Apple in town?
statenews.com | 2/25/14 | @thesnews Michigan State University’s independent voice
Apple Inc. issued building permit in Eastwood campus+city, pG. 3
NAISO honors heritage with Powwow Bangor, Mich., resident Greg Morsaw wears a regalia bustle Saturday at the Powwow of Love Erin HAmpton/The State News
features, pG. 5
feds probe msu for sexual assault misconduct By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
T he U.S. Department of Education revealed Monday it is investigating complaints about MSU’s handling of sexual assault accusations, a fact that university officials successfully kept quiet until now. On Friday, university officials sent a letter via email to the MSU community announcing what they described as sev-
eral new events aimed at educating students, faculty and staff about sexual assault prevention. In the letter, Paulette Granberry Russell, a senior advisor to MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon and the university’s Title IX coordinator, acknowledged “there is more that we can do to educate the MSU community on sexual violence.” Near the bottom of the letter was a single sentence stating that the university is “collab-
“MSU responded fully and appropriately to the incident under investigation ... We look forward to continue working with the OCR on this matter.” Kent Cassella, MSU spokesman
orating” with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or OCR, to “give members of the campus community an opportunity” to meet with representatives from the department.
But on Monday, Department of Education spokesman Jim Bradshaw told The State News the planned visit to campus is directly related to an official investigation into sexual harassment and violence
complaints pending against the university. Although details of the complaints are a mystery for now — neither the Department of Education nor MSU would provide insight into the nature or reach of the allegations — university officials were quick to defend their overall handling of sexual assault accusations. It’s not yet clear whether the investigation could prove to be a liability for Simon, who just last week publicly addressed
COURT
False alarm of man with gun at Bessey scares student body By Emily Jenks ejenks@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Marketing senior Matthew Martin didn’t know true panic before he got an alert telling him a man with a gun was walking toward the hall he was taking a class in. Martin was on the first floor of Bessey Hall in a general business law class of about 30 students when a fellow student
Students react to gunman alert on social media, pg. 4
Erin Hampton/THE STATE NEWS
uate of Saline High. The first charge, felony murder, is punishable for up to life in prison without parole. Armed robbery carries life for any term of years. The final charge, conspir-
raised her hand and notified their professor of the alert. Shortly afterward, “a police officer came in 20 seconds later and told us to shut the blinds, shut the doors and turn off the lights,” Martin said. “You haven’t panicked until a cop with an M-16 tells your class to get on the ground,” he later tweeted. T hou s a nd s of s t ude nt s received the alert from the university Monday afternoon warning them of the man with a gun allegedly seen walking to Bessey Hall. Soon after, another alert was sent informing students
See FROLKA on page 2 u
See ALERT on page 2 u
Three suspects arraigned for murder of Dustyn Frolka skonkel@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
ST. JOHNS, Mich. — Three minors now face felony charges for allegedly robbing and murdering MSU student Dustyn Frolka. Samantha Grigg, 17, Brendan
Heim, 16, and Tyrel Bredernitz, 17, were arraigned in 65th District Court in St. Johns, Mich., on Monday. They were each charged as adults with felony murder, armed robbery and conspiracy to commit armed robbery, all of which are felony charges. According to court testimo-
ny, the suspects allegedly used brass knuckles while attempting to rob Frolka, who was a marketing sophomore and aspiring musician at the time of his death. Frolka was found partially clothed and in respiratory distress at about 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 15 near the East Lansing
ramp of I-69 in Bath Township. He was taken to Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after. Heim and Grigg both attend Saline High School and are in their junior and senior years, respectively. Bredernitz is a recent grad-
men’s basketball
Izzo: Healthy Spartans will compete better Senior guard Keith Appling guards Michigan guard Nik Stauskas Sunday at Crisler Center. The Spartans fell to the Wolverines, 79-70. — Erin Hampton, SN
See the story on page 6
See FEDS on page 2 u
a l e rt
Saline, Mich., resident Samantha Grigg responds to the judge as she is read her charges Monday during her and two other suspects’ arraignments at 65th District Court in St. Johns, Mich. Grigg, along with the two other suspects, was not present in the court proceedings and was broadcast for the court over television.
