State News The

WE L C O M E

SUMMER ROUNDUP Tuition increases and other things that happened this summer while you were away

7 PAGE

LAND OF THE BANNED Many things are restricted on MSU’s campus, from smoking to hammocks — but do you know all of them?

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FOOTBALL SEXUAL ASSAULTS

DID YOU KNOW? Football, men’s basketball, and hockey aren’t the only sports offered at MSU. Read about other Spartan teams gearing up for the school year inside

Have you been following the news of the four former MSU football players accused of sexual assault? Read our timeline inside

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DID YOU KNOW? Lou Anna K. Simon, pictured here, is the president of Michigan State University. She’s the 20th president at MSU and was appointed by the Board of Trustees in January 2005

DID YOU KNOW? There were more than 50,000 students at MSU from all 50 states and 133 other countries in 2016, according to MSU’s website

WELCOME WEEK EDITION 2017 MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

STATE NE WS.CO M

@THESNEWS

Welcome Week Edition

Editor’s note: The State News is the guide to finding your community BY RACHEL FRADETTE RFRADETTE@STATENEWS.COM @Rachel_Fradette

On the first day of college, you make a decision. You decide if that semester will be the greatest of your life or the worst. I chose the latter. I spent the majority of my first semester alone. I was always a loner of sorts and found greater happiness in my own company than with that of others, but this reached a new level. I found fear if I left my dorm room. And solace only in the classroom. I was not an active participant in my own life. I succumbed to a scary conclusion — this is all college can be for me. By second semester, through great surprise, I found my place. I found my group. I still remember the day I was hired at The

State News, but if you had told me the opportunities and successes that followed from walking in those doors, I would have scoffed at the idea. College puts us through hoops. You will have days of absolute glee. You will have weeks of pure anxiety. Surround yourself with people who challenge you in every extent of the word. Make friends with students who are inherently kind and stand by your side when it is convenient, but especially when it is not. Whether it’s a group of over-caffeinated Pre-Med students, a sorority or a fraternity, student government, young filmmakers, activists or a Jedi Council — Yes, this is a thing — find your community, or at least do yourself a favor and let it find you. Find the people who will tell you love does exist, but remember, you’re only 20 years old and he’s definitely an asshole. The ones who will run across Grand River Avenue screaming your name after you make yet another Irish exit.

Muslim Studies Program

DID YOU KNOW? MSU has a Muslim Studies Program that organizes various informative lectures and other events on campus. MSU also offers a Muslim Studies Minor. For more information, go to muslimstudies.isp.msu.edu

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

The circle who surrounds you and lets you cry on their shoulders when you don’t get the financial aid — and when you do get the scholarship. The team who cheers on the sidelines and the warriors who will fight with you in the trenches. The great ones who believe in you so much, they trust you with leading their newsroom. Here’s to the community that saved me. Here’s hoping you find yours. You may find where you belong the first day or three weeks before graduation. The beauty of it? It doesn’t matter. You get out of The State News what you put into it. It’s the mantra we’re told over and over again by our editors, friends and community. But it applies to so much more than just The State News. Throughout your college experience, keep that mindset. Leave the dorm room. Walk outside. Give college everything you have and I promise it will reward you tenfold.

In the meantime, The State News will always be here as a listening ear or a conversation starter. We will inform you of the latest news and uncover falsities of massive proportion. We will hold our institution accountable rain or shine, class or cancelled. The news business is changing and we are adapting. We are making a commitment to you, the audience. We are your voice. And if need be, your community. Welcome to MSU, the first of many communities you will be a part of throughout college. We are The State News, your guide along the way. Go Green.

stay social with the state news

Contents W E LCO M E W E E K E D ITI O N

Schedule your way to success

Don’t pour one out for non-drinkers

MSU teams preparing for 2017

Graduating isn’t just about GPA. Stay on top of your coursework by planning correctly

Reporter Alexea Hankin delves into life without the college elixir — alcohol

From women’s basketball to hockey, Spartan teams ready for 2017

Page 20

Page 27

Page 34

BY T H E N U M B E R S

30 Number of MIPs and drug possession charges by MSU police since start of May See page 8

“I think our seniors have done a great job. We don’t have many of them, but they’ve done a great job. Our leadership group also has done an outstanding job.” Mark Dantonio, MSU football head coach

Page 32

Open your MSUFCU account and save. msufcu.org • 517-333-2424

Guy Davis performs during the Great Lakes Folk Festival in East Lansing on Aug. 13. The Great Lake Folk Festival is produced by MSU Museum to promote diverse music cultures. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG

VOL . 108 | NO. 1 CONTACT THE STATE NEWS (517) 295-1680

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rachel Fradette

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

MANAGING EDITOR McKenna Ross

GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ADVERTISING MANAGERS Mia Wallace Raquel Mishaan COLOPHON The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

CAMPUS EDITOR Brigid Kennedy CITY EDITOR Riley Murdock SPORTS EDITOR Casey Harrison FEATURES EDITOR Sasha Zidar PHOTO EDITOR Jon Famurewa COPY CHIEF Blair Baeten

MO N DAY, AU GUST 28, 2017

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University on Thursdays during the academic year. News is constantly updated seven days a week at statenews.com. 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

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Welcome Week Edition

Timeline of MSU football’s sex assault cases BY COLTON WOOD CWOOD@STATENEWS.COM

FEB. 25

Four MSU football players were arrested and charged with varying degrees of sexual assault counts. But what happened? Here’s the breakdown.

FEB. 14 MSU confirms football staff member Curtis Blackwell’s suspension with pay. Blackwell was later alleged to have improperly investigated the matter on his own.

JAN. 16 An alleged sexual assault involving three MSU football players occurs at the University Village apartments.

2017

The investigation is announced to the public. Three football players and a staff member are suspended pending an investigation.

MARCH 30

MSU football begins its spring practices, but the media is not allowed access, a change from previous years.

MARCH 14 Follow-up reports are submitted by MSU police regarding the investigations.

MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio and Athletic Director Mark Hollis release written statements on the investigations.

Four warrant requests are sent by MSU Police to the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office.

FEB. 16

FEB. 9

Blackwell is given a onemonth extension on his contract while he remains suspended.

FEB. 28

Dantonio speaks to the media in a press conference for the first time since the investigation was made public, days before the spring game.

MSU Blue Line Club MARCH 28

Membership Application | MSUBlueline.org Supporting Spartan Hockey Since 1962

Name: Address: City: Zip Code: Email Address:

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Email address will be used to provide club updates throughout the year

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MSU Blue Line Club PO Box 804 | East Lansing, MI | 48826

• Blue Line Club decal

support the spartans 4

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

A direct donation to the hockey program can be made through the Spartan Fund at MSUSpartans.com/spartanfund

Welcome Week Edition JUNE 5

APRIL 21 Auston Robertson, left, is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in the investigation announced on April 13. The details surface of Robertson’s incident and he is released from the MSU football team. MSU holds its annual Green-White spring game. Only Dantonio is made available to the media after the game.

A new sexual assault investigation arises involving another MSU player.

Blackwell’s contract is again extended for one month with pay. He remains suspended.

APRIL 13

APRIL 1

Ingham County Prosecutor Carol Siemon authorizes sex assault charges against three MSU football players.

MAY 30 MSU does not extend Blackwell’s contract, letting it expire. Blackwell’s ties with the university end.

A Title IX investigation finds the trio involved in the Jan. 16 sexual assault in violation of university policy.

MAY 23 APRIL 30

MSU releases the findings from the Jones Day investigation. The law firm finds senior members of the football program to be in compliance with RVSM policy.

JUNE 7 Corley, right, and King, below, are arraigned in court. Corley is arraigned on one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and his bond is set for $10,000. King is arraigned on one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of capturing or distributing an image of an unclothed person. His bond is set at $25,000.

Arrest warrants for MSU football players Donnie Corley, Josh King and Demetric Vance are issued. Vance is arraigned on third-degree criminal sexual conduct and has his bond set at $10,000.

JUNE 6

is here for YOU! Learn how we support staff and faculty whether you’re new to campus or you’ve been here for years!

