Professional Profe writing senior Cheyen Roy. Cheyenne DANYELLE DA MORR MORROW/THE STA STATE NEWS
weekend Michigan State University’s independent voice | statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | Friday, February 8, 2013
P Production of ‘The Vagina M Monologues’ hits campus FEATURES, PAGE 5
Civil rights activist shares stories at MSU
Column: New recruiting class fits with Dantonio’s vision
CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 3
SPORTS, PAGE 6
Opening Doors By Lilly Keyes keyeslil@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
B
efore Colin Wiebrecht came out to himself in January of his senior year of high school, every time someone mindlessly said the phrase “That’s so gay,” he felt a small jab at the person inside of him — he just wasn’t ready to share. But when the molecular genetics and genomics freshman finally came to terms with his sexuality, it was like the last piece of the puzzle snapped into place. “At some point along the way, I lost my confidence. But when I came out to people, I got that back,” Wiebrecht said. “It just felt amazing because it was like, if I can accept who I am and not be afraid of who I am … then I can do anything.” Since coming to MSU, Wiebrecht has been dedicated to helping others feel confident, too. He is part of a group of 14 other students who have spent more than 2 years planning MBLGTACC — the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, ally, or LGBTA, conference in the nation. This weekend, the work finally will pay off. MBLGTACC is being held at the Lansing Center this Friday and Saturday, and Wiebrecht hopes it will be a chance for MSU students from every sexual orientation to find a safe place to discuss issues that affect their personal views of sexuality. For some, that could be the confidence to come out to themselves or their families, and for others, the conference will be a safe place to talk about the LGBTA issues surrounding them. Humble beginnings When the small group of students who wanted to plan MBLGTACC approached Deanna Hurlbert, assistant director of the LBGT Resource
Officials excited to welcome nation’s largest LGBT conference to area; weekend provides opportunities for open, inclusive environment
Center, the center initially turned them away. The students had no way to fund the conference, which is expected to draw in 2,000 college students from places as far away as California and Florida. Despite the almost-impossibly large number of tasks in front of them, the importance of hosting the event weighed more heavily on them than the challenges they would have to put on their shoulders. “It’s been consuming the last two years of our lives,” Erica Shekell, director of mar-
The conference also provides an arena free of any stereotypes or misconceptions and a safe place for students keting and public relations for MBLGTACC, said. “It’s been a lot of personal sacrifice, but it’s because the conference is so important to all of us.” Although there were hurdles for the 15-student planning committee, Shekell said MSU is the perfect place to host the conference because of the accepting attitude on campus and the 14 different LGBTA student groups. With discussion topics at the conference ranging from pansexuality to being an ally to the LGBTA community, the 98 different workshops offer a topic for anyone — gay or straight. This provides a valuable education that might have been out of reach for students, Shekell said. “If you’re Christian, you’ll (likely) be raised by a Christian family, and if you’re African American, you’ll (likely) be raised by an African American family,” Shekell said. “But if you’re LGBT, your family members aren’t necessarily LGBT, so you don’t get that knowledge.” She said speakers at the conference can provide participants with the kind of knowledge they haven’t been able to find anywhere else. For Wiebrecht, the 2,000 attendees the conference is projected to bring will pro-
PHOTOS BY K ATIE STIEFEL/THE STATE NEWS
Professional writing and women’s studies senior Allegra Smith, right, talks with genetics freshman Colin Wiebrecht about the upcoming MBLGTACC conference Thursday at the LGBT Resource Center.
More online … To view a video interview with a student organizer of the conference, visit statenews.com/multimedia.
vide a sense of anonymity for students who still are figuring out their sexuality. Wiebrecht said the fear of being recognized at a neighborhood caucus such as PRISM, RING or SPECTRUM could keep students from getting the information they want to know but are afraid to seek out. The conference also provides an arena free of any stereotypes or misconceptions and a safe place for students, Wiebrecht said. Brent Bilodeau, director of the LBGT Resource Center until last year, attended the conference when MSU hosted it at Kellogg Center in 2003. He said
the atmosphere was unlike anything he had ever experienced. “There was something there,” Bilodeau said. “When I reflect on that, for many of those students, it’s the first time in their lives they had the opportunity to gather with a group of (LGBT students) of that size and that scope.” Common ground When Wiebrecht noticed students were ripping down the posters for the Gay-Straight Alliance, or GSA, he established in his high school, he didn’t halt any of his efforts — he just asked custodians to hang them up higher.
POLITICS
University of South Dakota student, Ross Dietrich, reaches into a box of condoms to add to the bag he is stuffing for the MBLGTACC conference on Thursday.
And when he started seeing positive results, he knew he was creating a resource many students across the
nation don’t have access to. “I really felt like I was doing See LGBT on page 2 X
NIGHTLIFE
MSU FUNDING INCREASES PROPOSED Secrets Night Club branches rowekell@msu.edu
out to be more multicultural
THE STATE NEWS
By Isabella Shaya
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shayaisa@msu.edu
Gov. Rick Snyder recommended a 2 percent increase in 2014 for higher education Thursday, but the small increase might not be enough to make up for doubledigit cuts in 2012. Michigan universities, including MSU, received a funding blow in 2012 when Snyder cut state higher education spending by almost 15 percent. This fiscal year, Snyder gave 3 percent back to public universities and suggested another 2 percent increase next year during a presentation Thursday morning at the Boji Tower, 124 W. Allegan St., in Lansing. The increase would add about $25 million to Michigan universities’ current $1.4 billion budget overall. During the presentation, the governor stressed educating Michigan’s youth and expanding job opportunities for college
THE STATE NEWS
By Kellie Rowe
ADAM TOOLIN/THE STATE NEWS
Gov. Rick Snyder unveils his recommendations for Michigan’s budget for the 2014 fiscal year. Before the budget proposal can be implemented, the Michigan House and Senate both must pass it.
See POLITICS on page 2 X
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Armed with a new name and management, Secrets Night Club is ready to take on a theme new to the club scene in the Lansing area. Secrets Night Club, 224 S. Washington Square, in Lansing, formerly called Club X-Cel, is moving to be a multicultural club since MSU alumnus and owner Darrin Sutton bought the place with his brother in fall 2012. “People think that if you don’t have a main theme, it won’t work,” Sutton said. “I’ve taken the idea that just because I’m a black owner, I don’t want to be considered a black nightclub.” The club is open to everyone 18 and up Thursday and Friday, and Saturday is 21 and up, unless the student presents a college ID, Sutton said. Sunday through Wednesday
is reserved for groups and parties, which has included events for fraternities and sororities and an after-party next week for the University of Michigan versus MSU basketball game. Last week, Secrets Night Club served three ethnic groups on three separate nights, Sutton said. “Because of Michigan State’s campus (and) because of the closeness of it, I would like to serve all ethnic groups and not be known as one type of ethnic club,” Sutton said. When human biology junior Devon Velding went to the club in the fall of 2011, she went on a night with all international students. “It was really diverse when I was there,” she said. “It was kind of cool. They had platforms and it was … different than the usual bar scene.” The club is 18 and up, but alcohol still is served to those of age. See NIGHTLIFE on page 2 X