By Sara Konkel
“destructive” behavior among students, including sexual violence. Granberry Russell said investigators will examine whether MSU’s processes for handling sexual assault follow federal guidelines. She insisted MSU leaders are doing everything in their power to address the problem. A university spokesman said MSU officials are fully cooper-
punishment
Student sentenced to 45 days in jail for civil disturbance charges By Geoff Preston gpreston@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
For the most of the students implicated and arrested in the post-Big Ten championship game civ il disturbance, the punishment has been a f i ne a nd a m a rk on their record. For mater iRoe al science and engineering junior Justin Paul Roe, the night holds much more significance. Roe, 20, was sentenced to 45 days in Ingham County Jail following charges of kindling a fire, unlawful assembly and remaining within 300 feet of a fire without the intent to put it out. The sentence serves as part of a plea agreement that will allow Roe to continue to attend school while he is incarcerat-
ed. Depending on the day and his class schedule, Roe will be allowed to leave to attend classes and work as a career peer at the Center for Spartan Engineering.
Roe was convicted of kindling a fire, unlawful assembly and remaining within 300 feet of a fire without putting it out In addition to jail time, Roe will be forced to pay $542 in fines and costs and $458 in restitution. He will serve his time instead of being prohibited from attending MSU or any other public Michigan college for one year. The original sentence was set for 30 days, but was changed to 45 days to accommodate time outside the facility to attend classes and work. Roe also was a for mer ASMSU representative for the See SENTENCE on page 2 u
2 | The Stat e News | t uesday, february 25, 201 4 | staten e ws.com statenews.com s p ort s b l og
Tom Izzo and Mark Dantonio named No. 1 men’s basketball, football coaching duo Life hasn’t been going too poorly for MSU men’s athletic teams. Coming straight off a Rose Bowl win and moving into a (mostly) promising basketball season, Spartans all over the world have been bathing in the success of the men’s football and basketball teams. Well, Athlon Sports has seen the same trend and has named Tom Izzo and Mark Dantonio the No. 1 men’s basketball and football coaching duo in the entire nation. Last season the two earned the No. 7 ranking in the nation. But with Dantonio becoming the second Big Ten head coach to win a Rose Bowl since 2000, this year’s Athlon Sports ranking boosted the East Lansing pair to the top of the list. The article also noted how Izzo could reach his second national title and seventh Final Four with a healthy roster under his belt. But we all know how hard that is to achieve this season. Other conference schools joining the Spartans in this year’s ranking are Ohio State at No. 2, who from the top spot they enjoyed in last year’s ranking. Wisconsin is ranked No. 6 in the country with Michigan taking the No. 11 spot after being ranked No. 2 last year. MATT SHEEHAN
Three-day forecast
FEDS
Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention advocate Laura Swanson said she was not surprised by investigation from page one
ating with the investigation. “MSU responded fully and appropriately to the incident under investigation,” MSU spokesman Kent Cassella said in a statement. “While federal law and privacy concerns prevent MSU from fully discussing the specifics of the matter, we have a comprehensive record of the actions we took that supports the university’s position that we acted appropriately. We look forward to continue
FROLKA
Each suspect in Frolka’s death was denied bond, and all are currently being held in Clinton County Jail from page one
acy to commit armed robbery, also carries life for any term of years as well as a fine of up to $10,000. All of the suspects were denied bond and are being held in Clinton County Jail. Their preliminary examinations are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on March 6. T he prosecutor is required to show sufficient evidence and proba-
“We’re not trying to clean up after things happen, which is always unsatisfactory. People’s lives have been affected.”
ALERT
Lou Anna K. Simon, MSU President
working with the OCR on this matter.” Simon commented at the last Faculty Senate meeting that MSU leaders are doing all they can to prevent sexual assault on campus, and stressed that Spartans need to take initiative and look out for one another. “We need to have that kind of conversation about how we can have Spartans really feeling comfortable taking care of other Spartans in situations so we’re not about another educational program to prevent (sexual violence), because the same people come to them,” Simon said. “We’re not about trying to clean up after things happen, which is
always unsatisfactory. People’s lives have been affected.” Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention advocate and media and information junior Laura Swanson has a similar take, but said she was not surprised by the investigation. “I think that this is applicable not only to MSU, but to a lot of different universities,” Swanson said. “You do hear stories. Sexual assaults are very much underreported, and you hear stories of police victim blaming. “It speaks to the whole culture that we are in general not believing of victims and their stories, and we don’t take the necessary steps to prosecute people.”
ble cause that the defendants committed the crimes for the case to be sent to circuit court for a trial.
that would confirm whether or not the drug was in Frolka’s system at the time of his death have not yet been completed. Before his death, Frolka was an aspiring rapper who had performed across Michigan under the name “D-Fro.” He was featured in a March 2013 State News article about local hip-hop artists. “I just grew up listening to the radio as a kid,” Frolka said in an interview featured in the article. “So it just grew from there. I started making my own little tracks when I was 13, 14 years old off a little Wal-Mart mic. And it just went from there, building, progressing, getting more equipment, finding more things out.” Frolka is survived by his daughter Melody Lou, who was born in April 2013.