For resources and information on topics such as: -Dependent Care -Housing -Flexible Work Arrangements -Work-life balance -Getting to know the MSU community

visit worklife.msu.edu today! W

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Welcome Week Edition

MSU Twitter Guide The State News @thesnews State News Sports Michigan State University Associated Students of MSU MSU Police MSU News MSU Surplus Store MSU Bikes MSU Student Life City of East Lansing MSU Libraries MSU Sexual Assault Program MSU Counseling Center MSU Culinary Services MSU Student Life MSU Union MSU Spartan Athletics Spartan football Spartan men’s basketball MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis Sparty

@thesnews_sports @michiganstateu @ASMSU @msupolice @MSUnews @MSU_Surplus @MSUBikes @MSUStuLife @CityofEL @msulibraries @MSU_SAP @MSU_Counseling @EatatState @MSUStuLife @MSUUnion @MSU_Athletics @MSU_Football @MSU_Basketball @MSUAD @TheRealSparty

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Welcome Week Edition

Board of Trustees: rising tuition and what else you might have missed this summer BY MADISON O’CONNOR MOCONNOR@STATENEWS.COM

While most students were away, MSU's Board of Trustees continued to meet throughout the summer to make decisions about student tuition, the university's budget and more. Here's what you might have missed from the trustees during the summer. MSU raised tuition for 2017-18 The trustees raised tuition by an average of 3.3 percent for in-state students for the 2017-18 year. It marked the eighth consecutive tuition increase. In-state freshmen and sophomores will see a 2.8 percent increase in tuition for the upcoming year and a cost per credit hour increase of $13.25. In-state juniors and seniors will see a 3.8 percent increase in tuition for the upcoming year and a cost per credit hour increase of $19.75. Out-of-state undergraduates will see a 4 percent tuition increase, which means out-of-state freshmen and sophomores will pay $50.50 more per credit hour and out-of-state juniors and seniors will pay $52 more per credit hour. Both in-state and out-of state graduate students will both see a 4 percent increase in tuition. In-state graduate students will pay $28 more per credit hour and out-of-state graduate students will pay $55 more per credit hour. MSU introduced a new "Go Green, Go 15" plan MSU announced a new initiative titled "Go Green, Go 15." Recently launched as part of MSU's Student Success Initiative, it encourages MSU students to aim for an average of 15 credits per semester and to complete 30 credits in their first year of study. The purpose is to push students to reduce college costs in the long run and to allow for more flexibility when it comes to studying abroad, dropping classes and taking internships. According to the Go Green, Go 15 website, a majority of students taking 15 credits per semester earn higher GPA's and taking 15 credits per semester will reduce college costs by up to $50,000. As part of the initiative, a tuition freeze is proposed for incoming fall 2018 freshmen. If the trustees vote it into effect next summer, tuition rates will freeze at 2017-18 rates so long as the incoming freshmen take 15 credits for the semester. The plan does not serve to rival the University of Michigan's recently announced "Go Blue Guarantee." Students are currently considered full-time students if they take a minimum of 12 credits per semester. MSU released the Jones Day investigation findings After a briefing from Athletic Director Mark Dantonio and MSU head football coach Mark Hollis in a closed work session, MSU released the findings from the Jones Day independent investigation of the football program. The Jones Day law firm found senior football program members to be in compliance with the university's relationship violence and sexual misconduct policy following allegations of criminal sexual conduct stemming from an incident in January.

MSU trustees announced the findings of the investigation, which showed football program and athletic department leaders promptly and accurately reported any information that came their way concerning the January incident. The investigation also found no evidence that employees attempted to cover up or obstruct the Title IX investigation into the incident. The three football players accused of the alleged sexual assault were unnamed at the time, but have since been identified and dismissed from the football team and the university itself. Trustee Mitch Lyons faced criticism Trustee Mitch Lyons said he "deeply regrets" naming ex-MSU football player Auston Robertson as the student-athlete who reported alleged sexual assaults to head coach Mark Dantonio after facing criticism from fellow trustees. Lyons had told Grand Rapids WBBL 107.3 FM that Robertson was the unnamed player who told Dantonio of the alleged sexual assault involving three other members of the football program, which led Dantonio to report it to MSU's Title IX office. Following this interview, Lyons publicly said he "misspoke" and "confused the cases." Lyons revoked his statement. During the June Board of Trustees meeting, trustees Brian Mosallam and Dianne Byrum as well as Associated Students of Michigan State University President Lorenzo Santavicca criticized Lyons for naming Robertson to the media. Donation of a TV license didn't pan out The MSU Board of Trustees held a special meeting in July to grant President Lou Anna K. Simon authority to deal with negotiations of a TV broadcast license donation. However, shortly after the meeting, it was determined the donation would not happen. Before the cease of negotiations, it was a possibility that WHTV might donate its "nomad license" - its authorization to operate a TV station, but no spectrum on which to operate it — to WKAR-TV by way of MSU. WHTV is a commercial TV station in Lansing licensed to Spartan-TV, LLC and affiliated with MY Network TV, according to the memorandum used during the brief July meeting. As of the meeting, MSU didn't have a plan as to how it might use the license. The donation of the TV license didn't pan out in the end. "There were some regulatory issues that as we continued to work with the donor, both sides realized it just wasn't going to work going forward," MSU spokesperson Jason Cody said. "We appreciate the donor thinking of us, and at this point, this specific donation is not going to go forward." University budget highlights The 2017-18 budget shows a 2.5 percent general salary increase for faculty and non-unionized staff based on merit and a 0.5 percent increase for market adjustments. $7.5 million will be allotted for academic competitiveness, student success analytics, campus Wi-Fi improvements, information technology and other initiatives. With the move from coal to natural gas use at the T.B. Simon Power Plant, there was a 7 percent decrease in utility costs, which amounted to $4.2 million.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon speaks during the Board of Trustees meeting on June 6 at the Hannah Administration Building. The board discussed tuition, budget and facility renovations. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

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MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

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Welcome Week Edition

MSU police discuss ways to avoid Minor in Possession charges while out partying BY CASEY HARRISON CHARRISON@STATENEWS.COM

Underage students caught boozing this fall could be handed more lenient penalties than law enforcement is used to issuing, but harsher penalties could come down depending on the circumstance. Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill into law last December reclassifying a first Minor in Possession, or MIP, charge from a misdemeanor to a civil infraction, but law enforcement officials still have the power to make arrests if a situation is deemed to be out of hand, East Lansing Police Lt. Steve Gonzalez said. Gonzalez said 408 MIPs were handed out by ELPD in 2016, a trend shifting downward since 2005 when Gonzalez said the city issued an alltime record 1,141 MIPs. "When officers are making decisions whether or not to enforce the MIP law, one they're looking at the context of the behavior that caused them to make contact with the individual," Gonzalez said. "Were they involved in a fight? Were they involved in some kind of disturbance

whether it be a large party or some type of disturbance in a public area? That usually generates the reason for the officers to have contact with the individuals that have been drinking under the age of 21." Gonzalez also said other factors could play into the decision of issuing a citation, like how intoxicated the individual is, or if the person needs to be rushed to the hospital. "All of those things weigh into the decision whether an officer will issue a citation, issue a warning or in many cases call the fire department to help and medically evaluated and taken to the hospital because they're too intoxicated for their own safety," Gonzalez said. According to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, anyone under the age of 21 can get an MIP for holding an alcoholic beverage. It's also illegal for anyone under 21 to have alcohol in their possession at any time, even if they haven't consumed it. It's also illegal to possess or transport an unopened container of alcohol in either the driver or passenger area and the driver and any passengers can be charged during a stop. MOHSP also states it's illegal to use a fake I.D. to obtain alcohol and allow anyone to operate a motor vehicle after they've been drinking. Along with ELPD, MSU Police also issues MIPs. Since May, MSU police has issued over 30 Students who are registered as a full time student and paid The State News subscription fee for the current semester may receive a refund of that fee if they do not wish to support the student newspaper. Refunds will be paid during the first 10 days of classes at 435 E. Grand River. Proof of payment of the fee and a photo ID must be presented. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The first 50 students that come in September can visit the manager’s table and show your student ID and receive an aluminum water bottle!

Thursdays 3:00–7:00PM year round

MIP or drug possession charges. "We send out our general patrol and we use our discretion, common sense to utilize and enforce the laws of our university and the state of Michigan," MSUPD Capt. Doug Monette said. "So do we come in contact with people who are MIP? Yeah." Under state law, first time offenders issued an MIP can face fines of up to $100, mandatory substance abuse screenings and assessments, community service and if the offender is under 18, their parents will be notified. Repeat offenders can be ordered to pay fines ranging from $200 to $500 and attend substance abuse screenings, community service, suspension of the offender's driver's license from 90-days to one year and up to 60 days in jail. If a person under 21 is caught driving with alcohol in their system for the first time, a variety of penalties can be levied including: a 30-day restricted driver's license, $125 license reinstatement fee, four points on their driving records, additional fines of up to $250, community service and $500 Driver Responsibility fees for two years.

Additionally, any minor caught driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher could be charged as an adult for Operating While Intoxicated, which the MOHSP claims would permanently stay on the offender's driving record. Anyone caught drunk driving the second time within a seven year span after they were charged with an MIP would have even heavier penalties issued, such as a 90-day suspension of their driver's license, a $125 license reinstatement charge, cumulative fines of up to $1,000, community service, "substantial" insurance rate increase and up to 93 days in jail. Should a minor choose to drink they have to keep in mind the potential consequences, Gonzalez said. "There's a lot of common sense that goes into the situation, but if you ask how to avoid getting an MIP the simple answer is don't drink under the age of 21," Gonzalez said. "I think we all know people are going to drink alcohol under the age of 21, but you have to be responsible and you have to be safe about it if that's a choice that you make.”

East Lansing resident Sam AcMoody leans his hand against his beard as he sits at the bar during Portland, Mich. resident Russ Holcomb’s performance on Feb. 1 at Crunchy’s at 254 E. Grand River Ave. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

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Welcome Week Edition

VOICES: How to fit in as an international student, from the perspective of an ICA

Fun for the Whole Family! DEMMER CENTER

Shooting Sports

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Training

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

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campus. Look around when you get here; you are surrounded by many new faces. They could all be as scared, curious and surprised as much as you are. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The serious problem I found when I was dealing with international relationships is the nonexistent wall between different people. They both think the other one won't like them, so no one steps up and most people are "trapped" in the same social circle. Don't get me wrong, it's good that you can find familiar people you have things in common with, but trying to learn something more won't hurt anything. Right? Isn't that why we go to college? Especially when you are from abroad; it's a chance to learn another culture from inside instead of merely from a textbook.

