Thursday 2/16/17

State News The

Legacy in Question MSU gymnastics head coach Kathie Klages retires on Feb. 14 after her suspension from MSU Head coach Kathie Klages was suspended from her role at MSU on Feb. 13, 2017 after a Jan. 31, 2017 motion alleged she discouraged a gymnast from reporting former MSU employee Larry Nassar’s alleged sexual abuse. She retired on Feb. 14, 2017 according to a statement from MSU spokesperson Jason Cody.

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

S P OT L I G H T

F E AT U R E S

“If we do nothing, if we don’t identify revenues or changes in expenditures, our fund balance ... will basically be depleted in three years.”

DOG TREATS A former MSU faculty member started a business that bakes all-natural dog treats from scratch

Jill Feldpausch, East Lansing Finance Director PAGES 4 AND 5 PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: NIC ANTAYA. SEE PAGE 4.

T HU R S DAY, F E B R UA RY 16 , 2 017

@THESNEWS

STAT ENEWS .COM

PAGE 12

News

Rachel Fradette Campus editor campus@statenews.com

MSU gymnastics coach Klages retires amid Nassar scandal, lawsuit

BY BRIGID KENNEDY BKENNEDY@STATENEWS.COM

MSU gymnastics head coach Kathie Klages retired from her position Tuesday amidst allegations she discouraged athletes from reporting sexual abuse.

Klages was the longest-tenured head coach at MSU, in her 27th year. She was named Big Ten Coach of the Year three times.

Klages has been named in two motions in a lawsuit against former MSU employee Larry Nassar. The motions allege that Klages was aware of allegations of sexual abuse against Nassar as early as 1997.

Nassar is accused of sexually abusing patients in his role as a doctor, including MSU student-athletes and members of the U.S. Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team.

One motion alleges a plaintiff identified as Jane BMSU Doe told Klages she had concerns about her treatments with Nassar “sometime in late 1997 to mid 1998.”

Klages allegedly told the plaintiff she could file a report, but the report “would have serious consequences” for both Jane BMSU Doe and Nassar.

Klages allegedly called Nassar to warn him about the conversation. When Jane BMSU Doe showed up to her appointment with Nassar later that day, he told her she didn’t understand the treatment and allegedly performed the “procedure” again.

Representatives from MSU allegedly told

“(Klages’) passionate defense of Dr. Nassar created an emotionally charged environment for the team.”

Mark Hollis, MSU Athletic Director said via email to Klages

“potential victims” not to speak with the police or the media, and suggested “that athletes’ personal cellular phone would be checked for police or media contact,” according to court documents.

Another motion alleges a plaintiff identified as Jane IMSU Doe, a participant in Spartan youth gymnastics, refused treatment from Nassar, but he held her down and “performed the ‘procedure’ against (her) will.”

When Klages was informed of the incident, she allegedly told Jane IMSU Doe that “there is no reason to bring up Nassar’s conduct.”

MSU policy would have mandated Klages to report incidents of sexual assault in the university community.

Klages’ attorney, Shirlee Bobryk, denies that Klages was informed of Nassar’s alleged sexual abuse of his patients.

“Had she ever received any information to cast doubt on the appropriateness of that trust in Dr. Nassar, she would have reacted immediately to protect her gymnasts,” Bobryk said in a statement provided to the Lansing State Journal.

When asked to comment on Klages’ retirement, Bobryk confirmed that The State News is a student publication and then said, “I choose not to talk to you.”

Klages’ retirement came one day after she was suspended with pay by the university. In a letter to Klages, MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis said Klages’ “passionate defense of Dr. Nassar created an emotionally charged environment for the team.”

Mike Rowe, formerly an assistant coach with the University of Pittsburgh, will serve as interim head coach for the gymnastics team.

In the early-2000s, Rowe worked as a coach and choreographer at Lansing gymnastics club Geddert’s Twistars-USA. Twistars is named as a defendant in a lawsuit against Nassar. Nassar worked with Twistars gymnasts from 1996 to 2016, and multiple assaults allegedly took place on the premises.

A parent allegedly complained about Nassar’s conduct to Twistars owner John Geddert in 1998, though the allegations were never addressed, according to court documents.

Head coach Kathie Klages during a match. Klages was suspended from her role at MSU on Feb. 13 after a Jan. 31 motion alleged she discouraged a gymnast from reporting former MSU employee Larry Nassar’s alleged sexual abuse. She retired on Feb. 14. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Klages intends to “cooperate fully with any law enforcement or University investigations regarding Dr. Nassar,” according to Hollis’ let-

ter to Klages.

MSU Director of New Media Matt Larson confirmed Klages’ retirement via email.

FORMER MSU GYMNASTICS COACH KATHIE KLAGES’ CAREER

1990 Klages becomes the fourth women’s gymnastics coach in MSU history

1997-98 Klages allegedly informed of Nassar’s sexual misconduct on two occasions

2006 Klages wins Big Ten Coach of the Year

Feb. 13, 2017 Klages suspended with pay from MSU after being named in a lawsuit against former MSU faculty member Larry Nassar

1990 Klages coaches Level 10 Junior Olympic National Champion

1996 Klages wins Big Ten Coach of the Year

2004 Klages wins Big Ten Coach of the Year

2010 MSU gymnast Kathryn Mahoney is paralyzed in a practice accident

Feb. 14, 2017 Klages retires from MSU

1979

1979 Klages begins her coaching career as head gymnastics coach at Spring Lake High School

2

THE STATE N EWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

2017

Klages announced her retirement on Feb. 14

Contents

Cameron Macko Managing editor cmacko@statenews.com

ONLINE

Langford shines against Ohio State

Lambda Chi Alpha update

Three players invited to NFL Combine

Freshman guard Joshua Langford helped seal the win for the Spartans

Only one person, not the entire fraternity, is under investigation for sexual assault

Scheduled for the end of February, just three MSU football players were invited

BY T H E N U M B E R S

16

Number of turnovers MSU had during the game against Ohio State University See page 8

“I think the guys knew that we had a grind it out game. The locker room, they felt good about that.

That’s how it’s going to be for us.

We’re not gorgeous, we’re just valentines. Nobody probably got any cards on our team. We’re not the darlings of Valentine’s Day, we’re just the grinders.”

Tom Izzo, Head MSU men’s basketball coach PAGE 7

MSU alumna and Traverse City native the winner of Hell’s Kitchen

BY JAIMIE BOZACK JBOZACK@STATNEWS.COM

MSU alumna and Hell’s Kitchen winner Kimberly Ryan stood behind a door that would determine her destiny during the show’s season finale.

During the episode, which aired on Feb. 2, the two remaining contestants out of 18 each stood behind a door, one opened and one didn’t. The one that opened also opened new opportunities, which included a head chef position at Yardbird Southern Table & Bar at The Venetian Las Vegas.

After what seemed like forever, Ryan nervously turned the doorknob and opened the door to her future. She became the winner of Hell’s Kitchen season 16.

Ryan is originally from Traverse City, where she became fascinated with cooking at a young age.