Autopsy and toxicology reports that would confirm if Frolka had taken illegal substances are not yet complete According to 54-B District Court documents, Frolka was arraigned on Feb. 1 for charges regarding cocaine possession. On the night of Frolka’s death, he hinted at plans to use DMT, an intense hallucinogen, on social media. “I’ve never done DMT and tonight is about to change s***,” a tweet from his personal Twitter account read. Autopsy and toxicology reports
SENTENCE Tuesday Snow High: 23° Low: 1°
“People come to MSU because they have City Manager George potential ... and to have this happen is such a waste of effort.” Lahanas was not happy about sending a student to jail, but said a precedent needed to be set from page one
Wednesday Partly Cloudy High: 12° Low: 5°
Thursday Cloudy High: 12° Low: -9°
College of Engineering. He resigned from his position this semester because of a heavy class load and obligations with other organizations, said Teresa Bitner, ASMSU’s vice president of internal administration. During a meeting with The
VOL . 104 | NO. 200
Index Campus+city 3 Opinion 4 Features 5 Sports 6 Classifieds 5
editorial staff (517) 432-3070 Editor in chief Ian Kullgren
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managing editor Lauren Gibbons
Corrections
DIGITAL managing editor Celeste Bott Design editor Becca Guajardo PHOTO EDITOR Julia Nagy ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Danyelle Morrow Opinion editor Rebecca Ryan campus EDITOR Nolly Dakroury City Editor Katie Abdilla sports editor Beau Hayhoe Features editor Anya Rath Copy Chief Maude Campbell n n
Professional staff General Manager Marty Sturgeon, (517) 432-3000 Editorial adviser Omar Sofradzija, (517) 432-3070 CREATIVE adviser Travis Ricks, (517) 432-3004 Web adviser Mike Joseph, (517) 432-3014 Photo adviser Robert Hendricks, (517) 432-3013
If you notice an error, please contact Managing Editor Lauren Gibbons at (517) 432-3070 or by email at feedback@statenews.com. nn
The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday through Friday during fall, spring and select days during summer semesters. A special Welcome Week edition is published in August. Subscription rates: $5 per semester on campus; $125 a year, $75 for one fall or spring semester, $60 for summer semester by mail anywhere in the continental United States. 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.
George Lahanas, East Lansing City Manager
State News editorial board, East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas expressed disappointment that a student has to spend time in jail, but said the decision was made to set a precedent. “People come to MSU because they have potential ... and to have this happen is such a waste of effort,” he said. “I’ll be much happier if we never have to have someone go to jail for this again.” Roe and his lawyer did not reply to requests for comment from The State News on Monday. Roe joins 26 others who were arrested in December, mostly for remaining within 300 feet of an open fire without the intention to put it out. The East Lansing Fire Department responded to a minimum of 57 fires that night, and DTN Management Co. Vice President Colin Cronin previously told The State News the property damage in Cedar Village was estimated to be between $5,000 and $10,000. East Lansing police Chief Juli Liebler said during the editori-
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Copyright © 2013 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich. n n
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al board meeting that the burden of stopping civil disturbances doesn’t fall on increasing the number of police officers, but on individuals taking responsibility for their actions and refraining from incidents that would contribute to their arrest. “The answer can’t be that we need more police officers, the answer has to be that we stop doing this,” she said. “What if someone brought a gun down there? What if someone brought a bomb down there? There is really nothing good that is going to come out of that event.” Lahanas said he hopes the jail sentence will make students more aware that actions and participation in events like this have consequences. “When people see this, they won’t think, ‘Hey, this isn’t that big of a deal,’” he said. “Maybe they’ll think, ‘Hey, we probably should do this.” Staff writer Sergio MartínezBeltrán contributed to thi s report.