GROVE

Yes, like thousands of others, I am one of the international students at MSU. Why am I writing this? Because you may want to know how to survive and make some new friends in this completely different place you are about to spend years with. I was an intercultural aide, or ICA, someone who helps new students deal with first-year culture transition problems. We are not only for international students, we aid all of

Talk to people who don't look like you, because remember, they could be more afraid than you. To them you are a stranger, but you should take this opportunity to share numerous stories and experiences about your culture. View how brave and strong you are; it's impressive to study this far away from home just to seek a different education. Come on, flying all the way to a country that speaks another language by yourself, isn't that a cool experience you can share? When someone doesn't want your company, it's fine because everybody has boundaries. But trust me, there are people who would love to be friends with you because of who you are. The United States is known for its diversity, so take advantage of it when you are here. The memory you create here will live with you forever. Just be you, live your lifestyle, but if you Students converse during the Coffee Hour hosted by the Office of international Students and Scholars on July 28 at the International Center. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG want to know more people, there are numerous resources and programs that can help you. Don't Emotions are normal, but it doesn't mean you won't need help if miss them, they could truly change your life. you feel depressed. Talk to someone when you don't feel good, or Take your new friends to eat food from your hometown, showing them your culture can always help you have fun and bring you talk to a puppy, even a wall, it will make you feel better. Friendship is often something we want, and how to be alone and your friends closer. is something we need to learn as well. These words may seem Well, on second thought, I'm not really sure about that, maybe strange to you right now, but you will get it someday. keep some weird stuff to yourself. Humans are weird.

ABBOTT

KZHANG@STATENEWS.COM

MASSES

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Welcome Week Edition

The land of bans: MSU’s prohibited list SOLSCHANSKI@STATENEWS.COM

incident,” MSU spokesperson Jason Cody told The State News in March.

The MSU Board of Trustees make many policy decisions on behalf of the university, some of which involve limiting or banning certain behaviors or the use of certain items. Here are a few of the things, according to the Board of Trustees website’s list of ordinances, you won’t be able to enjoy while on campus.

Whiteboards MSU moved to ban hanging whiteboards on dorm room doors in February, blaming a rise in bullying incidents. The ban was controversial and even reached national attention. Some claimed a breach of First Amendment rights, but the university stood firm on the ban.

BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI

Unless they don’t catch you, of course. Smoking The MSU Board of Trustees passed a tobacco-free campus ordinance in 2015 which was enacted in August of 2016. The ban applies to all forms of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaporizers. The ban is in effect at all MSU sites, even those not located in East Lansing. “Hoverboards” After the “hoverboard” trend started sweeping into campus, MSU took a precautionary step in banning the motorized boards, citing a potential fire hazard. No fires caused by hoverboards were reported on campus, but MSU cited fires popping up across the country as the reason for the ban. “We didn’t want to wait until there was an

Hammocking Though it was once a pastime for MSU students (there’s even a Hammocking Club of MSU), hammocking has seen a crackdown. While hammocking itself is not banned by name, the practice is prevented by an MSU ordinance which forbids students to “damage or mutilate” trees. Camping Camping is barred on campus except during University-sanctioned activities which require it. Also included in the camping ban is the use of a “motor vehicle, motor home, or trailer for the apparent purpose of overnight occupancy.” So, on university grounds, you cannot sleep in your car. Animal Restrictions No animals are allowed on campus without a

No Selling or Signage No person can sell anything or advertise for anything on university grounds without a permit. Posters advertising for things or erected structures for the use of advertising are not allowed either unless they are on personal property. No signage is allowed to be attached to any MSU sign or building and can only be done so on a university bulletin board.

Fishing Fishing is only allowed on campus along the north bank of the Red Cedar River when permitted by the Secretary of the Board of Trustees. No motorboats are allowed in the Red Cedar except when permitted by the Police Chief and Director of Public Safety.

Curfew MSU does not allow anyone 16 years of age or younger on university governed grounds between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. unless they are accompanied by a guardian, on guardian-sanctioned business or with someone sanctioned by a parent or guardian. If you’re 17 or older and encourage a person 16 years of age or younger to violate the ordinance, you too can be found in violation. Swearing on the phone During phone conversations, computer conversations or other electronic communications

Lansing residents Emma Hoierville and Sam Holoweiko smoke together on Aug. 15 outside of Crunchy’s at 254 E. Grand River Ave. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

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leash. No animals can enter a building or ride a university bus or go in animal restricted areas such as the Beal Botanical Gardens. There are exceptions for medical needs, veterinary services, university sanctioned events and police duties.

MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

as oh h n w za o s per ur piz y r o e − Ev tasted r eve

Welcome Week Edition

Quiz: What major will you declare at MSU? fun! I’m staying in my dorm. C. I’m just gonna have a good time with my new friends, whatever that entails! D. My goal is to ingest as much alcohol as my body can physically handle. E. Please, first? I haven’t stopped partying since I got here.

BY RILEY MURDOCK RMURDOCK@STATENEWS.COM

MSU is home to a wide variety of colorful Spartans from all walks of life, who can choose to study many different fields as they journey through their college experience. Naturally, for your entertainment, you’re about to be pigeon-holed into one of five of them! Are you the silent-but-studious pre-med? Or the boisterous and fun-loving business major? Take our quiz and find out! 1. There’s trouble with the snap and a riot has broken out in Cedar Village! What do you do? A. Doesn’t affect me, I’m staying home studying. Didn’t even watch the game. B. Call the cops, I do NOT need hooligans ruining this victory. C. I’d watch the crazy fun from a safe distance. D. Grab the couches, we’re burning this town! E. I’d go back to bed. 2. It’s welcome week and it’s time to go to your first college party! What’s your game plan? A. Eh, I’ll party later. Gotta go over these syllabi I got in class today. B. I don’t need to party to have

3. Your first quiz of the semester is tomorrow! What’s your mindset? A. I got this! I’ve been paying attention in class and reviewing the material. B. Not sweating it, I haven’t studied much but I understand the class well enough. C. I’m totally winging it, I’m having a Smash Bros. tournament with my friends tonight instead of studying. Priorities, man. D. STUDY LATER! PARTY NOW! E. I already plan on sleeping through it. 4. You visited Sparticipation and saw many clubs. Which one do you join? A. I’ll join a group focused on academics, it’d be nice to have people to study with. B. I’ll run for student government to try and make my voice heard! C. I’m rushing a frat/sorority! WOOOOOOO D. Ski Club. I have my reasons. E. Screw “social activities.” I have much more important things to do. Like sleep.

5. You find yourself starting to shed some of your old high school habits. What change do you notice? A. I slacked a bit in high school, now I find myself having to study more to keep up. B. I used to be effortlessly popular, now I’m middle-of-the-pack. Guess this is growing up. C. I used to be a bit shy, now I can’t wait to go out and have fun every weekend! D. The only things I’ve lost since high school are low tolerance and self awareness. E. I now refuse to get out of bed until noon. 6. You groggily turn over to that stupid alarm… Oh no. You’re going to be late to class. Not again. What’s your move? A. Showers are for the weak. Clothes and go. B. I’ll call my prof and try to make an excuse. C. I’ll still go, but I’m taking my sweet time. I need my morning routine to function properly. D. Out of options and low on time, I attempt to bring down MSU’s electrical grid. E. It’s a lost cause, might as well go back to bed. 7. What’s your preferred way to get around campus? A. I bike everywhere! Except the bike lanes. Much more efficient on the sidewalks. B. BROPED! Brotally, dude. I can even

give my fellow bros a brotrastic ride. C. Hoverboards may be banned on campus, but fascism can’t stop me from looking like a tool. D. My longboard is the best way to get to class … on the way to the dispensary. E. Why should I ever leave my dorm? 8. Sparty is being held hostage by a gang of crazed Wolverine fans (how redundant)! Which MSU official do you team up with to rescue him? A. Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. She can save Flint, she can save Sparty. B. Mark Dantonio. He’ll intimidate them into submission with his cold glare. C. Tom Izzo. They’ll run in terror from his ferocious shouting. D. Lou Anna K. Simon. She’ll ban hostage situations from campus. E. Zeke the Wonder Dog. Can’t beat his Lvl. 100 Frisbee skills. Answer key (A = 5 points, B=4 points, etc.) 34-40 points: You are pre-med! 30-35 points: You are a political science major! 24-29 points: You are a journalism major! 17-23 points: You are a business major! 8-16 points You are undecided! TO READ YOUR SUPPOSED MAJOR’S DESCRIPTION, VISIT STATENEWS.COM

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THE STATE NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

DID YOU KNOW?