“I got into it kind of late in high school and it kind of wasn’t an option for me with my family,” Ryan said. “They didn’t really think that culinary school was the best option for me and that I needed to go get a proper real education.”

To obtain that proper education, Ryan started at MSU in 2003 and studied hospitality business.

During her time at MSU, Ryan said she paid for

her rent one year by cooking for her roommates every day.

“I love MSU and I did get a real education, but I kind of always felt like I was just going through the motions and all of my other friends had a plan,” Ryan said.

From feeling like she did not have a plan to being the winner of Hell’s Kitchen, Ryan has defied all odds.

Hell’s Kitchen finished taping at the end of December 2014, she said. She had to spend almost two years keeping her big win secret from the public.

“It was hard ... I had to put my life on hold for almost two years,” Ryan said. “I didn’t really watch the show so I didn’t really know what to expect at all even going out there. I didn’t want to be the first person sent home and then every week I was like, ‘OK, wait a second maybe I actually have a shot here.’”

During the show, Ryan spent countless hours cooking competitively among the 18 contestants.

She was challenged with dishes that included everything from dinners to desserts. She also had to deal with the stress of head chef Gordon Ramsay and his harsh behavior in the kitchen.

Holt, Mich. resident Skye Woodard, 2, holds a magnifying glass to look at a display case of insects during the open house on Feb. 13, 2017 at the MSU Entomology Bug House in the Natural Sciences Building. Skye Woodard’s grandfather, Phillip Woodard, said he wanted to get his granddaughter “acclimated to bugs, so she’s not afraid of them, because her mom is slightly afraid.” PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

VOL . 107 | NO. 40

Correction: In a photo on page 12 of The State News from Feb. 13, a member of the Spartan Ski club was misidentified. The person in the photo was actuarial science senior Andrew Fialka.

CONTACT THE STATE NEWS (517) 295-1680

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jake Allen

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

MANAGING EDITOR Cameron Macko

GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

EDITORIAL STAFF (517) 432-3070 ADVERTISING MANAGER Emalie Parsons COLOPHON The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

CITY EDITOR Stephen Olschanski

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday and Thursday during the academic year.

PHOTO EDITOR Nic Antaya

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.

DESIGN EDITOR Claire Barkholz

Copyright © 2017 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.

CAMPUS EDITOR Rachel Fradette SPORTS EDITOR Souichi Terada FEATURES EDITOR McKenna Ross

COPY CHIEF Casey Holland

T H U RS DAY, F E B RUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

TH E STATE N E WS

3

RELIGIOUS GUIDE Spotlight Look for this directory in the paper every Thursday and online at: www.statenews.com/religious St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C. Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 337-9778 stjohnmsu.org Sunday: 8am, 10am, Noon, 5pm, 7pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12:15pm Lansing Church of Tuesday & Thursday: God in Christ 5304 Wise Rd., Lansing, MI 9:15pm 48911 The Islamic Society of http://lansingcogic.org/ Greater Lansing Worship hours Sunday: 10:30am, 5:00pm 920 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 Monday Family Prayer: Islam 101 Feb. 5, 2:30 p.m Ascension Lutheran Church 6:00pm Friday Services: 2780 Haslett Rd., E. Lansing 12:15-12:45 & 1:45-2:15 Little Flock Christian Between Hagadorn & Park For prayer times visit Fellowship Lake Rds. www.lansingislam.com/ A Non-Denominational(517) 337-9703 Evagelical Church Adult Bible Study: 9am Trinity Church MSU Alumni Chapel Sunday School: 9am 3355 Dunckel Rd. (Basement Hall) Worship Service: 10am Lansing, MI 48911 Sunday Worship Service: ascensioneastlansing.org (517) 272-3820 10am-12 Noon.

Saturday: 6pm Fellowship Lunch after the Sunday: 9:15am, 11am Eastminster Presbyterian service Church trinitywired.com 1315 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, Weekly Bibly Studies & University Baptist Students’ Meetings.

MI, 48823 Church littleflock.msu@gmail.com (517) 337-0893 4608 South Hagadorn Rd www.littleflock.org www.eastminsterchurch.org East Lansing, MI 48823 Worship Gatherings: (517) 351-4144 Martin Luther Chapel Sunday Worship 10:30 am www.ubcel.org 444 Abbot Rd. UKirk Presbyterian Campus 10 AM Worship Service East Lansing, MI 48823 Ministry Wednesdays at 7pm 11:15 Coffee Hour (517) 332-0778 www.ukirkmsu.org 11:30 Sunday School martinlutherchapel.org Sunday: 9:30am & 7:00pm University Christian Greater Lansing Church Wednesday Worship: 9pm Church of Christ Mini-bus pick-up on 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. campus (Fall/Spring) East Lansing, MI East Lansing, MI 48823 (Meeting at the University (517) 332-5193 Peoples Church Christian Church building) universitychristianCampus Ministry (517) 898-3600 wired.com 200 W Grand River Ave., Sunday: 11:15 am Students welcome!

East Lansing, MI Sunday Bible Study: Sunday Worship: 8:45am (517) 332-5073 10:15am Sunday Bible class: 10:15am Sunday Evening: Small Group ThePeoplesChurch.com University United Wednesday: 7pm - bible study Worship Times: Sunday: 10:30 AM worship Methodist Church & Students please feel free to 11:30 AM Student Lunch MSU Wesley call for rides & Gathering 1120 S. Harrison Rd. http://www.greaterlansingMonday: 6:30 PM Student East Lansing, MI 48823 coc.org Dinner & Bible Study (517) 351-7030 universitychurchhome.org Haslett Community Church River Terrace Church msuwesley.org 1427 Haslett Road Sunday: 10:30am 1509 River Terrace Dr. Haslett, MI 48840 9:00am Garden Service in East Lansing, MI 48823 Phone: (517) 339-8383 the summer (517) 351-9059 Worship Hours: Sunday TGIT: 8:00pm Thursdays www.riverterrace.org Worship at 10:00am Service times: 9 & 11:15am Sept. - April www.haslettcommunityWELS Lutheran Campus church.org Ministry 704 Abbot Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 580-3744 www.msu.edu/~weisluth 6:00pm Saturday All Saints Episcopal Church 800 Abbot Road East Lansing, Michigan 48823 Phone: (517) 351-7160 E-mail: allsaints@allsaints-el.org Website: http://www.allsaints-el.org Worship Times: Sunday Worship: 8 am & 10 am Sunday School: 10 am Sunday Vespers: 5 pm Thursday Prayer & Breakfast: 7:30 am

Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St., E. Lansing (517) 332-1916 Friday Night Services: 6pm, Dinner: 7pm September - April

City of East Lansing to face steep financial issues if current path continues

BY RILEY MURDOCK RMURDOCK@STATENEWS.COM

Kicking off its financial season with a budget retreat last Saturday, the city of East Lansing showcased a municipality in dire financial straits.