Many students in and nearby Bessey Hall at the time of the alert feared for their lives as they waited for the all clear from page one
that the original text was a false alarm and no real threat was evident. M SU p ol ice s a id on t h e i r Fa c e b o o k p a g e that a Reser ve Officers Training Corps cadet in plain clothes had a replica rif le in hand when walking through Bessey Hall’s parking lot. The building is home to a division of MSU ROTC. The cadet’s identity was not released. M a r t i n’s c l a s s w a s instructed to huddle in a corner until the all clear call came, Martin said. “It was dead silent, and dark in there,” he said. T he class remained huddled at the police officer’s instructions for 10 minutes until the authorities determined there was no further threat. After the first alert, MSU’s student body initially went into a panic, taking to their phones to communicate the situation to their families and friends. Despite the fear many students inside Bessey Hall initially felt, there was some relief prior to the followup statement that the first alert was a false alarm. There were at least three officers outside all equipped with assault rifles, which made Martin and his classmates feel safe, he said. “If there was a gunman, they weren’t going to shoot you with cops all around you,” he said. Lyman Briggs professor and associate dean Robert LaDuca remained relaxed in his Holmes Hall classroom when he saw the alert. He told students not to leave the class and assured t he m t h at t he pr op e r
authorities would take care of the situation. Given that the threat was halfway across MSU’s expansive campus, LaDuca chose to focus on teaching chemistry. He said when he heard about the alert, he drew on training he received f rom MSU’s Department of Police and Public Safety. “W hen you’re leading a classroom, the people in the classroom feed off the leader,” he said. “I’m sure if I freaked out and ran out of the classroom it would have elicited that same response (in the students).” Melody Stokosa, an advertising sophomore, was watching
The police presence in Bessey Hall directly following the alert made some students feel safer a movie in class in the Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture when classmates around her received the text alert. Stokosa’s professor instructed students to leave the classroom and to go home or head to a safe place, she said. Stokosa lives in Shaw Hall and normally walks by Bessey en route to the dorm, so she took a longer, but supposedly safer, path home. Agribusiness management senior Megan Birkett said the reaction in her classroom wasn’t very fast. Her professor turned off the light, but seemed just as confused as everybody else. The incident came not long after MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon addressed “destructive” behavior on campus and recent acts of violent crime, inc luding t he murders of hospitality business sophomore Domonique Nolff and marketing sophomore Dustyn Frolka. The incident brought additional attention to recent concerns following the shooting on Cedar Street that the MSU community might not be adequately prepared to respond to active shooter situations. Staff writer Simon Schuster contributed to this report.
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SOLUTION MONDAY’SPUZZLE PUZZLE SOLUTION TO TO MONDAY’S
2/25/14
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 © 2014 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Campus+city
stat e n e ws.co m | T he Stat e N ews | t u es day, f eb rua ry 25, 2014 |
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campus Editor Nolly Dakroury, campus@statenews.com CITY EDITOR Katie Abdilla, city@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075
courts
Crime
Same-sex couple trial to begin Tuesday morning in Detroit By Simon Schuster sschuster@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Michigan’s policies regarding same-sex couples, including a ban on benefits for the partners of public employees, continually have been challenged by trials claiming the state’s stance violates the U.S. Constitution. One of the trials will begin Tuesday morning. It involves two Hazel Park mothers of three, April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse, who originally sued the state for the right to legally be recognized as the mothers of each other’s adopted children. Judgment on the issues was deferred in October by U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman, citing factual issues. Same-sex marriage is illegal under a provision in the Michigan constitution, which was approved by 59 percent of voters in 2004. Former Lansing residents
“It’s like the state has tried to make an entire class of people invisible to its laws, and that’s the sort of thing the Supreme Court simply isn’t going to allow.” Daniel Ray, professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Kent and Diego Love-Ramirez have publicly expressed sadness that both of them are not legally recognized as their son’s father. Coupled with the fact that their marriage is legal in other states but not in Michigan, this prompted them to leave the state less than two months ago and move to Minnesota. Love-Ramirez said the couple has since filed the joint adoption papers for their son, Lucas. “We left Michigan in order to protect my family,” Kent LoveRamirez said, citing concern for their son. He grew up in the Lansing area, went to MSU and worked for the university.
