Friday, 2/22/13

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weekend

Sophomore 157-pounder Ryan Watts

Michigan State University’s independent voice | statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | Friday, February 22, 2012

Best Picture? Who cares? Check out TSN’s picks in the first annual SNOscar awards FEATURES, PAGE 6

JULIA NAGY/THE STATE NEWS

Wrestlers to hit mat against Central Michigan this weekend STATENEWS.COM

THE BARE MINIMUM

Obama’s proposal to up minimum wage could impact MSU students By Kellie Rowe rowekell@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

N

oah Matchett’s day begins at 8 a.m. before many students take their first bite of cereal.

The agricultural industries sophomore spends his day balancing school and the physically demanding task of feeding 400 sheep each day at the MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center, 3885 Hagadorn Road, in Okemos. Matchett’s work is manual — no machines, no shortcuts — and continues into the night. He lives in the center and rises periodically to check on the sheep. Sometimes, Matchett’s not sure it’s all worth $7.40 an hour — Michigan’s minimum wage rate and higher than the federally-mandated $7.25 an hour. “It’s worth more than that in the private industry,” he said. “That is fair for some jobs and too little for others.” During his State of the Union address two weeks ago, President Barack Obama proposed raising the federal minimum wage and requiring all employers to pay workers at least $9 an hour. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 4.4 million Americans earn minimum wage at about $15,080 per year, and more than half of them are under the age of 25 — the age range of many MSU students. “It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead,” Obama said of the wage increase. Students, experts and businesses now are facing the possible consequences of the possible increase, both good and bad.

JULIA NAGY/THE STATE NEWS

ABOVE: Agricultural industries sophomore Noah Matchett feeds sheep Thursday at the MSU Sheep Teaching and Research Center, 3885 Hagadorn Road, in Okemos. Matchett is paid minimum wage at his job. BELOW: Interdisciplinary studies in social science senior Allyson Varley smiles while ringing up customers Tuesday at the Student Book Store, 421 E. Grand River Ave.

Minimum wage and MSU tuition compared Since 1980 Minimum wage Orange

Cost per credit Blue

Tuition is 14 times $50 higher today than it was in 1980, while the $40 minimum wage is less than 2.5 times higher

$500 Currently: $420.75

$400

$30

Who gets the benefits Obama proposed increasing the minimum wage to help balance national income inequality. However, some experts argue who the increase actually will impact. About 22 percent of the total workforce will be affected by the proposed wage increase. That includes about 12 percent of the workforce under 20 years old, such as underclassmen stuSee WAGES on page 2 X

$300 Proposed: $9.00

$20

Currently: $7.40

$10

$100

$0 1980

1990

2000

$200

2010

2013

$0

SOURCE: US DEPARTMENT OF L ABOR, MSU CONTROLLER’S OFFICE INFOGR APHIC BY LIAM ZANYK MCLEAN | SN ADAM TOOLIN/THE STATE NEWS

To hear MSU students sound off on the minimum wage proposal, visit statenews.com/multimedia.

BASKETBALL

POLICY

Spartans prepare for tough games ahead By Josh Mansour mansou13@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

For Keith Appling, it still hurts. It’s not losing to the top team in the country that stings. After all, there’s no shame in that. It’s one simple thought that has gnawed away at him for the past three days, one that led him to spend Tuesday night alone, trying to sleep it off. “I just didn’t bring it,” the junior guard said of his performance in the Spartans’ 72-68 loss to Indiana. “It was tough. I really didn’t want to talk to nobody. I didn’t want to be seen. I didn’t hang out with nobody. I just went home, got into bed. I didn’t even watch TV. I just went home, got into bed and tried to sleep it off, but every time I closed my eyes, I just kept thinking about when (Indiana guard) Victor Oladipo tipped the ball in to put them up one.” It was the play that turned the game, giving Indiana a lead they never would relinquish, handing the Spartans their first loss in nearly a month and forcing them to regroup.

Senior center Derrick Nix tries to shoot around Ohio State forward Deshaun Thomas on Jan. 19, 2013, at Breslin Center. The Spartans defeated Ohio State, 59-56.

More online … To view video from basketball practice, visit statenews.com/multimedia.

For Appling and company, the opportunity begins Sunday, when the No. 4 MSU men’s basketball team (22-5 overall, 11-3 Big Ten) goes on the road to take on No. 18 Ohio State (19-7, 9-5) on Sunday (4 p.m., CBS) in Columbus, Ohio. “It’s something I can’t dwell on. We have another top-15 (caliber) team coming up, so we’ve just got to get ready for them,” Appling said. In the moments following the loss to Indiana, Tom Izzo said he didn’t have the ability to see any positives. But in the past few days working with his team, the Spartans’ head coach said he’s learned a lot. “Right after the game, there was so many things I was upset about,” Izzo said. “I learned a lot today. I learned that we’re excited to be here. They were disappointed and then Keith was disappointed — those

ADAM TOOLIN/ THE STATE NEWS

are all positive things. (Sophomore guard Branden Dawson) was in here working out on his off day. Those are all positive

things.” Tuesday’s loss was the See SPARTANS on page 2 X

ASMSU advocates to amend jury duty rule By Robert Bondy bondyrob@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, officials are looking to improve students’ studies after passing a bill at Thursday night’s general assembly meeting to postpone jury duty for full-time students. The bill passed by ASMSU will advocate for an amendment allowing full-time students in a college or university to have jury duty postponed. “It would give full-time students a really great opportunity to put this on hold and be able to focus on their classes and not worry about all these other pieces that come into conflict with jury duty,” ASMSU James Madison College representative Jessica Leacher said. The bill will advocate for another bill that former East Lansing mayor and current state Rep. Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, will be introducing in early March. “I think with the typical sched-

ule students take, it is really hard for students to manage that course load, while at the same time doing jury duty,” Singh said. To be classified as a full-time student, one must be taking at least 12 credits per semester, Singh said.

The bill will advocate for an amendment to allow full-time students to postpone their jury duty because of academics There are no current MSU policies for excused absences involving jury duty, with students having to work out an arrangement with faculty for all their classes, University Ombudsperson Robert Caldwell said. “I would say that most faculty would understand that jury duty is a responsibility of citizens, and if you get called to do jury duty, that you have the same right as any other citizen See POLICY on page 2 X


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Friday, 2/22/13 by The State News - Issuu