East Lansing has budgeted a -5.9 percent revenue growth for 2017 compared to a -2.6 percent expenditure growth, resulting in a $1,273,145 deficit that would be taken out of the general fund, according to the city’s Long-Term Financial Forecast. The city hopes to reduce the year’s actual spending to $257,000 through cuts and revenue expansions, according to the city’s General Fund FiveYear Financial Forecast, but projects an additional $1,642,125 deficit for 2018.

Although she assured there’s no chance it would be allowed to happen, acting East Lansing Finance Director Jill Feldpausch said without changes East Lansing’s general fund would run completely dry in the near future because of the deficit.

“If we do nothing, if we don’t identify revenues or changes in expenditures, our fund balance … will basically be depleted in three years,” Feldpausch said.

Feldpausch said recommendations for cuts and revenue

30M

State of Distress After being knocked off its feet by the financial crisis, East Lansing’s financial woes continued.

According to several East Lan-

total expenditures

total revenue

25M 20M 15M 10M budget deficit

5M

Religious Organizations: Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory!

Call 517-295-1680 today to speak with an Account Executive

The Catalyst East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas said East Lansing’s troubles began at the same time as many others: the housing market crash. The Great Recession took its toll on the city in more than one way.

Earlier in the Park District development saga, Lahanas said East Lansing bought properties behind Dublin Square at a high value before the housing crash, which they now owe $5.6-5.7 million on. The city and the Downtown Development Authority, or DDA, want to put the properties into development to recoup their costs, Lahanas said, and though the properties are currently covering their costs and interest through renting, payment will

balloon in coming years. As of the most recent proposal, these buildings were intended to be redeveloped as part of the Park District project.

Another large burden the city faces are “legacy costs,” or money owed in the form of retirement funds, pensions and healthcare costs, which Lahanas said many cities struggle with.

Lahanas said pensions took a huge dip in 2008, becoming further depleted by continuing to pay out benefits during the downturn.

East Lansing’s total “bonded indebtedness” encompassing construction, projects and infrastructure totals $49 million, which Lahanas said is reasonable for a government of their size. However, with additional legacy costs totaling approximately $120 million, the situation becomes much more dire.

Lahanas said the city’s bonded indebtedness is down from 82 million in 2007, as a significant number of debt items have expired, but legacy costs continue to move in the wrong direction.

PROJECTED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE, WITH GENERAL FUND AND BALANCE

40M 35M

expansion will go before council at its Feb. 21 meeting in order to have next year’s budget ready

by April.

“I think one of the things that it’s important for people to know is we have really made a lot of cuts and a lot of efficiencies in the last years, and that is not a well that is going to bring forward a lot of (solutions), it’s not going to close that $1.6 million dollar (fund balance) gap,” East Lansing City Councilmember Shanna Draheim said.

0 general fund and

-5M

balance at year’s end

-10M 2016 actual

2017 budgeted

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

expected forecasted

4

T H E STAT E NE WS

T H U R S DAY, FE B R UA RY 1 6, 2 01 7

2022

Spotlight sing officials, such as Draheim and Lahanas, the state of Michigan’s city-unfriendly tax policies have hampered the city’s ability to bounce back.

“The situation in Michigan is extremely difficult, Michigan is a very, very unfavorable state towards city governments,” Lahanas said. “They set up their tax policies in a way that makes it very difficult for cities to be sustainable. … They don’t provide access to revenue streams to the city, and they sort of control it and make it very difficult for cities to function.”

Property taxes account for roughly 50 percent of East Lansing’s revenue, the largest overall source, according to the city’s General Fund Five-Year Financial Forecast.

Mic h iga n, t h rough t he Headlee Amendment and Proposal A, restricts the amount property taxes can raise in a single year and prevents property taxes from rising if the increase is higher than the rate of inflation. This, Lahanas said, has crippled city revenue from property tax, leading to the aforementioned debt on their rental properties. Lahanas said that while property value might increase 5 to 10 percent a year as the recession wears off, what the city earns in property tax might only go up a fraction of that.

“The reason that was put in place was to stop, during a booming market, a burden for taxpayers of having huge increases of taxes, but what happened was there was a crash in the market, so houses lost a huge amount of value overnight,” Lahanas said. “The value of those houses dropped and (the tenants) started paying taxes on a low value house, and now Proposal A and Headlee stop (property taxes) from going up again. … Think about trying to run your household or your budget on what you made 20 years ago. It’s difficult.”

The rate of revenue sharing between the state and cities has also ensnared East Lansing’s recovery.

Cutting losses The city, now tasked with escaping its financial hole, has found that digging less won’t fill it. Nevertheless, officials said some cutting back might once again be necessary.

“I think that’s sort of a twopart strategy, we’re going to try to get through the next couple years with making whatever adjustments we can possibly make, then we’ve got to think long term about how we’re gonna make up the deficit,” Councilmember Erik Altmann said.

A potential source of solutions comes in the form of the Financial Health Review Team. Convened last year at the request of council, the team made 42 financial recommendations in seven categories throughout the course of 2016, compiled in a final reported submitted

17 January, 2017. Lahanas said council will begin considering the recommendations one at a time during the coming months.

Michael Moquin, who chaired the review team, said the city approached him most likely because of his experience as a lawyer dealing with legacy costs.

“We can see that four or five years down the road it doesn’t work in terms of what our obligations are and our ability to pay for them,” Moquin said. “A lot of the times you don’t find until the ceiling has fallen in that you have a problem with your roof, so this was a proactive effort.”

“The situation in Michigan is extremely difficult, Michigan is a very, very unfavorable state towards city governments.”

George Lahanas East Lansing city manager Among the recommendations made by the review team are the establishment of a volunteer network of residents to help find and implement cost savings, as well as a 5 percent budget cut in City Services, with cuts chosen for minimal impact rather than an acrossthe-board cut.

“It’s never a good way, to just carte-blanche do 5 percent cuts across the board,” Feldpausch said. “Some departments are very small, other departments are very large … there are some departments where the only way we can cut 5 percent is getting rid of the only person in the department.”

In search of income No matter how much the city manages to reduce spending, however, more revenue is needed to put East Lansing’s finances back on track, Altmann said.

“We need more money, we have dis-invested in infrastructure, we have debts that we owe from past services, legacy costs, and we have a staff that is cut to the bone that is working overtime trying to maintain city services,” Altmann said. “There is no front on which we don’t need more money, that is the problem.”

Moquin said one considered revenue stream would be a city income tax, among one of the recommendations made by the review team, but one that might not be well received.

“It’s a very substantial decision that would have a lot of different views on it by citizens as well as perhaps by council itself, but nonetheless they need to look at that

Cameron Macko Managing editor cmacko@statenews.com

because of the potential revenues that could be generated,” Moquin said.

In another option, Altmann said he thinks special event parking prices should double within the next year, as game day activities generate a lot of the city’s costs.

“I’m not sure how strong the support would be for that amongst my colleagues, but basically we have a lot of people come into East Lansing for various events and so forth who consume city services and consume city infrastructure but don’t pay for any of it, so we need to find a way to start recouping those costs,” Altmann said.

