Wednesday 1/9/13

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Izzo third most winningest coach in Big Ten history SPORTS, PAGE 7

MSU’s Evening College to oïŹ€er fewer courses

Debate: College professors hold least stressful career?

CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 3

CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 5

Head coach Tom Izzo. ADAM TOOLIN/ THE STATE NEWS

Weather Cloudy High 41° | Low 28° Michigan State University’s independent voice | statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | Wednesday, January 9, 2013

THE GUN

MSU professor faces 4 years of jail time, initial hearing planned for Thursday

QUESTION

By Darcie Moran

By Kellie Rowe and Darcie Moran

morandar@msu.edu

rowekell@msu.edu, morandar@msu.edu

THE STATE NEWS ■ ■

Two cats are staying with a College of Veterinary Medicine assistant professor who was charged with neglecting some of her 19 cats and dogs after a December search of her home found the animals Schenck living in their own feces. Assistant professor Patricia Schenck was charged with one count of animal neglect to 10 or more animals and faces up to four years in prison, Clinton County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Hayes said Tuesday. If found guilt y, Schenck might permanently lose the remaining 16 dogs and two cats found in poor condition in her home Dec. 12, Hayes said. He said 16 dogs were moved to the Clinton County Animal Control Shelter and a sick and elderly dog was euthanized with Schenck’s consent. University spokesman Kent Cassella previously told The State News that Schenck is suspended with pay pending the outcome of the case, and she did not handle animals in her position at the university. C l i nton Cou nt y She r i f f Way ne Kangas said police responded to a 911 call at Schenck’s home and found feces on the floor of Schenck’s home and the animals unkept. The two cats were left at the home because police were unable to find them when they went to collect the animals, Kangas said. “She agreed to take care of them,” Kangas said. “There See ABUSE on page 2 X

THE STATE NEWS ■■

W

hen criminal justice senior Harrison Gardner found out a person his age entered Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., and killed 20 children and six adults, he was horrified. “I was in disbelief,” Gardner said. “I can imagine myself in first grade 
 It’s just horrific.” But more than that, Gardner was angry. He was angry someone could do that. He was angry because he knew what it would lead to — an attack on guns. “All it takes is one dumb person to ruin it for every-

For reactions to the Sandy Hook shooting, see page 3 body,” Gardner said. Gardner, a rifle owner, said after the incident at Sandy Hook, he still believes in his right to own a gun. At night, he’s “a little bit more at ease” knowing the gun is there. According to smartgunlaws. org, Michigan ranks 10th in the nation in gun law safety, enacting “a modest amount” of laws to prevent gun violence. Some of these laws include policies that ensure police are notified

when a Michigan resident buys a gun and requires gun owners to report stolen firearms. After the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook, gun control became a common talking point in the news, in Congress and at MSU. Now, university officials and legislators are reflecting on preventing similar tragedies from ever striking the MSU community. The plan University spokesman Kent Cassella said MSU has specific plans in place if an active shooter situation should arise on campus. For safety reasons, officials declined to give plan specifics. Each department practices its own safety procedures regularly, and once a year MSU officials hold a full-scale exercise. Last summer, Ingham County officials teamed up to practice an active-shooter simulation in East Neighborhood. After blank shots were fired in Conrad Hall’s auditorium, volunteers playing the role of victims fled the building as police practiced securing a chaotic situation and paramedics treated mock victims. Although plans are in place, MSU police detective Jerry Roudebush said in his 14 years at MSU, gun violence is rare in this area. East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy echoed this belief — although gun violence is not unheard of. “Things like what happened at Sandy Hook just bring (the subject of guns) to the forefront,” he said. Cassella said

In wake of shootings, gun policy subject of debate in nation, state and campus

although he’s never experienced a shooting on campus during his six years at the university, MSU is ready. “I have complete confidence in our police and our first responders here,” he said. “It’s one of those things we train for ... But you pray you never have to (use.)” The politics As Americans grieved for Newtown, Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed a bill during winter break permitting concealed guns in more public places. The bill would have permitted gun-owners with additional training to carry concealed weapons in schools, stadiums, day care centers and churches. Snyder expressed concern that the provisions of the bill would not allow public institutions the freedom to prohibit guns in their building. “While the bill’s goal is to help prevent needless violence, Michigan will be better served if we view it through a variety of lenses,” he said in a statement.

ILLUSTR ATION BY DREW DZWONKOWSKI

ABUSE

Three-day forecast, Page 2

See GUNS on page 2 X

How would you handle an active gunman on campus? Visit statenews. com/multimedia for a guide.

EAST LANSING

POSTON

City Council debates hookah lounge ban Poston ends 14-year term as VP to return as CANR dean

By Michael Koury kourymic@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS

By Samantha Radecki

■■

At Tuesday’s scheduled work session, the East Lansing City Council discussed a proposed ordinance that wouldn’t allow additional hookah lounges to come to East Lansing. The proposed ordinance was brought to the council by the city staff in an effort to close an exemption from the 2010 Dr. Ron Davis Law, which bans smoking in public places. The law banned smoking in public places, with the exception of cigar bars and specialty tobacco stores that existed the day the law went into effect. The stores and bars grandfathered in were held to restrictions such as certain sales criteria. The proposed ordinance would close the exemption that allowed the Six Lounge Hookah & Smoke Shop, 400 Albert Ave., to transfer its exemption from Livonia to East Lansing and establish themselves in the area. The council will be setting a date for a public hearing on

radeckis@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Students hangout and smoke hookah together Feb. 4, 2012, at Six Lounge Hookah and Smoke Shop, 400 Albert Ave. City officials plan to restrict additional hookah lounges coming into downtown East Lansing.

the issue at next week’s regular meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Nathan Triplett voiced support for the measure, but said anytime the coun-

cil is considering an ordinance that would constrict any potential business owner from opening in East Lansing, they need to consider those proposals carefully

and not take them lightly. “I think this particular proposal is in the best interest for See HOOKAH on page 2 X

In light of the new year, Fred Poston has returned to a college and field of academia he has grown up with, worked in and has previously ran — the field of agriculture. On Jan. 1, Poston officially became Poston dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, or CANR, leaving his 14-year term as vice president of finance and operations after the MSU Board of Trustees recommended him to the position last October. In the 1990s, Poston served as dean of CANR for about eight years. “It’s exciting I get to return to the academic mission of the university, which is where I spent all of those years,” Poston said “My wife said, ‘It’s like going home,’ and you know, it really does feel

like that.” When Poston left the post in 1998, he was replaced in 2001 by Jeffrey Armstrong, who served for nine years and was succeeded by Douglas Buhler as interim dean in 2011. Acting Provost June Youatt said the search to find a new permanent dean was tedious. When the university could not decide on the proper candidate, it turned to Poston, Youatt said. “There were multiple candidates, but none of them were the best match for this college,” Youatt said. “In this state, the college has a responsibility to respond to stakeholders across the state as well to be an active player in international research in addition to preparing students. To find a dean who can manage those multiple tasks is not easy.” Youatt said the college is at an advantage with Poston now in charge. But after 14 years, Poston said the college he remembers has changed dramatically. See POSTON on page 2 X


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