New website showcases talented Spartans
Miranda Lambert coming to Breslin Center
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Michigan State University’s independent voice | statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | Tuesday, January 8, 2013
LEGISLATIVE LANDSLIDE The Michigan legislature passed numerous bills; here are the most important ones
By Kellie Rowe rowekell@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
While many students lazed immobile on living room couches eating long-awaited homemade food, Michigan lawmakers spent their break hashing out controversial bills that could affect college-aged students. On Dec. 13, Michigan legislators held a lame-duck session, a chance for lawmakers to wrap up any business before the new year. These sessions include members of Congress who did not win elections or will not be a part of the next Congress. The term “lame duck” was coined in the late 1700s referring to a duck who can’t keep up with its flock. MSU political science assistant professor Matt Grossman said it’s an opportunity for lawmakers to make decisions that might have upset voters. “They’re trying to get through things they think might have cost them in the election,” he said. To catch up on what happened during break, here’s a list of bills Gov. Rick Snyder signed while students were gone.
Right to work
THIS BILL gave employees the choice to refuse to join employee unions. John Beck, associate professor at the school of human resources and labor relations, said prior to the new law, most
JUSTIN WAN/THE STATE NEWS
From left, Owosso, Mich., resident Cheryl Farver, member of Michigan Education Association, and her husband Tom Farver, member of United Auto Workers, protest on the steps of the Capitol in Lansing, Dec. 11, 2012. Thousands participated in the rally to protest the right-to-work laws.
employees were required to join unions after working for a certain time period. Many union workers feared giving employees the option not to join would weaken unions’ power when bargaining with employers for benefits, such as better wages or vacation times. Employees who chose not to join and do not pay union dues still will receive the benefits of bargaining. The passage was met with uproar in early December as crowds gathered outside the Capitol in protest. During President Barack Obama’s visit to Michigan on Dec. 10, he expressed his disagreement with right-to-work legislation.
“These so-called ‘right to work’ laws, they don’t have to do with economics; they have everything to do with politics,” he said. “What they’re really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money.” Obama said unions were responsible for the revival of Michigan’s auto industry.
Abortion rights
UNDER THE provisions of this bill, women now will be interviewed prior to abortions
Fishing now legal in the Red Cedar radeckis@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
See WILDLIFE on page 2 X
Where and what to fish on campus Licenses can be purchased from the Michigan Deptartment of Natural Resources
Keeping passwords private
EMPLOYERS AND educational institutions now will not be permitted to ask applicants, students or employees to release passwords for private accounts. This includes email and See BILLS on page 2 X
College of Veterinary Medicine assistant professor Patricia Schenck was charged in December with felony neglect of an animal, university spokesman Kent Cassella confirmed Monday. Clinton County officials were not immediately available for comment as of press time Monday. Schenck was arraigned on one count of animal neglect after a Dec. 12 search found 17 dogs and two cats in her home in poor conditions, according to the Lansing State Journal. “MSU is aware of the criminal charges that were filed against Patricia Ann Schenck,” Cassella said Monday night. “At this time, she’s been notified that she is being suspended with pay pending a resolution of the criminal justice process.” Cassella was unaware if she was slated to teach classes this semester or if she taught any last semester. “In her role at the college she did not treat animals and nor do the charges against her pertain to her work at the college,” Cassella said. A profile of Schenck on the university website showed she has been associated with MSU since 2001 and, prior to her suspension, was section chief of MSU Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health’s Endocrine Diagnostic Section. She published several scholarly articles and a book, “Home Prepared Dog & Cat Diets, Second Edition.” Schenck is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Thursday at the Clinton County District Court, according to the Lansing State Journal. Keep checking The State News for continued coverage of this issue. DARCIE MORAN
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Harris still recovering from shoulder injury By Dillon Davis
Fishing will be permitted on the north bank of the Red Cedar from the Kalamazoo Street Bridge to just west of Brody Complex
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Within the hidden woodlands of MSU’s campus lies a virtually untouched resource: fi shing. When the snow melts this spring, MSU students and community members finally will be able to let their fishing lines fly and cast away from the banks of the Red Cedar River— something the university had previously banned in a 1960s ordinance. The change unanimously was supported by the Board of Trustees at its December 2012 meeting, going into effect immediately following its passage. The new guidelines will allow the public to fish within a designated area of the river on MSU’s campus for a threeyear test period. Fishing will be permitted on the north bank of the river between the western edge of Brody Complex and the bridge near the Spartan statue. The area is moderately wooded with some banks for fishermen to stand on. “When I was a student, I fished on the Red Cedar all the time — fishing, feeding the ducks — that’s fun,” MSU Trustee George Perles said.
their bodies.” The bill also details how physicians must respectfully dispose of fetuses.