The prospect of paying more for parking might sound like two pieces of styrofoam rubbing together to some students, but Altmann said the city can’t handle much more give without any take.

“People need to realize that we’re not on a sustainable course right now, we have a choice to make: either East Lansing is going to become a different city because services are going to decline dramatically, or we have to figure out how to pay the costs of what we’re (giving),” Altmann said.

“The city is extraordinarily well managed at the moment, and the only reason we haven’t seen steep cuts in services is because the staff is working really, really hard to maintain levels of service and that can’t go on forever. People are going to burn out, we’re going to lose folks, we’re going to lose good employees because we can’t pay them enough and we’re overworking them.”

$41

MILLION in “bonded indebtedness”

$120 MILLION

2017 BUDGETED REVENUES/EXPENSES Transfer out to other funds 5.84%

Capital outlay Sidewalk 0.46% program 2.42% Operating expenses 19.86%

Other fringe personnel services 3.45%

EXPENSES

Active health insurance 6.30%

Salaries 40.93%

Retiree health 5.30%

Retirement 15.44%

Grant revenue 1.63%

Other revenue 2.85%

Charges for services 11.44% Fines and forfeitures 8.70%

Property taxes 50.43%

Licences and permits 5.28%

REVENUES

in unfunded “legal costs”

Other 0.14% PA 289 Fire protection 3.28%

2021 when, without any changes made, the city’s general fund is projected to go negative

State-shared revenue 16.24% GRAPHICS: TAYLOR SKELTON SOURCE: CITY OF EAST LANSING T H U RS DAY, F E B RUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

T H E STATE N E WS

5

Sports

Souichi Terada Sports editor sports@statenews.com

SPARTAN

BASKETBALL

FINAL SCORE MSU OSU

74 - 66

BY THE NUMBERS

COME TRY OUR FAMOUS

SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS •18 CRAFT BEER TAPS• 1224 N.Turner Street, Old Town Lansing 517-580-4400 | www.meatbbq.com

VOTE FOR US IN THE BEST OF MSU

MSU

OSU

OHIO STATE

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

48.1%

41.7%

12 TURNOVERS

3-POINT PERCENTAGE

40%

38.9%

TOTAL REBOUNDS

39

FREE THROW 66.7% PERCENTAGE STEALS

BEST OF 2017

6

THE STATE N EWS

THURSDAY, FEBR UA RY 1 6 , 2 01 7

5

33 56.3% 6

MSU 16 TURNOVERS

Sports

Souichi Terada Sports editor sports@statenews.com

Senior guard Ellis III, bench play boost Spartans to crucial victory CCLARK@STATENEWS.COM

In the MSU men’s basketball victory over the Ohio State University Buckeyes, senior guard Alvin Ellis III lifted the team and the Izzone with 3-pointer after 3-pointer.

From 16:29 left in the first half to 12:06, Ellis shot his bow and arrow and scored five straight 3-pointers for 15 points.

Head coach Tom Izzo said Ellis asked to be taken out and he cooled off for the remainder of the game.

Ellis added one more 3-point field goal to his total, ending the game with 18 points, 6-for-11 from the floor and 6-for-9 from behind the 3-point line.

“Well, it’s funny, because I started my pregame speech out with ... When I got in this morning and started doing some work, I walked into our video room and heard the ball bounce,” Izzo said. “I look down and I see Alvin Ellis shooting with one of my GA’s. And that’s how I started out my speech because you know, that didn’t happen a lot in the last three years.”

On average, Ellis plays just more than 16 minutes per game and scores six points per game.

His 39.7 percent average from 3-point

range ranks No. 4 on the team, 0.1 percent behind fifth-year senior guard Eron Harris and 0.3 percent behind freshman forward Miles Bridges.

“After the first one went in, I was just going to keep shooting it until I missed,” Ellis said.

“My teammates did a great job of finding me in transition. It’s really fun. When things are falling like that, you can’t do anything but have fun out there. Everybody is all hyped up and the crowd gets into it. There’s nothing like it.”

Ellis has shown sparks of success and scoring proficiency this season.

In an overtime win at Minnesota, Ellis scored 20 points with six rebounds against the Golden Gophers. In the Spartans’ next game, a home matchup against Northwestern, Ellis scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

“Alvin has been putting in the work, so I really think he deserves this,” Bridges said.

“He’s just going to continue to get better.

To me, he’s a pro player. He’s smart, he can shoot, he can do everything on the court.

I’m just happy that he had a big game today.”

Izzo pointed out the success of the role players to provide key sparks for MSU. On three separate occasions for the Spartans, they captured and lost a double-digit lead.

While MSU allowed Ohio State to get over the hump in the first matchup, this time the Spartans were prepared.

“I think the guys knew that we had a grind it out game,” Izzo said. “The locker room, they felt good about that. That’s how it’s going to be for us. We’re not gorgeous, we’re just valentines. Nobody probably got any cards on our team. We’re not the darlings of Valentine’s Day, we’re just the grinders.”

Following two free throws by Ohio State senior guard Marc Loving and a layup by junior forward Jae’Sean Tate, MSU’s lead began to slip once again.

Freshman guard Cassius Winston and sophomore Kyle Ahrens were determined to keep MSU ahead.

Dishing out one of his nine assists, Winston probed the Buckeye defense, finding Ahrens wide open in the corner.

With a quick flick of the wrist, MSU was back up by 12 points.

With the lack of size, foul trouble situations and revolving door lineups, MSU has relied on its bench to step up in times of need.

Against Ohio State, the Spartans outscored the Buckeyes in bench points, 29-20.

It allowed Bridges to have an off day — by his standards.

Bridges finished the game with his sixth Senior guard Alvin Ellis III (3), right, and teammates help freshman guard Cassius Winston (5) up off of the court floor during the second half of the men’s basketball game against Ohio State University on Feb. 14, 2017 at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes, 74-66.

PHOTO: CHLOE GRIGSBY

VOTE FOR US IN BEST OF MSU

double-double of the season, 17 points and 11 rebounds.

“I thought Miles had a very average game and I told him that after the game,” Izzo said.

MSU will hit the road on Feb. 18 to face the No. 16 Purdue Boilermakers (21-5, 10-3 Big Ten).

The game will tipoff at 4 p.m. and be televised on ESPN.