Beaumont Tower was completed in 1928 after a fire destroyed College Hall, the building that had previously stood in its place

WELCOME TO WELCOME WEEK Reporter Souichi Terada breaks down how to survive one of the craziest weeks you’ll experience as a Spartan

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I’M RIGHT, YOU’RE WRONG Two MSU reporters go head-to-head on the benefits and detriments of Greek life

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DID YOU KNOW? There are over 700 Registered Student Organizations, or RSOs, at MSU. Pictured here is Michal Babinski of the MSU Mushroom Club

MS & U MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

ACADEMIC PROBATION Freshman or senior, academic probation can happen to any Spartan if they’re not careful

16 PAGE

DID YOU KNOW? Protests from various student groups were popular during the heated presidential election last year — this photo was taken at the March Against Hate, Bigotry, Racism and Sexism on Nov. 10, 2016 which drew hundreds of students and East Lansing residents to the campus of MSU

DID YOU KNOW? MSU’s campus is full of oddities. One, for example, is the Bug Room located in the Entomology Building

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Contents VI E W O N STATE N E WS .CO M Resources for international students

ASMSU looks to 54th session

MSU Board of Trustees to meet Sept. 8

MSU boasts historic landmarks

E.L. income tax continues to develop

Former ICA Kaiyue Zhang explores the resources available to international students at MSU

See what President Lorenzo Santavicca and his team have in store for the fall semester

Catch up on MSU’s decision makers, the Board of Trustees, as board members meet Sept. 8 for the first time this fall

From the Sparty statues to Beaumont Tower to Spartan Stadium, view all of MSU’s treasures

Recent reports find negotiations heating up between President Simon and E.L. Mayor Mark Meadows

Children play at the Ingham County Fair on August 5. The Ingham County Fair is an annual event attended by families from all over the county. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG

FOR MORE PICTURES AND GALLERIES OF MSU AND EAST LANSING-BASED EVENTS VISIT STATENEWS.COM

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

“When I was 12 years old there was no

such thing as the internet and my parents had no idea who they might actually talk to to get me into the bagpipes. In 2008, I purchased a practice chanter and a tutor book and I just tried by myself, it didn’t go well.” Todd MacAlpine, Humans of East Lansing PAGE 21

MS&U

Explore the ways to get around campus BY RILEY MURDOCK RMURDOCK@STATENEWS.COM

College might seem like all fun and games, but at some point you're going to have to get to class. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to get around MSU. Biking A college staple, owning a bike is a fast and convenient way to get where you need to go. There are abundant parking spaces with bike racks throughout campus and downtown East Lansing. Bikes can be ridden on bike lanes or sidewalks. Getting from South Neighborhood to East Neighborhood only takes about five to 10 minutes, depending on traffic. On top of being a speedy method of transport, riding a bike also allows you to get some exercise in between classes. Bikes must be registered with MSU Police, but permits can be acquired free of charge. Mopeds For those who like the freedom of bikes but desire the speed and road access of driving a car, mopeds are a popular option at MSU. Students will often drive their moped to their destination and park at a nearby bike rack, getting essentially the best of both worlds. However, MSU intends to put a stop to this practice soon. If you want to get a moped, keep in mind you'll have to park at one of few designated areas on campus beginning next year. You'll also have to purchase a $50 permit from MSU police.

Longboarding Though not as quick as biking, longboarding is another popular way to get around campus. Longboards can be taken with you wherever, eliminating the need to lock a bike, pay for parking or wait for a bus. Action Board Shop, located on 541 E. Grand River Ave., sells longboards close to MSU. CATA MSU has a Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, bus station and several routes that weave through campus. Individual rides can be purchased for $0.60 with a student ID and a $50 bus pass will confer unlimited rides for a semester. Once one gets a feel for the bus routes and the timing between stops, CATA can be a viable shuttle between all your classes throughout the day. Routes 30 travel specifically between South and East neighborhoods. No. 31 is long, but encompasses Brody and East neighborhoods. The No. 33 usually operates during the day connecting South and West Circle neighborhoods. All of the buses stop periodically at MSU’s CATA station, which is located across the street from Shaw Hall. Ride Calling Services For when you're not in any state to take another method of transportation, Uber or Lyft are options to get home after a night out, but they can prove costly. ASMSU's Safe Ride initiative, however, can provide a similar service free of charge. Students can request a ride home from anywhere in East Lansing for themselves and up to two guests. For more information, visit ASMSU's website.

WANT MORE?

STOP ON BY STATENEWS.COM FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER WHILE YOU’RE AT IT (IT’S DAILY, IT’S AWESOME, IT’S A GREAT WAY TO ALWAYS KEEP YOU UP TO DATE AROUND MICHIGAN STATE)

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CATA also provides a "Night Owl" shuttle that will come to you and pick you up after 2 a.m. Rides cost the same as a typical CATA route but will take you directly to your destination. However, the Night Owl operates only within MSU's campus and cannot take you to or from anywhere in East Lansing. Walking If all else fails, there's always simply putting one foot in front of the other and soldiering on. It might take a little bit or much longer, but nothing beats walking for reliability.

The No. 1 CATA bus pictured on Aug. 15. Traveling between MSU’s campus and the surrounding cities, it offers an efficient method of transportation for students. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

HELP INCREASE LITERACY IN OUR COMMUNITY! Volunteer or earn MSU credits tutoring children or adults MSU Student Literacy Corps (517) 420- 1849 • literacy@msu.edu

Capital Area Literary Coalition thereadingpeople.org mail@thereadingpeople.org (517)485-4949 MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

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MS&U

Avoid academic probation, don’t allow your GPA to drop below 2.0 BY SOUICHI TERADA STERADA@STATENEWS.COM

Every year, around 10 percent of MSU’s incoming class is put on academic probation. The decision comes after a student fails to keep his or her cumulative GPA above a 2.00. High on a surge of newfound freedom, reality finds some students don’t use their time wisely. Or, the different class environment of a college professor proves difficult for students. One reason new students are hit with academic probation is because if they struggle that very first semester, their cumulative GPA dips below the 2.00 threshold. Once a student is hit with academic probation, he or she will have the opportunity to raise their cumulative GPA the following semester. The number of international students put on academic probation is higher, usually ranging from about 15 to 20 percent.

Oftentimes, students struggle with the transition to college. However, there are ways to improve grades with outside resources. The Math Learning Center and Writing Center, with various locations around campus, allow students to go in and receive extra tutelage. Going directly to a professor during office hours allows for personal one-on-one time. For some classes at MSU, one professor and their teaching assistants are responsible for hundreds of students. As a result, unless pupils are looking specifically for help, they won’t get the necessary attention. Other times, it’s better to reach out to a classmate or friend for extra help. Regardless of whether the extra companion is smarter or not, having the ability to bounce ideas off one another usually proves useful. Before it gets to the point of recession, there are guidelines students must follow. To the right are five steps of academic probation.

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

THE

steps of ACADEMIC PROBATION

An MSU student is put on academic probation whenever their cumulative GPA is below a 2.00 at any time.

After being put on academic probation, a student must bounce back to a cumulative GPA that is equal to or higher than a 2.00. However, for students with under 30 total credits, the threshold is lower, coming in at 1.50.

If the student does not reach the necessary minimum GPA, then there is a chance they are recessed, or temporarily suspended. Whether a student is still on academic probation or is recessed is determined on a caseby-case basis.

In the case a student’s semester GPA is higher than a 2.00, but their cumulative GPA is not above a 2.00, then they are put on final probation and are not recessed from the university.

When recessed from MSU, a student must remain out of the university for at least one calendar year. Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial Sciences

geo.msu.edu

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MSUGeography

@GEOatMSU

MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

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

LiveSkyVue.com Temporary Leasing Office: 319 E. Grand River Ave. | East Lansing, MI 48823

MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

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I’m right: I was skeptical, but joining a frat and Greek life changed me for the better BY JONATHAN LEBLANC JLEBLANC@STATENEWS.COM

Ah, welcome week. A time where returning students buy books only to not use them all semester, sit through professors preaching their syllabuses and the police handing out MIPs like they're Blaze Pizza coupons. For incoming freshmen or transfer students, however, it's a time for adjustment. It's your first time living on your own or being a part of MSU's illustrious campus. Some take the transition in stride, making college just another part of the puzzle called life. For others, it may be a challenge leaving the comfort of your close ones. While there's no place like home, there're alternatives on MSU's vast campus to make you feel right at home. One of those possibilities — Greek life. Now, hold on. I know your first reaction is to call us every derogatory name associated with students in a fraternity or sorority. I know because I said the same exact thing before I decided to join the Greek community. I hated the way people in Greek life acted, I

hated they were so exclusive at parties and I hated how they thought they were better than everybody else. But all of that was just at the surface. Once you dig deeper, you see how fun joining a fraternity or sorority is. I didn't discover this joy until fall of 2016, when I first started as a reporter for The State News. My editor at the time, who later became my "big," Connor Clark, was nagging me to rush his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. While I thought of it as a joke, on the last day of rush I decided to go and see what all the fuss was about. Clark is a good guy, so I thought maybe the rest of the brothers of TKE would also be decent. And boy, was I right. These group of lovable degenerates were not only welcoming to me, but to everybody else rushing, no matter who they were. Even with this, I was still skeptical and questioning myself if I really wanted to be a part of this. I still wasn't sure if they actually wanted to be friends or if they just needed another body to grow as a fraternity.

However, I knew I made the right choice to join the bond after I almost drowned at Delta Gamma's main philanthropy event of the year, Anchor Splash — which we got third place, no big deal. All of the brothers in attendance asked me if I was okay and why I didn’t tell them I could barely swim. They said if I simply told them I'm not a good swimmer they wouldn't have let me go because they didn't want to run the risk of me drowning. As obvious of a response that might have been, I saw the genuine concern from my brothers in their eyes and tone of voice. From that day on, I knew I made the right choice. Even with the few negatives of joining, like people not paying their dues, the positives heavily outweigh the negatives. The bonds you build going through the pledge process, philanthropy events and parties. The memories you make at said events, and the roasts of a fellow brother in the GroupMe when they do or say something stupid. The countless hours spent in chapter yelling at each other and not getting anything

accomplished. I wouldn't trade these moments and lifelong friendships for anything. To me, you have to take risks not only in college but in life. I took the risk and it has made me better at time management, social interactions and an overall better human being. If you take the leap of faith, believe me, your life’ll change for the better. Trust me.