MSU PROFESSOR CHARGED WITH ANIMAL NEGLECT
BASKETBALL
WILDLIFE
By Samantha Radecki
to ensure they are not being forced to have the procedure. Snyder said this bill is meant to protect both women’s rights and safety. “Society should work to stop coercion in any form, whether it’s bullying a classmate or forcing someone to get, or not get, an abortion,” he said. Interim Director of the Women’s Resource Center Jayne Schuiteman said although she understands the bill is meant to help women, abortion is a private matter and shouldn’t be discussed in legislation at all. “The less the government intrudes into people’s personal lives the better,” she said. “I don’t think anyone should govern what women do with
CRIME
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Fish species in the river Walleye Typically weigh about three pounds. Walleye season ranges from May to March Steelhead (Rainbow Trout) Usually about eight pounds. They run up the Red Cedar in the spring Salmon Coho salmon in Michigan rivers usually weigh about eight pounds. They run up the Red Cedar in the fall Smallmouth Bass Usually weigh less than three pounds. Season runs from May to February SOURCE: MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF NATUR AL RESOURCES INFOGR APHIC BY LIAM ZANYK MCLEAN
davisdi4@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
It’s been established Gary Harris sprained his left shoulder in a November game against Boise State. However, head coach Tom Izzo revealed at his press conference Monday the freshman guard has been dealing with an additional shoulder injury. After alluding to it following the No. 22 Spartans’ (123 overall, 1-1 Big Ten) victory over Purdue on Saturday, Izzo confi rmed Harris’ right shoulder briefly popped out in a practice before the team played Texas on Dec. 22. In his first season, Harris averages 13.1 points per contest with a 49 percent field goal percentage, including scoring 12 points against Minnesota and a career-high 22 points in the win over the Boilermakers. “There are things you can say and you can’t say in this job because you don’t want to give things away, but I sit there and watch that kid the other day and I am amazed how far he has come considering the injuries that he has had,” Izzo said. “I go to (sophomore guard Branden) Dawson that way too and even (sophomore guard Travis) Trice, but Gary’s, you definitely saw some of the shooting fall off, but now in the last couple days, I think he has been
“You don’t want to give things away, but ... I am amazed how far he has come considering the injuries that he has had.” Tom Izzo, men’s basketball head Coach
much better.” Harris is second on the team in scoring, which is somewhat skewed because of playing just a single minute before injuring his left shoulder in the win against Boise State. Since Harris has been nursing his first shoulder injury, he hasn’t participated in the team’s rebounding drills in practice. That being the case, Izzo said Harris isn’t quite where he would like him to be, especially in the rebounding department. “I have been trying to get him to wear a brace on the left side at least in practice,” he said. “It is a catch-22; he doesn’t like it. … The other point that doctors bring up is that if you are wearing it, it isn’t really getting stronger, it’s getting aided.” No punishment for Dawson As many expected, the weekend’s game against Purdue was a brawl, not uncommon of two teams in Big Ten play. But for Dawson that connotation was felt in a more literal sense. After a second half 3-pointer
by Harris, it appeared Dawson, who was camped out under the basket, threw a punch at Purdue forward Travis Carroll. The video released by Big Ten Network was somewhat inconclusive, the debate ensued whether Dawson made contact with Carroll, and moreover, if he would be suspended. Izzo said it’s his understanding the play has been reviewed by the Big Ten and he didn’t expect any punishment to be handed down. “I see Dawson do some of that stuff all the time in practice and I’m not condoning or condemning but you sure couldn’t tell what it was and you didn’t see any guy buckle over,” he said. “I think they did review it. In that game, there was a lot of things you could have reviewed.” Dawson is third on the team in scoring with 9.9 points and averages 6.3 rebounds per game, while heavily contributing to the scoring attack in the paint for the Spartans. The team returns to the floor Thursday in Iowa City, Iowa, against the Hawkeyes (7 p.m., ESPN2).