2015’s Best: Wings and Dance Spot

2016’s Best: GIVE BACK THRUSDAY: 100% OF COVER GOES TO CHARITY! $3.25 Pints, LongIslands, and Washington Apples Friday: 1/2 off wings, $3.50 Jager Bombs, Johnny Vs & Pints Saturday: 1/2 off apps, $3.50 calls FIREBALLS & GUMMY BEARS Sunday: 1/2 off Pizzas and Drinks

East Lansing Bar, Restaurant, Pizza, Dance Spot, Happy Hour/Drink Specials, Best Late Night,

R'S VOTE HARPE OF MSU! FOR BEST BEST OF 2017

VOTE

BEST

BEST BOOKSTORE

BOOK STORE AND

GREEN AND WHITE SHOP

FOR

BY CONNOR CLARK

CLOTHING STORE, MSU MERCHANDISE

PLACE TO BE SPOILED BY YOUR PARENTS

321 E GRAND RIVER AVE EAST LANSING, MI 48823

AND BEST VOTE AT:

517.922.0013

STATENEWS.COM/BESTOF T H U RS DAY, F E B RUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

T H E STATE N E WS

7

Crossword

L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

News

Stephen Olschanski City editor city@statenews.com

Ruth Beier: A life of leaving no regrets and aiding her city

ACROSS

1 Bindle-toting migrants 6 “Oliver!” no-goodnik 11 Bygone intl. carrier 14 Face in the crowd, in film 15 With no help 16 A, in Aachen 17 Crude early version of a work of art 19 Bottom-row PC key 20 Natural salve additive 21 Slightly 23 Financial claim 26 Coin-in-a-fountain thought 28 Pakistani language 29 “The Lord of the Rings” beast 30 Computer programming glitch 33 What marathoners load up on 35 WWII conference site 36 Like swimming competitions 39 Getting by 43 Rants and raves 45 Bold 46 New York City zoo locale 51 Slithery fish 52 Et __: and others 53 Harp constellation

54 Daly of “Cagney & Lacey” 55 Sun protection for kissers?

58 Former Russian ruler 60 “__ no use!”

61 Lakeside launching aid ... and, literally, each set of circled letters 66 Pot pie veggie 67 When Macbeth kills Duncan 68 French-speaking Caribbean country 69 FDR successor 70 2000s TV series set in California 71 Snooze

DOWN

1 Seagoing pronoun 2 Good Grips kitchenware brand 3 A/C capacity meas.

4 Church instrument 5 Satirist Mort 6 Secret agent’s passport, say 7 Some craft beer 8 Advanced in one’s career 9 At no addl. cost 10 Grape soda brand 11 Italian playhouse

12 “I’m on it, boss” 13 Pre-poker deal demand 18 Planted, as seed 22 New Orleans university 23 “Livin’ La Vida __”: Ricky Martin hit 24 Baghdad’s land 25 Beige shade 27 Crafty 30 To be, in Barcelona 31 __-mo replay 32 Perform miserably 34 Bill for drinks 37 “Hometown Proud” supermarket chain 38 Roomie in prison 40 Earl __ tea 41 Pizza cooker 42 Actor Chandler of “Bloodline” 44 CIA operative 46 Muslim bigwig 47 Upper crust groups 48 Attacks, puppy-style 49 Super cold 50 Motorola phone 54 __ by jury 56 Blind as __ 57 Ness, for one 59 Massage reactions 62 Padre’s brother 63 Whopper 64 Summer, in 68-Across 65 Fabric mishap

Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1

2

3

4

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www. sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO WEDNESDAY’S PUZZLE

Get the solutions at statenews.com/ puzzles

2/16/17

8

© 2017 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

THE STATE N E WS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

Ruth Beier announces her candidacy for East Lansing city council April, 18, 2013, at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road. Beier is now the mayor pro tem for East Lansing. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

BY RILEY MURDOCK RMURDOCK@STATENEWS.COM

An MSU alumna, an economist, mayor pro tem, a mother, a wife and resident in East Lansing for nearly three decades, both on and off the City Council, Ruth Beier is tied thoroughly to her to city. A native of Maryland, Beier studied economics at MSU as an undergrad and faced a choice as a high school junior when her parents decided to move to India.

“I had to choose between going to India and going right to college, and one of the only colleges that I could get into without actually graduating was Michigan State,” Beier said.

Beier said she has an affinity for MSU, she played varsity women’s basketball her senior year and called it the most fun she’s ever had. She often takes a walk on campus to feel better whenever she’s down. After earning her master’s degree at Duke University, she moved back to East Lansing in 1990. She decided to settle down with her partner and their family of four children, citing the quality of the area’s schools as the main reason for planting roots.

After they met when she was an undergrad, Beier said she and her partner have been together for nearly 30 years.

Though she is openly LGBT, Beier said she feels she represents everyone and doesn’t see her sexuality as a talking point.

“I don’t feel that I relate to people based on my sexuality,” Beier said. “My sexuality, even though I’m open about it, is not public, it’s private, so I don’t feel like that’s something I have in common with people. It’s more — it’s something that ‘is’ and people can deal with it and shut up for all I care, that’s my preference actually.”

Beier has worked with the Michigan Education Association as an economist and was appointed deputy treasurer for taxation and economic policy for the state of Michigan by then-Gov. James Blanchard.

Following that position, she stayed out of politics until deciding to run for City Council and was elected November 2013. Since then, Beier has used her experience in economics to advocate for fiscal responsibility.

“I’m not really interested in politics, I’m interested in

making sure the city is a great place to live for a long time, and I didn’t think it was going in that direction,” Beier said. “The biggest problem I saw was spending money that we didn’t have.”

“We did that with our pension promises, we did that by buying property we couldn’t afford, and we did that by giving away tax revenue to any developer who wanted to develop even if it was something that we didn’t want ... since being elected, I’ve tried to be more thoughtful about all of those things.”

This stance has led Beier to express strong opinions on the Park District project, advocating for fewer developer incentives and voting against demolition extensions.

“Very few developers decide to build somewhere because of the tax break, they decide to build somewhere because the economics are good and the tax break is a tiny part of it,” Beier said. “Usually what happens is cities end up losing money for no reason.”

Mayor Mark Meadows, who has worked with Beier on council since his election in 2015, said he has an excellent working relationship with Beier and called her a terrific council member.

“She’s easy to work with, very informed, very well prepared on every issue and her background as an economist really adds a lot to the ability of the council to dig into some of the financial issues that we’ve been dealing with,” Meadows said.

Councilmember Susan Woods, elected at the same time as Beier, said she has disagreed with Beier on development incentives through the years but said they now get along well and she hopes Beier is reelected.

“I’ve always had a good working relationship with Councilmember Beier, she’s smart and very pleasant, but now that we are in more agreement on certain things, it’s just a more pleasant relationship,” Woods said. Beier and Woods will both be up for reelection in November.

“As long as I’m here ... I would like to make a shift enough that we start to generate enough revenue to pay all of our bills, to start paying down our debt,” Beier said. “It’s not a very sexy goal, but it’s my goal.”

READ MORE OF RUTH BEIER’S STORY AT STATNEWS.COM

News

Rachel Fradette Campus editor campus@statenews.com

After a 4-year wait, ASMSU finally launching pilot Safe Ride program

BY BRENDAN BAXTER BBAXTER@STATENEWS.COM

After a long time in the making, the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU’s Safe Ride Initiative might finally see the light of day in the form of a pilot program.

The Safe Ride Initiative was first introduced by the 49th session of ASMSU and has since gone through many changes. The initiative is finally reaching the General Assembly in the 53rd session of ASMSU after initiative frontman and Vice President for Finance and Operations Jason Barnett gave a presentation on what the pilot program would look like.