Seeking Board Members • to serve until Sept. 2019 • Nama Naseem State News Board of Directors

The State News is now accepting applications for the Board of Directors. The board establishes the policies and budget of The State News and annually selects the editor-in-chief. Members attend monthly meetings during the academic year and serve two-year terms. The twelve member board represents members of the MSU community and newspaper profession and consists of three professional journalists, three MSU faculty/staff members and six registered students.

Interested? Apply Online at

statenews.com/board Deadline for applying is Wed, Sept 13th Interviews will be on Fri, Sept 22nd

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

Kevin Jackson State News Board of Directors

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You’re wrong: There are signficantly better ways to do college than frats and sororities BY ALEXEA HANKIN OPINION@ STATENEWS.COM

My favorite thing about my friends is that I don't have to pay money to hang out with them. Also, that I was not put through a rigorous judging process to help decide if I was good enough to hang out with them. It's pretty cool. I like being friends with people who I am not led into meeting only by sharing mutual space or community obligation, or who do mean things to

"initiate" me into their exclusive but somehow still "fun" group. I like it a lot, actually. Which is probably why I've never once considered Greek life, and may be possibly why I roll my eyes every time rush season comes around again. The truth is also that I can barely afford college as a low-income Spartan, so I actually couldn't join one if I wanted to try. And poor people are most definitely no bueno in frat and sorority circles. These groups press into new pledges that they are being welcomed into a "diverse family" of people from many walks of life — yet this "diversity" is still only classified within those who can afford the price tag of everything Greek life entails. All done, of course, in the name of being exclusively identified by whatever your fraternity is — Alpha Kappa NutriGrain Bar or whatever — and for some letters on a t-shirt. And the booze. Probably. And a line on a resume. Sometimes. The base line: The Greek system has a longheld legacy as a symbol of privilege, masqueraded as a familial "leadership opportunity." To put it bluntly, there are about a billion "leader-

ARCHAEOLOGY BIOLOGICAL FORENSICS LINGUISTIC MEDICAL SOCIOCULTURAL

ship building opportunities" at MSU. And it would be incredibly easy to cite all of the “bad things” that come along with being in a sorority or fraternity, historically. Namely, the bizarre hazing rituals that have mostly been banned but still definitely happen and still kill people, the storied history of sexual assault in Greek chapters nationwide, or even the crazy emails one might receive from sister who just can't deal like the one that went viral in 2013. And with all of the distaste I do hold for frats and sororities, I really do think they're mostly full of good people just looking to fit in and make friends in a more "unique" way, which is just a piece of humanity. And that is fine. Still, it is impossible to tear from the arms of the historic Greek life system its systemic failures in racism, sexism and classism. Sure, it's cool that many Fortune 500 CEOs were once bro-tank wielding frat boys. But what does that mean for the still-perpetuated culture that we've even seen at MSU as recent as last October, when Sigma Nu's sexual scavenger hunt list was found and published-and condemned, even by its own greater MSU Greek Council?

As though this is surprising behavior coming from a fraternity? I understand the appeal of having a newfound "family" coming into the new boundaries of college, but I also can't express how many different ways there are to experience "family-like” bonding outside of frats at MSU. Frats only add a couple extra and unnecessary layers to that equation, and honestly, a whole lot of misplaced dogma I'm not interested in experiencing. I've been a reporter at The State News since my freshman year and I can't tell you how many times I've been interviewing a group/club and have heard the words: "These people are like my family." Without all that extra financial and emotional baggage that comes along with rushing, pledging, and all of that other ritualistic stuff Greek life made a name for. But, if you do get admitted, you can feel good about yourself being one of a very selective, special few. So I guess there's that. For whatever it's worth. Which, to me, is not much.

FIND WORK TODAY

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EMPLOYMENT www.jobs.rhs.msu.edu

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@MSUanthropology MSU Department of Anthropology

MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

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How to schedule your way to success at MSU BY SOUICHI TERADA STERADA@STATENEWS.COM

Nearly every Spartan, male or female, intellectual or not, pays their dues throughout four years at MSU. The dues are simple — university requirements, the ISS, ISP and ISBs of the world. For freshmen, those acronyms don't quite make any sense yet, but it comes with time. However, whether you're a STEM major within Lyman Briggs, or undecided, university requirements are, well, a requirement. The big conundrum, though, is staying on top of all the courses you take that do pertain to your major. In other words, the classes students need to take to graduate on time. It's easy to be lazy; to fall behind on this significant part of college. Don't be that Spartan who ends up graduating a year late. Here are some tips to stay on top of the classes you need to take, and not just the homework. Utilize degnav.msu.edu and counselors No, it's not absolutely vital as a freshman to march into a counselor's office the first day of classes to hash out the next four years. But it doesn't hurt. The counselors are there to help you. And

sometimes, they find nifty loopholes, allowing you to take less classes, freeing up your schedule. Other times, you'll have to meet with them to verify certain classes count toward your major. Of course, a counselor's word isn't gospel. They're human and they make mistakes too. However, using them as a guide doesn't hurt. Also, scheduling a meeting with an academic advisors in the middle of the semester is far easier than three days before finals week, especially in the spring semester. The mad rush for guidance is very real, so if you're on top of that, it's so much easier. On top of that, using degree navigator, or degnav.msu.edu, allows for students to check which classes are necessary to take for their major. That, and the help of a counselor, allows for a holistic picture to graduate on time. Don't be afraid to schedule on Friday One weird caveat college students love giving their younger counterparts is to never schedule Friday classes. Other than trekking to an 8 a.m., of course, but that's a given. Classes on Friday are a double-edged sword. It means you only have classes four days a week, and the long weekend from Friday to Sunday can feel like a blessed eternity. However, that means you're jam packing your

Monday-through-Thursday schedule. Too many times, students love to cram classes into those four days, making every day exhausting. Don't be afraid to spread out your schedule, utilizing all five days. Having only one or two classes per day allows for flexibility. Some students can have classes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., barely having time for lunch and shuffling through campus to get to their next destination. Others can enjoy A student reads a book in class. | STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO a more relaxed approach, scheduling based off toughness and professors. ly schedule the toughest of the trio, an easy 4.0 Which brings me to my next point. might slip to a 2.5 — or worse. That means researching them. It may sound Look up your professors and courses like a lot of effort, but it usually ends up worth before scheduling them it. Some courses, regardless of who you have, While the freedom of college is incredible, are going to be tough. I'm looking specifically at actual responsibility takes its place. As a you, STEM. However, if you can, especially for the univer- freshman, it's easy to be overwhelmed once the school year actually hits. That's where being on sity requirements, look up your professor. IAH top of everything is important, even if moaning 207 might have three different instructors with about procrastination is more fun. varying degrees of difficulty. If you unknowing-

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MS&U

Humans of E.L.: Personal interests

Ada, Ohio resident Todd MacAlpine plays a practice chanter on his bagpipes on Aug. 2 at Beaumont Tower. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

John Dinon, the director of Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter, is pictured on June 25 at the Ingham County Animal Control and Shelter. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG

“When I was a teenager, probably 12 or 13, I saw somebody playing the bagpipes and I have wanted to play them ever since. When I was 12 years old there was no such thing as the internet and my parents had no idea who they might actually talk to to get me into the bagpipes. In 2008, I purchased a practice chanter and a tutor book and I just tried by myself, it didn’t go well. I couldn’t actually make the practice chanter do anything right. So I kind of put it away for a while until the spring of 2009.” READ MORE AT STATENEWS.COM

“We’re here to help animals in the community. We take in animals that either people can’t care for anymore or have gotten lost or were not being cared for properly and find them good homes, so that obviously helps animals and that makes me very happy. “...We protect public health, we protect people from dangerous animals and we protect animals from irresponsible and malicious people.” READ MORE AT STATENEWS.COM

YOUR NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CAREER

STARTS HERE: www. religiousstudies.msu.edu

MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

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8 tips every Spartan should know BY MADISON O’CONNOR MOCONNOR@STATENEWS.COM

