A grand affair University officials celebrate opening of Morrill Plaza
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Michigan State University’s independent voice
Hockey team’s defense shines Danyelle Morrow/The State News
Sophomore goaltender Jake Hildebrand
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Seeing the Light
Summer training camp helps Travis Trice grow spiritually and physically By Matt Sheehan msheehan@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
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ometimes on the big stage, when nobody expects it, the curtain opens up and the spotlight shines on whoever is standing at the center.
With senior guard Keith Appling out indefinitely with a wrist injury, junior guard Travis Trice has joined one of the most scrutinized student groups at MSU — the basketball team’s starting lineup. In his two games as a starter against Penn State and Wisconsin, Trice has protected the ball like he owns it, dishing out nine assists and committing zero turnovers. Although there are facets the Huber Heights, Ohio native can improve on, head coach Tom Izzo likes what he sees out of his new starting point guard. “I think he’ll get better this week,” Izzo said. “I think he’s done
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student allegedly sexually assaulted
A student allegedly was sexually assaulted at about 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 9, according to police. The female victim told police she was first assaulted at a party off campus, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said. She then returned to MSU’s campus where she said she was sexually assaulted again in a residence hall. McGlothian-Taylor said the suspect is a 19-year-old male student, who police have been in contact with. The suspect claimed the act was consensual. A family member of the victim told The State News that the incident was not random. The incident is still under investigation. GEOFF PRESTON
politics
Bill could give interest-free loans to some college students
See TRICE on page 2 u
Trice’s Daily Summer Schedule
By Derek Gartee
5:30 a.m.
dgartee@statenews.com
Wake up
THE STATE NEWS
6:30 a.m.
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Go to the gym to lift
Roughly 8 a.m. Breakfast
10 a.m. - noon Shoot around at the gym
Noon - 1 p.m. Eat lunch
Roughly 2 p.m. Back to the gym for a few hours
5 p.m. Get dressed and go to either the sandpit for agilities or run stairs at Hoover Dam
After 5 p.m. Eat dinner Go to Bible study at night (Monday and Wednesday only)
Danyelle Morrow/The State News
Junior guard Travis Trice motions to teammates during the game against Wisconsin on Sunday at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. The Spartans lost to the Badgers, 60-58.
On Tuesday, Democratic state lawmakers announced a new bill that targets higher education and the increasing costs of attending college. If passed, the proposal would give 200 students per year an interest-free loan to pay for college, although it is unlikely to be approved by the Republicancontrolled legislature. State Rep. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, along with Rep. Theresa Abed, D-Grand Ledge and state Sen. Jim Ananich, D-Flint, introduced the SMART Act, short for “Smarter Michigan and Retaining Talent.” According to a statement, the bill will remove financial barriSee LOANS on page 2 u
a d m i n i s t r at i o n
tuition
Simon: ‘We know that tuition is too high’ Students protest Simon’s address By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Despite years of funding cuts and difficult budgetary decisions, President Lou Anna K. Simon said she’s confident MSU’s situation isn’t going anywhere but up. During her annual State of the University speech, Simon addressed several accomplishments MSU made throughout the last year, including the football team’s monumental Rose Bowl win. But she didn’t hesitate to address one of the biggest issues currently facing students — a series of tuition increases approved by the Board of Trustees that university officials blame on decreased appropriations from the state. "We’ve been through one of the worst times in our history,” Simon said during her speech. “We know that tuition is too high. And we’ve tried to solve part of that ... by being very aggressive with financial aid.” Simon addressed the prospect of increased state funding to universities included in Gov. Rick Snyder’s most recent bud-
Betsy Agosta /The State News
President Lou Anna K. Simon delivers her State of the University address on Tuesday at Wharton Center. Afterwards, faculty awards were given out.
get recommendation. Under Snyder’s plan, MSU would receive a 6.1 percent increase in funding in the next fiscal year. In June 2013, the Board of Trustees raised tuition rates by an average of 2.8 percent for the
2013-14 academic school year after receiving a 1.8 percent increase in aid from the state, a tuition increase that was less than expected by board See SIMON on page 2 u
More online … To watch a video of students protesting the State of the University address, visit statenews.com/multimedia.
From left, James Madison sophomore Andrew Gibson, philosophy senior Spencer Perrenoud, and history and jazz sophomore Duncan Tarr lead a protest before the State of the University address on Tuesday near Wharton Center parking ramp. The protest was organized by MSU Students United. — Casey Hull, SN See the story on page 3