After so much time being in the works, seconder of the Safe Ride bill Joshua Slivensky encouraged the finance committee to pass the bill by saying, “I think this deserves to see

the light of day in GA.” While the pilot program is not finalized, a program is outlined and will be discussed by the General Assembly at its next meeting.

The initiative is meant to serve as a way for students to get home safely during late nights, when they might not have reliable ride home and buses have stopped running.

The mission statement of Safe Ride states, “The ASMSU Safe Ride program facilitates safe and reliable transportation options HOME within program boundaries for any undergraduate student at Michigan State University. These rides are free, convenient, and non-judgmental, to promote a culture of health and safety at Michigan State University.”

The Safe Ride program would not be the first of its kind, in fact quite the opposite. All other Big Ten schools

already have active programs.

This is stated in Bill 53-54, the bill that was passed to bring the Safe Ride discussion to the General Assembly, “Michigan State University is the only school in the Big 10 conference not to operate a Safe Ride service.”

The plan at this point is to set up a pilot program which will run from Sunday to Wednesday from 10pm-3am.

Barnett explained that the only plan to operate on those days for the pilot program because they are not sure yet how the program would function on the busier days of the weekend.

“We decided not to do Thursday, Friday, Saturday just to see what demand is,” Barnett said. “Obviously those three days are going to be a little bit more heavy than Sunday to Wednesday. Just when we’re starting out, it makes sense to start it that way.”

Following the initial trial run of the

2015 MSU Undergraduate Student Population

7%

(Where they live) system, the goal is to set up a full-fledged Safe Ride program that would run from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. every day of the week.

Safe Ride would cover the areas ASMSU found to be the most populated by MSU students.

If the initiative were to make it through the General Assembly, the pilot program is set to begin on March 20, coincidentally the same week of ASMSU’s It’s On Us week, Barnett said.

The ASMSU General Assembly meets this coming Thursday at 7 p.m. to discuss the future of the Safe Ride Initiative.

Off CampusNorthern Tier, 2,707

40% On Campus14,638

53% Off CampusGreater Lansing, 19,309

SOURCE: LAND POLICY INSTITUTE, MSU, FEBRUARY 2016

ASMSU discusses spring projects, initiatives

BY BRENDAN BAXTER BBAXTER@STATENEWS.COM

The semester is in full swing, and ASMSU has settled back in. Here’s a look at what ASMSU plans to work on this spring semester.

Sexual Assault Starting at the top, ASMSU President Lorenzo Santavicca is focused on making sure ASMSU does what it can to combat sexual assault.

However, he doesn’t plan to do it all on his own.

In addition to having the General Assembly behind him, Santavicca and ASMSU will be working with the university.

“We’re partnering with the university for the first time on a collaborative ‘It’s on Us’ campaign, where the university is actually now taking the initiative to lead a week of awareness in the spring semester,” Santavicca said.

In addition to the “It’s on Us” partnership, Santavicca wants to focus on making sure all students are treated fairly when it comes to dealing with sexual assault on campus.

He said it’s important to make sure students on both sides of the issue are considered in the event it is a student-to-student issue.

Santavicca said, “We’re working with Dr. (Denise) Maybank in Student Affairs and all the way up to President (Lou Anna K.) Simon to make sure our university administration is being held accountable in this realm.”

“I think it’s actually a time that mental health is being talked about, not only by students but also by the administration.”

Sam Terzich, ASMSU Chief of Staff

Mental Health ASMSU Chief of Staff Sam Terzich is working this semester on coordinating Mental Health Awareness Week as well as overall changes to mental health at MSU. A big thing for Terzich is making students aware of the resources available to them, as well as being active in helping students with mental illnesses or disorders.

“We try to be proactive in growing awareness of resources available to students on campus for mental health, but also engage and help students deal with college stress or larger mental health issues,” Terzich said.

On the topic of the mental health week Terzich is helping to put on, he stressed he believes it’s important to be talking about mental health right now.

“I think it’s actually a time that mental health is being talked about, not only by students but also by the administration,” Terzich said. “When that happens, I think we have an exciting chance to make a difference and impact students.”

As far as the changes Terzich hopes to see, he expects students will have much better access to mental health resources.

“I think students are going to be able to see more resources available in their neighborhoods, in the neighborhood engagement centers,” Terzich said.

RSO Consultation Vice President for Student Allocations Lauren Fish is working with her team to focus and consulting with Registered Student Organizations, or RSOs, on campus.

This started when Fish and her colleagues checked on the outcome of RSOs that they had funded in the past.

“This kind of started with us looking into startup groups that we had funded last year and just kind of noticing that a good chunk of them weren’t even active RSO’s anymore,” Fish said.

After deciding something had to be done to help the RSO’s, Student Allocations began working on a program.

“The main objective of our program is really to prevent new student orgs. from dissolving,”

Fish said regarding the goals of the program “And then maybe, this is hopefully down the road, but even encouraging cross-collaboration between student organizations.”

As far as the work that’s being done this semester, there is a pilot program that will be run by Student Allocations, Fish said.

“We’re going to be doing case studies this semester on RSOs that are interested in helping us out and us hopefully them,” Fish said.

“From there, we’re going to look to RSO consultants that were hoping to hire and train them we resources that we have at ASMSU.” READ MORE AT STATENEWS.COM

CAMPUS CENTER CINEMAS proudly presents

February 16-19 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Thurs 9:00 pm 115B Wells Hall Fri, Sat & Sun 7:00 & 9:20 pm 115B Wells Hall Arrival Thurs 8:45 pm 119B Wells Hall Fri, Sat & Sun 7:05 & 9:15 pm 119B Wells Hall

February 23-26 Doctor Strange Thurs 9:00 pm 115B Wells Hall Fri, Sat & Sun 7:05 & 9:15 pm 115B Wells Hall

Nocturnal Animals Thurs 8:45 pm 119B Wells Hall Fri, Sat & Sun 7:00 & 9:10 pm 119B Wells Hall

T H U RS DAY, F E B RUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

www.rha.msu.edu ccc@rha.msu.edu 517-355-8285

T H E STATE N E WS

9

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL - TORI JANKOSKA The Spartans stand together after the women’s basketball game against Maryland on Feb. 12 at Breslin Center. The Spartans were defeated by the Terrapins, 89-72.

PHOTO: ZAINA MAHMOUD

DID YOU

KNOW? Jankoska now sits at 2,017 points

Jankoska is currently No. 4 all-time in single-season points record with 551. She sits behind Liz​Shimek who netted 597 during the 200506 season. She is currently No. 1 in the single-season records averaging 22.0 points per game.

Jankoska became the first MSU women’s basketball player to reach 2,000 points as MSU fell to No. 2 Maryland in the annual Play4Kay Game on Feb. 12. She became the first Spartan and the 21st Big Ten women’s basketball player to join the 2,000-point scoring club.

JANKOSKA FREE THROW PERCENTAGE

90.5%

REBOUNDING AVERAGE PER GAME

8.2

JANKOSKA HAS LED HER TEAM IN SCORING IN 23 OF 25 GAMES PLAYED THUS FAR THIS SEASON.