As college students, we're always looking for ways to make our time at MSU better, and sometimes these "college hacks" can be simple. Here are eight tips to help you make the most of your experience here at MSU. 1. Know how to use a Combo-X-Change There are tons of different ways to use your Combo-X-Change. The obvious place to use it is at a Sparty's, but your daily "combo" can also be used in the dining halls, the MSU Union and more. One way to use your combo is to get a to-go box at the entrance of any dining hall. Fill up the box however you'd like — and no, no one will judge you for filling your box with 40 cookies, I promise. In the Union, there's even more variety. Serrano's, Union Pizzeria and Union Deli all have Combo-X-Change menus. By using your combo at these stations, you can get a meal, complete with a drink and a side. The Union also has a Sparty's. Eat at State ON-THE-GO is the food truck at MSU. While anyone can buy something from

the truck, you can use your combo at the truck as well. Your combo will get you an entree and a drink. The truck serves burgers, wraps, tacos, sliders and more. Find out the truck's location by following @EatatState on Twitter. 2. Take advantage of ASMSU The Associated Students of MSU, or ASMSU, offers a myriad of resources for students. Borrow iClickers and graphing calculators or pick up a free blue book for your classes. Print for free from ASMSU's office to avoid pesky printing costs that can drain your Spartan Cash account. For an alternative form of transportation, take advantage of ASMSU's bike share program. ASMSU's readership program allows students to pick up a free copy of national and regional newspapers daily and includes digital subscriptions. ASMSU recently developed a Safe Ride program to take students home safely. Similar to Uber and Lyft, the Safe Ride program takes students home, but for no up-front cost. To use the Safe Ride program, students can either download the "TransLoc Rider" app and select MSU, call Safe Ride at 517-884-8069 or

go to ondemand.transloc.com. 3. Football games don't have to be about football At MSU, football game days are a big deal. But the day doesn't have to be all about football if you don't want it to be. A lot of students pack Spartan Stadium for the camaraderie and unity it brings, not the sport itself. Thankfully, you don't have to know much about football to have a good time. It can be more of a social event and less of a game if you want it to be. If you're not a sports nut and didn't spring for tickets, you can still get involved in the many things to do around campus and around East Lansing on game day. Many members of the Spartan community tailgate across campus. If you're from the area like I am, you're bound to run into family friends and teachers with their kids, but there are student tailgates too. Often, different campus student groups will put on tailgates and pump the music. In East Lansing, many people watch the game from restaurants or bars. If that’s of interest, just be aware that the

restaurant you want to go to may only let you in if you’re 21 or older. 4. Join MSU Facebook groups During your time at MSU, you're bound to end up in a number of Facebook groups for clubs, work or events. Facebook groups can be a great way to find out about upcoming campus gatherings, ask questions or even buy and sell things. Some Facebook groups you'll definitely want to join: your graduating class's group, local buying and selling groups, groups specific to your major or your college and groups for clubs or activities you're involved in. You'll get important updates, learn about new opportunities and maybe find the perfect futon for a fraction of its face value. Keep an eye on upcoming campus and East Lansing events. Most of the time, you can find out about little-known events to go to in the area. 5. Explore Lansing One thing MSU students should take advantage of is MSU's close proximity to the state capital, Lansing. Sure, East Lansing has its share of entertainment, but Lansing has its

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MS&U 6. Set a timer when doing laundry No one wants their laundry to end up on a table because someone needed to use the dryer. No one wants to be the person who has to move someone else's clothes. And let's be honest, it can get pretty stressful if you're "caught" moving someone's stuff — or vice versa. Avoid the hassle by simply setting a timer on your phone when you're doing laundry. Setting a phone timer will help you make sure you don't forget about your clothes for hours and will let others use the washers and dryers. It's all about keeping it civil.

Students are pictured while studying on Aug. 15 at the Main Library. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

own charm. Lansing isn't just home to Michigan's Capitol building, it's home to a slew of coffee shops, parks, museums, music venues, restaurants and bars. If you're planning on venturing out to Lansing, you won't regret it. Some of my favorite attractions? Biking the

Lansing River Trail, taking a tour of the Capitol, walking around Old Town and visiting the Michigan History Center. You don’t necessarily have to have a car to get to Lansing. The CATA bus system runs from campus to Lansing and back each day.

7. P repa re for whatever weat her Michigan throws at you One of the smartest moves you can make as a student is checking the weather every day. It may look nice and sunny outside your dorm room, but the second you step outside, it could start pouring — it is Michigan, after all. Always, always, always carry an umbrella. There will be a day when it saves you, I promise. Invest in some good rain boots and snow boots. You might not want to spend the money on buying expensive boots, but they will keep you warm and dry on your hike across campus. And when you're walking from North campus to South in the pouring rain, the last

MONDAY, AU GU ST 2 8 , 2 01 7

thing you'll be thinking is that you spent too much on rain boots. I've also found multiple coats to be a necessity. Different temperatures and weather conditions will require different coats, and you don't want to wear a coat that's not going to keep you warm in sub-zero temperatures. As for hats, scarves, gloves and thick socks, pile 'em on. Winter can be ruthless. 8. Pay attention to campus news I realize I'm a little predisposed here, but I do think paying attention to campus news is important to making the most of your MSU experience. Keeping up with what's going on across campus, East Lansing, Michigan and the world is essential. It helps keep you well-rounded and informed. As college students at MSU, we're exposed to a wide range of different opinions, viewpoints and backgrounds, and talking with other students about campus and other news topics can help broaden your horizons. Here comes the shameless plug — Keep up with The State News throughout the year as we cover campus and East Lansing news, sports and features via print, online and social media. We’ll continue reporting the major events all over campus and elsewhere.

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Welcome Week: Lessons to learn BY SOUICHI TERADA STERADA@STATENEWS.COM

Welcome, Spartans, to the ultimate three or four day period of the semester — Welcome Week. For some, it's an opportunity to drink without the responsibilities of classes tugging at their subconscious. For others, it's the chance to adjust back to college life. Despite its name, Welcome Week doesn't last a whole seven days. But between the alcohol and partying, some never notice. The parties usually go down in off-campus houses or apartments. It's easier to be rowdy in a crowded, sweaty Cedar Village apartment than a cramped, resident assistant-monitored dorm room. That doesn't mean you should go all out and drink every ounce of alcohol you see, though. It's a long semester and there are plenty of lessons to learn during Welcome Week. Know your limits The taste of freedom is significantly better than the taste of alcohol. It goes down easier, too. But that doesn't mean freshmen don't overdrink their extremely short stay in East Lansing.

It's always good to know how many shots you can take before you get rowdy, or worse, blackout. If you don't know where your “point of no return” is, experiment. Drink a beer, take a shot, sip some wine — just don't do it all within a five minute span. Being drunk can be fun, a new high for some newbies, but it can also be a vomiting mess. Being the party hero and shotgunning eight beers may make you a legend. Except nothing forces you down from that high than puking all of the host's floors, or worse, their carpet. That's an easy way to get kicked out. Don't drink anything given to you by a stranger Spartans look out for each other, usually. But a few bad apples can ruin the bunch. While out and about hopping from one frat party to another, always make sure your drink is accounted for. The stories of students being drugged or roofied are terrifying, but also real. Yes, that nice guy giving you a drink right as you walk into a party might be a genuine gesture. There are nice people at MSU. However, better safe than sorry.

Don't forget about classes Every year, for some reason or another, MSU's academic year begins on a Wednesday. The classes are treated like a Monday, and from there, we're off. Yes, that means you can probably go out on a Monday night and get away with it. That Tuesday night, though? Well, better not, but that's up to A group of people chat and laugh during the ice cream social held by the you, the whole free- Office of International Students and Scholars at MSU on July 25. dom thing and all. PHOTO: KAIYUE ZHANG Except it's probably better to route out all of your classes. If you live make sure you get to classes on time is a good in East Neighborhood, Wells Hall is actually some- move. Regardless, Welcome Week is a means to an what far. And with its many wings, getting lost isn't out of the question. If you're a business stu- end. Surviving the entirety of freshman year dent living in South, then the Business College remains the real struggle. That can be done any number of ways, but that's Complex is its own little trek. You can go into it blindly, but allotting time to up to you.

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MS&U

VOICES: Despite living near MSU, being a Spartan changes everything BY MADISON O’CONNOR MOCONNOR@STATENEWS.COM

I grew up on MSU's campus. My family lives just 20 minutes away, so for the entirety of my life, MSU has been home. I have seen the ins and outs of this campus, the good and the bad. I've never lived anywhere else. It's easy to think I'm accustomed to everything there is to know about MSU and the surrounding area. But I don't think I'll ever get used to it. Because even though I sometimes feel as though I know everything there is to know, I have learned there is always, always, always something new to discover. Honestly, growing up around MSU was pretty distinctive. Throughout the past 19 years of my life, I found myself on campus a lot. My family and I would bike across campus after all the stu-

dents had gone home for the summer. We'd go to MSU's gardens and see shows at the Wharton Center. We didn't go to many football games — we preferred hockey.

“After thinking of where I would attend college for months, I finally decided I’ll be a Spartan. And I’m so glad I did.” Heck, even in high school it felt like I was growing up at MSU. I had to clean up the football stadium the day after a game on several occasions for National Honor Society. And yes, it is just as bad as you'd imagine it would be — picking up day-old food, soaked by rain from the night before, trying not to gag every time you'd get a whiff of the trash bag contents, hoping your circulation is good enough to keep you warm during the freez-

ing November morning. In other words, please take care of your trash when you attend football games. And come prom season, forget about it. You can't take prom pictures at any of MSU's gardens without getting half of your classmates in the background. It's just not possible. And the prom itself is always held in the Spartan Stadium Tower, which is the banquet room that overlooks the field itself. Initially, I never wanted to study at MSU. I wanted to go someplace new, someplace where I would have new experiences and try new things. I wanted a break from the routine. MSU and East Lansing just felt too familiar after having attended concerts, musicals, sport games, summer camps, attractions, events and more there throughout my life. But the more time I explored campus, the more I realized how little I actually knew about it. I noticed there are always new things I don't know about and there are always new corners of campus to explore.

