was all probably valuable. But there's a lot I would change. I now reside in an apartment a comfortable distance from campus in East Lansing, near a darling nature trail, the East Lansing Library — a space I now prefer over MSU’s libraries — and a few gorgeous parks. I'm a quick drive, bike or CATA ride from the Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing township, the Meridian Mall, Old Town Lansing and the beachfront and trail system of Lake Lansing. And I wouldn't know any of that if I'd always stayed on campus. Live On campus advertisements will tell you that MSU's campus has everything you might need — and they're right, for the most part. But MSU is still limited and will begin to

feel unimaginably small once adjusted to. And that’s when I started learning to explore past the realm of Grand River Ave. I'm not saying you should move off campus as soon as possible or anything like that, but I am saying this: freshmen, invest in a bus pass or make friends with someone with a car. Invest in a bike, if you haven’t already. Explore your surroundings, and figure out what wonder they might hold, even in the tiniest details. Here’s what I did: I took trips Milford St. is one of many residential areas in East Lansing with friends to artsy and histor- available for students. The street is located off of Grand River ic Old Town Lansing — I visit- near MSU’s campus. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA ed the Capitol building in Lanyou're living in a new city. You’re an “adult” sing during protests and events. I went thrifting in East Lansing and hiking now. Figure out what that means for you, and by Lake Lansing. I’ve only been here for two in the meantime, find the quiet and hidden beauty of East Lansing. years, but I’m still exploring. I promise you’ll find something to love. Take a break from the campus lifestyle,

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