Jankoska recorded five 3-point field goals against No. 2 Maryland and is now No. 1 all-time in the single-season records for 3-point field goals made with a total of 88.

Wade Watch List Jankoska was added to the watch list by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The Wade award is the highest award a player can win in women’s college basketball.

“I am surprised by all of her success because we don’t play the easiest of schedules.

We play in a tough league and people know about her.”

Suzy Merchant, Head coach of MSU women’s basketball after Jankoska reached 2,000 career points

TORI JANKOSKA SENIOR guard

freeland, mich.

PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

10

THE STATE N EWS

THURSDAY, FEBR UA RY 1 6 , 2 01 7

5-foot-8 height 2,017 points

Features

McKenna Ross Features editor features@statenews.com

Students bring virtual reality to classrooms

BY IMANI FARMER IFARMER@STATENEWS.COM

Imagine exploring Buckingham Palace in London, exploring the Empire State Building or even exploring the Taj Mahal in India at with the help of only virtual reality while never leaving the classroom.

Two experience architecture MSU students, senior Tommy Truong and junior Eric Martin, are both researching new ways to bring virtual reality, or VR, directly into the classrooms.

“The goal of the project is to find affordable and accessible ways to implement virtual and augmented reality in both higher education, as well as K-12, with a focus in higher education,” Truong said.

The project initially began with a proposal from a friend at the Detroit Institute of Arts, or DIA. “We had a friend from the Detroit Institute of Arts approach us a couple years ago with a proposal to innovate some method of modeling museum exhibits in the cheapest and easiest fashion that is affordable for those that are low-budget and be able to be done by those with lower amounts of technical skill,” Truong said.

Trying out virtual reality didn’t hit the two until they found an oculus rift, which is a virtual reality headset.

After finding the headset, the two were able to try out VR. Truong said upon trying it out they were able to find tools they were already using with their sketch-up for 3-D modeling and Unity, which is a video game creation engine.

“We were able to take those models and put them in a recreated environment of video gaming,” Truong said.

“Anybody would be able to go around the museum and view it as if it were already built. After that came about we had the idea of extending that on to higher education and into classrooms outside of the museum.”

Truong and Martin wanted to answer the question of, “how can we utilize virtual reality technology through different means of hardware that would be affordable for students and accessible to any teacher, no matter their field?”

Since beginning research for their project, the duo has done a lot of talking around the country to other people about their project and performing demos. “(We’ve been) mostly just demoing everything to other people at different conferences … for the most part

it’s been talking with other people about what we want to do with it and why we think it’s viable or affordable and how we can be using it in the future,” Martin said.

Currently, they are working with MSU Art, Art History and Design associate professor Jon Frey in creating an augmented reality, or AR, version of what they have already been doing, Martin said.

“He’s been giving us models and we’ve been putting them into phone apps that students can use and look at them that way, instead of just having them up on projectors,” Martin said. “He’s trying to make his classroom more interactive and futuristic.”

Frey was put in touch with Truong and Martin from Assistant Dean at College of Arts and Letters Scott Schopieray when he asked him if he knew anyone who could assist him in building a DIY immersive visualization room. He said via email that the project was to explore new ways to make art history classes more engaging for his students.

“We worked together all term on a series of ‘proof of concept’ studies using multiple digital projectors (which had been installed already in the sculpture annex of the Kresge Art Center), Google cardboard, 3-D models of our own and on Sketchfab, and 3-D printed copies of artworks and artifacts,” he said in the email.

After the end of the term, the duo came back to Frey on their own initiative with their AR app they had been testing.

Experience architecture senior Tommy Truong, left, and experience architecture “Tommy and Eric are demonstrating by example that junior Eric Martin pose for a picture on Feb. 13 at the MSU Hatch at 325 Grand you don’t need to be a graduate student or a professor River Ave. in East Lansing. Truong and Martin are hoping to bring virtual reality to to make important contributions in the fields in which higher education and classrooms. PHOTO: JON FAMUREWA you study,” Frey said.

The two have seen and reached a few roadblocks during their project run, something common with a lot of newer technology.

“We are not the subject matter experts of this in these respective fields,” Truong said. “We are two students who are trying to engage and be the catalyst for ways to innovate student interaction with Your campus marketplace! statenews.com/classifieds the classroom and immersive content.”

TO PLACE AN AD …

DEADLINES Another issue that has come up and they hope to

BY TELEPHONE (517) 295-1680 LINER ADS 2 p.m., 1 business come up with solutions for is to have it be inclusive IN PERSON 435 E. Grand River Ave. day prior to publication and acceptable to students, regardless of disabilities.

BY E-MAIL advertising@statenews.com (includes cancellations) “Once we’re able to get past both of those, then we ONLINE www.statenews.com/classifieds CLASSIFIED DISPLAY 3 p.m., can definitely see it being adopted more regularly OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. 3 class days prior to publication at more institutions, as well as K-12,” Truong said.

Classified

MSU student participating in Bike & Build to focus on affordable housing

BY IMANI FARMER IFARMER@STATENEWS.COM

Cross-country biking across the U.S. might seem to be a daunting task, but it doesn’t scare one MSU student.

Kinesiology senior Emily Guy, who plans to become a physician assistant after graduate school, is gearing up for her trip this summer for the cause of affordable housing.

“Bike & Build is an organization, and there’s about three routes this year, but they’re going to be taking me and about 31 other people from across the country,” she said. “We’re going to go from Yorktown, Virginia and then we’re biking across to Cannon Beach in Portland.”

The main goal of the trip is to benefit efforts for affordable housing and spreading awareness to people the group meets during the trip.

Guy’s group will also take several days off from biking to work with local organizations such as Rebuilding Together and Habitat for Humanity to help construct affordable homes.

“We’ll either be transforming homes that are already built, trying to make the houses more livable and when we talk to some of the community members, we’ll be able to learn more about the different struggles each community is facing themselves,” Guy said.

As a member of the Outdoors Club on campus, Guy sought this challenge out.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to challenge myself

and I love the outdoors, I love physical activity, biking across the country is a very crazy thing that not a lot of people get the opportunity to do,” she said. “Mostly it’s a challenge for myself. I’ll be able to see the country and also help others while doing it, which is great.”

Although Guy doesn’t have any long distance biking experience, the organization trains everyone prior to the trip and encourages those with no experience to participate.

According to the Bike & Build FAQs, a majority of riders are not long distance cyclists and have never biked more than 15 miles before they start training.

“It’s actually really common for people to not have very much experience in cycling,” she said.

Prior to the trip, Guy has to log 500 miles on her bike and take online classes on bike safety, so when they go on the road she will be comfortable.

Guy said she hopes to use the challenge as a stepping stone to apply the lessons she learns to graduate school and life.

“It just kind of shows that if I just put a lot of effort into something, if I really, really try, I’m capable of doing things that I may not (have) even imagined I’d be capable of,” she said.