After thinking of where I would attend college for months, I finally decided I'll be a Spartan. And I'm so glad I did. Stepping onto campus for the first time as an official student felt familiar, but new. And ever since I've been a Spartan, I've found both the campus and the community continue to feel this way. It's like going back to a restaurant you haven't been to since you were little. You remember how it was, how it has changed over time and you start adding to the story. Yes, there are times when the area feels too small and I feel trapped by it all, but then I make it a point to discover something new. Sometimes that's as simple as walking around a campus building I've never been in before. Sometimes it means I take a day to explore an area of campus or the city that I'm not as familiar with. Whether you've been here your entire life or just a few months, I can promise you that there are still things to see and do at MSU that you haven't experienced yet.

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MS&U

VOICES: Don’t pour one out for the non-drinkers BY ALEXEA HANKIN OPINION@STATENEWS.COM

"Are you, like, sober right now?" Yes. The answer is always "yes." The answer to that question has and might always be "yes,” for my college career and life — even though I still go to parties. And, even more surprisingly, still get invited to them.

"Um, why?" Good question. Full disclosure, when The State News asked me to write two columns — one on how I don't drink, and the other on my heavy distaste for fraternity culture found on Page 19 — it was initially pitched as a joke. A joke that I am often found at the butt of. Which is fair. Among my college friends, I found I'm an outlier in a lot of things. I'm from a mostly poor family, as opposed to the average middle class student.

I'm also the first to attend college from my particular familial line. This means that the only thing my parents know about university is from movies, so they are no help with anything like financial aid, or college living, or even college sports, all of which I've navigated on my own for two years now — albeit sometimes cluelessly. But the drinking thing is the most obvious. And, glaringly, the one that comes up most in conversation. I knew I wasn't going to drink coming into college. And though I am religious, it's not a "religious thing" like so many people often ask — most religions aren't specifically "anti-alcohol" anyway — it was a personal decision I made years ago. To be honest, there's not some traumatic or cool background story. My parents drink more than I do. And they, like my peers, also tease me about it. Arriving at MSU, I was afraid I wouldn't make friends because of this personal life decision. Somehow, I was worried that by depriving myself of being the token "Way Too Drunk Girl at Random Frat Party," I could not function as a happy, healthy Spartan.

I was very wrong. Another confession: when this column was pitched, another editor said, "Yeah, you could talk about how you play board games instead… Or whatever you do." I laughed. How can you not? I'm always enthused when people think I'm playing Yahtzee alone in lieu of getting drunk off my ass or that I sit around like a middle-aged woman knitting scarves for kittens or something. Which, realistically, sounds great. And I could tell you what I "do" instead, but I don't "do" anything in the place of alcohol. I exist as a human and coexist with other humans, which means I breathe and eat and take up space and watch Netflix and ride bikes and, well, exist. It is boring, in my opinion, to explain what one does in the place of a general life enhancer such as alcohol. Very easily the question is turned on its head: What do college students do with alcohol? Answer: exist and coexist alongside other humans. Shocking. Basically, the point of all this is to say: to those of you who are not fans of alcohol when walking into life at MSU, you are not alone. You are not

especially rare, and you are not especially strange either. A lot of my friends, though not all, are equally non-prolific drinkers. In a college as big as MSU, I urge you to understand there are people of many paths walking alongside you. People will tease you, but they usually mean no harm. You will be offered many more free drinks than you may ever have the appetite for. Your drunken friends will be jealous, but it is okay to turn them down one after another after another — the world will not combust, nor will you. In my mind, every friend group needs a faithful and loyal designated driver to get everyone home safe, which I am. In my mind, life is still awfully exciting and awfully wonderful all the time. And I remember most of mine just more clearly. Plus, it's kind of fun to be the only one who remembers the party. Makes for much better, and more accurate, storytelling.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 2 8 , 2 01 7

DID YOU KNOW?

VOICES

Sparty is well known as MSU’s mascot, but MSU’s yearbook was once called the “Wolverine” before the rivalry between the Spartans and the University of Michigan existed. Yearbook editors changed over to the Red Cedar Log not long after the rivalry began in the ‘70s

Reporter Stephen Olschanski writes on MSU’s various sportsrelated controversies

31 PAGE

MSU LOOKS FOR A CLEAN SLATE After the rocky 2016 and offseason, MSU football said it’s turning a new leaf as the season nears

DID YOU KNOW?

32

Tom Izzo, right, MSU men’s basketball coach, has been to 20 straight NCAA Tournaments. The Spartans gear up for another run in March with the help of sophomore phenom Miles Bridges, left, among others

PAGE

LEARN THE WHO’S WHO OF MSU SPORTS We highlight the names to watch for this upcoming sports season

35 PAGE

DID YOU KNOW? Mark Dantonio, MSU football coach, has created a new slogan for 2017: “The Best Start Here”

33 PAGE

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Contents VI E W O N STATE N E WS .CO M Preseason football takes spotlight

Men’s soccer eyes return to NCAA Tourney

MSU football sexual assault court battle

Volleyball begins season No. 17

Bowling Green looms ahead

Following a dismal 3-9 season, key Spartans aim for leadership positions, bounce back on the gridiron

The No. 22 Spartans began 2017 with a rematch against SIUEEdwardsville, eyes berth in NCAA Tourney

View the interactive timeline of two separate alleged sexual assaults by four former football players

Senior Alyssa Garvelink was named preseason All-Big Ten as the Spartans open 2017 as No. 17 in AVCA poll

MSU football begins its 2017 season with a matchup against Bowling Green on Sept. 2 at Spartan Stadium

Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Naquan Jones (93) perform a drill during MSU football’s first preseason practice on July 31, at the practice fields behind the Duffy Daugherty Football Building. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA FOR MORE PICTURES ON MSU FOOTBALL’S PRESEASON PRACTICES VISIT STATENEWS.COM

“The thing I’ve really been harping on is getting back to that ‘Spartan Dawg’ mentality. I noticed it when I was a freshman and guys like Riley Bullough, Shilique Calhoun, you knew going into the game they were going to fight for you, they were going to give it their all.” Brian Lewerke, MSU football redshirt sophomore quarterback PAGE 33

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Sports

VOICES: Let MSU right its wrongs, but never forget the controversies BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI SOLSCHANSKI@STATENEWS.COM

Depending on your level of fandom — or your level of “sports blindness” — this football season presents you with a moral conundrum. Or maybe it doesn't. You don't get to easily bury four players associated with your football team, with your school, allegedly raping two women in two separate incidents. If you’re thinking critically, you can’t. You don't forget about it so seamlessly as if it were a petty larceny committed at 7-Eleven. As much as it seems natural to do, it's hard to separate what happened in the offseason from what will happen in the new season. Or perhaps we ought to bury the hatchet, let football be football and never let the outlet of distraction become the distraction.

That clouded, “pure football” perspective always edges toward trying to view the game through a purifying lens; disregarding the odor of all of the problems surrounding football. It ignores the links between the game and CTE, the domestic abuse issues and the utter careless nature of the NFL and the NCAA. Real life and football don't mix for those fans, the same fans who want players to be role models and agents of change but hate those same players when they take a stand incompatible with those fans’ held beliefs. The same fans who badger coaches for autographs, cry after heartbreaking defeat and get tattoos of teams they never played for. They want football and the players to be pure entertainment; nothing more, nothing less. But the fact of the matter is and always has been that real life and football are intertwined. What happens under the banner of the program off the field, fair or not, is a reflection onto the program. The alleged acts, while the actions of a few

players, are still devious and leave the question hanging in the balance: is it the culture of the team, the culture of “big time” football that allows this to happen? And now, is it possible to saunter into Spartan Stadium and still root for this team knowing what allegedly occurred? There is no right answer, no right way to reconcile what happened. However, forgetting about what happened is a slippery slope that edges toward Penn State-level ineptitude. Forgetting is how football, a game whose results matter little, becomes bigger than the lives of humans. It's how a university, warped by the money and its biggest marketing tool, forgets to prioritize the lives it says it wants to better. There may not be a perfect way to reconcile what happened, but there are wrong ways. Do not use the alleged victims and the acts surrounding their situations as the roots of some mythical comeback story. It is putrid and crazed to use the alleged rapes

of two women as the antagonist for MSU's road back to winning, as certain hype videos would have you believe. This also is not a call to boycott the games and the university, as every investigation into the situation has shown the program and the university to have followed the right protocol. There was no attempted multi-level cover up like that at Baylor or Penn State. MSU never let it wade into that territory. It did the right thing when challenged to do so, but the alleged acts were still committed under the guise of its name and the sense of entitlement it allegedly gave a few players. And that is what makes it tough. Continuing to support the program in its current fashion lends itself to never allowing it to change. But to not support the program gives it slim chance to right its wrongs. Never let football cloud the plight it can cause and never let it be bigger than what it is. Enjoy the revelry, the fandom, but don't forget to think critically about what it all means.