To participate with Bike & Build, each cyclist has to raise the minimum amount of $4,800. All of the proceeds will go towards making young-adult affordable housing projects possible.

Supporters can donate to Guy’s fundraising efforts through the website or her personal fundraising page.

NOTE TO READERS The State News screens ads for misleading or false claims but cannot guarantee any ad or claim. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

Employment

Apts. For Rent

Houses/Rent

G Y M N A S T I C S INSTRUCTORS Wanted: Reliable, enthusiastic, kid loving instructors wanted for boys/girls recreational + competitive gymnastics.

Contact John at 517-3220360

1 BDRM, 1 bath, affordable luxury, downtown EL. Upgraded avail now. Contact 517-204-7488

AVAIL. AUG. 642 E. Saginaw.

4 bed, 2 bth, 2-car garage, hardwood, lrg yard, w/d, d/w. $1680/mth. 351-0765 hrirentals.com.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS $17.25 base-appt. Flex sched. around classes. Great resume builder 517-3331700. workforstudentsnow. com

LIVE BEHIND Dublin with half off rent for summer! Contemporary 2 & 4 bedrms lic for up to 4, includes parking. Contact cronmgt.com or 351-1177 for more info or tour.

Duplexes/Rent

PHONE SURVEYS. Nonsales position. Flexible hrs.

Up to $10.50/hr. West Lansing location. (517) 4828884

AUG LRG 3 bdrm duplex.

Lots of parking. w/d incl. close to MSU. $1380/mo.

621 Stoddard. 517-4202097.

WORK ON Mackinac Island This Summer - Make lifelong friends. The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are seeking help in all areas: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas.

Dorm Housing, bonus, and discounted meals. (906) 8477196. www.theislandhouse. com

Houses/Rent

Misc. For Sale ELECTRIC POWER chair. asking $2000. like new. 2 batteries and manual. call (616) 765-3185.

MINI KENMORE appliances.

5 cubic ft freezer $50 obo. 6 cubic ft refrigerator $50 obo.

Textbooks COLLEGEVILLE TEXTBOOK Co. is your source for used textbooks! 321 E. Grand River 517-922-0013

269 HAGADORN lic 4; Lrg 4bdrm/1600, W/D, parking.

312-550-6745 eclausen@ hotmail.com AVAIL AUG. $325/per. Near MSU/LCC. 4 bed, 2 bth, w/d, d/w, bsmt, 351-0765, hrirentals.com

T H U RS DAY, F E B RUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

TH E STATE N E WS

11

Features

McKenna Ross Features editor features@statenews.com

Former MSU faculty member bakes all-natural dog treats from scratch

BY JONATHAN LEBLANC JLEBLANC@STATENEWS.COM

While some like to come home to freshly baked cookies, Leslie and Adam Cowell like to come home to freshly baked dog treats.

Their home in Bath, Mich., holds a bakery, which was originally a hot tub room and is now the location of their Michigan-based company, Riker’s Dog Treats. The two high school sweethearts are now married and officially started selling dog treats in 2014 as a result of their late dog, Riker.

Riker became ill toward the end of his life from eating other dog food, which led to Riker’s veterinarian recommending he eat special food and take medicine, Leslie said.

Leslie didn’t understand the recommendation. She decided to feed Riker a diet of venison, brown rice and pumpkin puree.

This new diet of all-natural ingredients extended Riker’s life and brought out the entrepreneur

within Leslie to start her own dog treat company, Riker’s Dog Treats.

“There’s a big void in dog treats that just gives them the ingredients that they need,” Leslie said.

“I went crazy with it.”

To make the dog treats, Leslie needed not only the ingredients, but the skills to help bake her treats and transform her home into a bakery.

Fortunately, Leslie already had the skills, she said, by working at the MSU Bakery for 10 years during the summer months starting when she was 12 years old.

“The high volume, the amount of stuff, the equipment, that type of stuff, that’s really helped me now,” Leslie said. “I would have never thought that experience would come in (years down the line) to play.”

The dog treats are now sold in 20 retail stores throughout Michigan. Leslie said she never expected Riker’s Dog Treats to be as successful as it has been, compared to some of her previous jobs around MSU’s campus.

Get ahead on your degree this summer!

Classes May 8 - Aug. 15, with a variety of start dates.

Bath, Mich. resident Leslie Cowell smiles as she sets dog treats on a tray to prepare for cooking in the oven on Feb. 13 in her home that doubles as Riker’s Dog Treats. Riker’s Dog Treats is owned by Leslie and her husband, Adam Cowell. PHOTO: ZAINA MAHMOUD

“Sitting at a department job … I was like, ‘This just isn’t me, sitting behind a desk,’” Leslie said. “‘I’m not going to last here.’”

Leslie left her job at as the graduate secretary and secretary to the director of the Program in Mathematics Education.

“I thought if I could sell two cases of dog treats per day, I’d quit,” Leslie said. “That was my motivation.”

Leslie found her success when the company struck a deal with Whole Foods, who Leslie said is strict in deciding who gets into their stores.

“If Whole Foods is taking us and if we’re meeting their standards, we can do this,” Leslie said.

“It’s literally doing the leg work (and) getting out there and doing the hard work.”

Helping with the leg work is her husband Adam, who focuses on sales and marketing.

Adam said he left his job at the Michigan Manufacturers Association in sales and marketing

because of the passion Leslie had for her product.

“She’s good at creating a brand image and has these all ideas, so I wanted to be able to use my skill set to help bring those to fruition,” Adam said.

Leslie said Adam is fun to work with and helps with delivering online orders to the post office, even sometimes “baking a couple batches.”

“We definitely know we’re on the same page, so we’re always here to bounce ideas off each other,” Leslie said. “It’s a lot of fun.”

To continue bringing Leslie’s dreams to fruition, the two are looking to expand in other areas of Michigan, such as Ann Arbor.

“People always say, ‘Oh are you going to go on Shark Tank, are you going to do that,’ and right now I don’t see us doing that because we can be quite successful if we stick in Michigan,” Leslie said. “I love providing a good quality product for Michigan people.”

earn transfer credits in Southfield, MI

Summer Term May 15 – July 21

Choose from these programs: Architectural Engineering Architecture Audio Engineering Technology Biomedical Engineering Business Administration Chemical Biology Chemistry Civil Engineering Computer Engineering

grcc.edu/summer

Grand Rapids Community College

Easy transfer. Save on tuition. Quality education.

Computer Science Construction Engineering Technology and Management Electrical Engineering Embedded Software Engineering English and Communication Arts Environmental Chemistry Game Art Graphic Design

Waive your application fee www.ltu.edu/applyfree

Possible is everything.

12

THE STATE N EWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 6 , 2 01 7

Humanities Industrial Design Industrial Engineering Information Technology Interaction Design Interior Architecture Mathematical Sciences Mathematics and Computer Science

Mechanical Engineering Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology Media Communication Molecular and Cell Biology Physics Physics and Computer Science Psychology Robotics Engineering Transportation Design

Lawrence Technological University Southfield, MI admissions@ltu.edu 800.225.5588