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Sports

Football seeks a clean slate after trying offseason

Senior running back Gerald Holmes (24) attempts to break multiple tackles during the GreenWhite Spring Game on April 1 at Spartan Stadium. The White team defeated the Green team, 33-23. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA BY COLTON WOOD CWOOD@STATENEWS.COM

MSU's football team endured an offseason rife with controversy. Following its 3-9 2016 season and two sexual assault cases allegedly involving several players, the team was sweltering under the national spotlight. Despite the atypical offseason, the mood amongst the team is nothing but positive entering its season opener against Bowling Green on Sept. 2. "Throughout the whole process, we stayed as a team, we stayed together as a team, we worked as a team, and that's something Coach (Dantonio) always preached — just staying together,” redshirt senior linebacker Shane Jones said. “I look forward to the season. I applaud the guys in the way they handled things this offseason and didn't let it affect the team in any way and we stayed together." In comparison to previous offseasons, junior linebacker Andrew Dowell feels the offseason storylines have brought a different tone to 2017. "The atmosphere is definitely different," he said. "We're more locked in this year. … We're definitely more locked in this year and ready

to get after it." During the offseason, several key players were either dismissed or left the program, leaving the roster replete with youth. The 2017 roster comprises of just 12 seniors, while 52 players are listed as freshmen-eligible players. Despite the diminutive amount of seniors on the team, head coach Mark Dantonio said he is pleased with the way they are leading the team. "I think our seniors have done a great job," Dantonio said. "We don't have many of them, but they've done a great job. Our leadership group also has done an outstanding job. “But I've seen the focus. I see guys that like being together. I see a lot of energy out on the football field. I see a sense of accountability as well." As the Spartans enter the rest of presesaon practice, Dantonio said he’s enthused with the energy his team has brought. "Every day we've come to practice, and we enter our seventh practice right now," Dantonio said. "There is a great sense of energy. I feel good about it. Feel like we have intangibles going for us, and I think we've got some good players. So looking forward to the start of the season."

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Sports

‘The Best Start Here’: MSU finds meaning in fresh football slogan BY CASEY HARRISON CHARRISON@STATENEWS.COM

When Mark Dantonio took the podium Aug. 7 to kickstart the football team's media day, he announced he's ready to bounce his team back from a 3-9 record, one season at a time. Dantonio divided the upcoming year into four "seasons” — preseason, non-conference play, then managing October and November. Should the Spartans fare well, Dantonio said he likes his team’s odds at victory in vital games. "We've always played very well in November, but November is when you win a championship," Dantonio said. "I'm not going to pump us up and say we're going to win X-amount of games or say we're going to win this amount of games. What I will say is we have an opportunity to play every single game and win, which has been the case here... We’ve been extremely competetive, and games hang by a thread. When you find the inches, you win the games." Looking to move on from a season seemingly

haunted by its "Back2Back” mantra, the program unveiled its new slogan when players arrived to camp — "The Best Start Here." Hoping to turn the page with an abundance of youth, players look to return to the fundamentals of Spartan football. To do that, senior leadership admits it has to embrace the youth movement and bury the past. "We're just trying to make it big and we're trying to make a name for ourselves as the 201718 Spartans," senior linebacker Chris Frey said. "We're putting the past behind us and not living in the shadows of last year." Though players wouldn't reveal specifics about returning to Dantonio's roots, younger Spartans said they're eager to bring back the "Spartan Dawg" mentality of years prior. Behind that movement is quarterback Brian Lewerke, the presumed starter heading into game one. Lewerke said the best way to bring the team back into that mindset is through leadership. "The thing I've really been harping on is getting

phasizes whatever you get here as, whatever you back to that 'Spartan Dawg' mentality," Lewerke were recruited as, you have to overachieve. Point said. "I noticed it when I was a freshman and blank, point simple. You have to overachieve for guys like Riley Bullough, Shilique Calhoun, you us to do what we want to do here." knew going into the game they were going to fight for you, they were going to give it their all. And I think we're just trying to get guys like that on our team, who will fight for you no matter what." When the year was branded by the new slogan, Dantonio left it up to the players to interpret the meaning. After implying the best was already here with its 2015 mantra, "Reach Higher," the slogan might be seen as a symbolic step back. However, MSU’s veterans say it comes down to the expectation Dantonio has of holding players to higher standards. "I just think it means nothing but your best will be accepted, and that's Junior offensive tackle Cole Chewins (61) expresses emotion during it,” junior linebacker Byron Bullough the Green-White Spring Game on April 1 at Spartan Stadium. The said. “Obviously Coach D always em- White team defeated the Green team, 33-23. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA

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Sports

Spartan teams preparing for 2017 BY SOUICHI TERADA STERADA@STATENEWS.COM

The gridiron and hardwood dominate the spotlight every year. However, don’t forget about MSU’s other Division I programs. Multiple Spartan sports teams aim to bring a national championship to East Lansing. Catch up with MSU athletics and their accolades before the collective Spartans embark on a new season. Women’s Basketball 2016-17 Record: 21-12, 9-7 Big Ten After Tori Jankoska's graduation following an illustrious career, the MSU women's basketball team will likely take a step back in 2017-18. However, the team is not devoid of talent as guards Taryn McCutcheon and Branndais Agee are set to take the reigns. Twitter: @MSU_WBasketball Hockey 2016-17 Record: 7-24-4, 3-14-3 Big Ten The Spartan icers have struggled the past few years, but there's a new face of the program: Danton Cole. Former Spartan Mason

Appleton leaves a void in the program after departing for the pros. However, with a breath of fresh air to the program, MSU looks to return to the glory days of competing for national championships. Twitter: @MSU_Hockey Men's Soccer 2016 Record: 13-5-2, 4-3-1 Big Ten The Spartans' 2016 season ended in heartbreak following an 11-round shootout in the NCAA Tournament. Led by the likes of Ryan Sierakowski and Jimmy Hague, MSU men's soccer had its fair share of success on the pitch. But in 2017, the Spartans look to improve. Sierakowski, among others, lead the way as MSU hopes for another bid to the NCAA Tournament. Twitter: @MSUmsoccer Women's Soccer 2016 Record: 7-10-1, 4-7-0 Big Ten The Spartan women had a strong showing during their spring portion of the 2017 schedule in a slew of exhibition matches. MSU will be led by upperclassmen leaders in Jamie

Cheslik and Kristelle Yewah, highlighting the seniority of this squad. Twitter: @MSU_wsoccer Volleyball 2016 Record: 25-9, 13-7 Big Ten After turning in one of their best seasons ever under head coach Cathy George, the Spartans graduated key seniors who aided them to the No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Now, MSU volleyball embarks on a new season with healthy rising seniors to guide them through another treacherous Big Ten schedule. Twitter: @MichStVB

Then-freshman guard Taryn McCutcheon (4), then-senior guard Branndais Agee (10) and then-junior guard Lexi Gussert (24) cheer after the women’s basketball game against Penn State University on Feb. 22 at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Nittany Lions, 73-64. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Wrestling 2016-17 Record: 5-11, 1-8 Big Ten The Spartans strugged during head coach Roger Chandler’s first year at the helm. However, MSU wrestling had key athletes to help lead the way. Javier Gasca enters his final

year of eligibility after a strong showing at the Big Ten Championships, finishing second at 141 pounds. Drew Hughes, who was fifth at 165 pounds, also returns giving the Spartans some firepower. Twitter: @wrestlingmsu

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Sports

A guide to key MSU sports figures Around campus, student-athletes and coaches can be seen going through everyday life. Here are some of the most important figures to know at MSU. Jake Boss Jr., baseball Since 2008, Boss has led the Spartans to over 300 wins, the most wins in that timespan in program history, while also leading MSU to a Big Ten Championship in 2011 and NCAA Tournament appearance in 2012. According to MSU Athletic Communications, MSU has Then-freshman forward Miles Bridges (22) dunks the ball during the game had over 30 players drafted to against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 18, 2016 at Breslin Center. STATE Major League Baseball under his NEWS FILE PHOTO tenure, with at least four picks BY CASEY HARRISON in the last three years. CHARRISON@STATENEWS.COM

Tom Izzo, men’s basketball It's almost impossible to mention what MSU basketball has accomplished over the last two decades without noting the leadership of

On the pitch, gridiron and hardwood court, Spartan athletes from a plethora of sports prepare for another season representing the green and white.

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Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame head coach Tom Izzo. In what will be his 23rd year for MSU, it could be the year he takes the Spartans to their second National Championship game with the help of a rising sophomore class and other contributing players. From 20 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances to seven Final Four trips, Izzo is a definite mustknow name on campus. Miles Bridges, men’s basketball After turning down a likely lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Bridges is back for his sophomore season to tend to "unfinished business" and help lead MSU to a National Championship. Bridges, along with teammates Cassius Winston, Joshua Langford and Nick Ward will have big men Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter along with newcomers Xavier Tillman and Jaren Jackson Jr. The Spartans are set to be a fearsome foe come basketball season. Ryan Sierakowski, men’s soccer Last year, MSU made appearances in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals and NCAA Tournament partly in help from wing Ryan Sierakowski. He finished the season second in the

conference in total goals scored with nine. The rising junior was also named first-team All-Big Ten. Sierakowski will be a pivotal piece for head coach Damon Rensing and the Spartans, who look to take home a conference title. Suzy Merchant, women’s basketball Since her arrival to the MSU women's basketball team in 2007, the Spartans have made bids for the Big Ten title by finishing third or better in eight of their last nine seasons and look to continue with another season in the fall. All-time Spartan greats Tori Jankoska and Aerial Powers are some of the pupils Merchant has recruited to East Lansing, Autumn Bailey, volleyball A fifth-year senior, Autumn Bailey will spend her final year of eligibility with the Spartans and be one of many leaders on the team. Bailey appeared in 113 of 117 sets for MSU last season, garnering an AVCA All-North Region Selection and an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. Bailey missed nearly all of 2015 — her first year at MSU after transferring from Marquette University — ­ after sustaining a season-ending injury early in the year.

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