He now works for the University of Minnesota. The Snyder administration has repeatedly filed motions to dismiss or pass judgement in the cases. Attorneys for the state have claimed the motivations to uphold the ban are fiscal. A recent survey conducted by MSU indicated views in Michigan have shifted, with 56 percent now in favor of marriage equality. The state’s adoption code also states than in order to jointly adopt a child, the prospec t ive pa rents must be legally married, restricting same-sex couples from joint adoption.
a time to
Daniel Ray, a Thomas M. Cooley Law School professor in constit utional law, said Friedman told the plaintiffs they should expand their case to Michigan’s marriage ban, which would render the adoption code barriers moot, something he considered “an extraordinary move for a federal judge.” Ray and another facult y member at the school have submitted a brief to the court arguing in favor of the plaintiffs. He cited a long line of U.S. Supreme Court precedents that he said indicate Michigan’s policies violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment when applying a level of scrutiny to the policies known as rational basis review. “It’s like the state has tried to make an entire class of people invisible to its laws, and that’s the sort of thing the Supreme Court simply isn’t going to allow,” Ray said.
unwind
Robberies at Hubbard Hall raise precautionary issues By Kary Askew Garcia kaskew@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
In light of a recent slew of robberies at Hubbard Hall, university officials are encouraging students to ensure they are locking their doors. According to the MSU Police Clery Crime and Fire Log, there have been 10 reported robberies on Hubbard Road since the beginning of February, at least five of which occurred in Hubbard Hall. In a previous interview with The State News, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said many of the burglaries happened while students were sleeping and left their doors unlocked at night. Thousands of dollars in clothing and electronics were stolen from North and South Hubbard halls. Joshua Gillespie, assistant director of Residence Education and Housing Services, said the organization has been doing all it can to inform students of the burglaries and to remind them to lock their doors. “It could very well be an MSU student,” Gillespie said. Because of the security in living areas, which requires a student I.D. to access those parts of the building, Gillespie said the thief is most likely a student swiping expensive items from rooms with unlocked doors. He also said it was possible the burglaries could have been committed by anyone with access to the building. “All it takes is a minute,” Gil-
lespie said. Even students who leave their door unlocked for a moment to walk down the hall put their belongings at risk, he said. Accounting freshman and Hubbard Hall resident Siwen Wang said her friends left their seventh and eighth floors unlocked and were later robbed. Wang said she thinks part of the reason it’s easy for burglars to get into the rooms is because her friends lived close to the emergency exits and because cameras haven’t been installed to monitor activity in stairwells. Some of the items stolen included an iPad, laptop and shoes. Wang said police performed an investigation but came up empty. “I will make sure I will lock my door before I go to sleep,” Wang said. Despite being a resident of Hubbard Hall, general management freshman Erika Witte said she hadn’t heard anything about an uptick in robberies. Witte said taking simple precautions like locking doors could help put students at ease. “Nobody should be going into anybody’s dorm without permission,” Witte said. “But if it’s as simple as locking your doors, then you should lock your doors.” Gillespie said his department has sent out emails to residents in Hubbard and to all students and have instructed resident assistants in the building to inform their residents to constantly lock their doors. “Our number one priority is safety and security,” Gillespie said. “We will do whatever is necessary to ensure that occurs for every student.”
Crossword
L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
English sophomore Bonnie Bairley, right, and Residential College in the Arts and Humanities freshman Alexa White, left, arch backward during a yoga session Monday at Snyder Hall. The class session started at 5:30 p.m. and was taught by Lansing resident and yoga instructor Hanna Obbink. Erin Hampton/The State News
Development
Apple Inc. issued permit to build at Eastwood “Typically no one is going to get a building permit until they’re ready to.”
By Michael Kransz mkransz@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Lansing Charter Township has issued Apple Inc. a building permit, indicating the possibility of an Apple Store coming to Eastwood Towne Center.
Although a permit was issued, officials could not confirm plans for a store opening Township Senior Planner Matt Brinkley could not confirm or deny plans for an Apple Store, but noted there were positive signs. Speaking generally, Brinkley said when a company pays for a building permit, which includes
MUNN ICE ARENA
Matt Brinkley, Lansing Charter Township senior planner
application and architectural design fees, it indicates that the company is set on following through with developing the space. “Typically no one is going to get a building permit until they’re ready to build,” Brinkley said. While there is not a date set for the potential Apple Store’s opening, Brinkely said when companies are issued a building permit, they have a year to complete it. The building permit application shows Apple’s interest in a nearly 6,000 square-foot location, which
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fits the description of a location just South of NCG Eastwood Cinemas, in a space between Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works. Currently, students must travel to Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor or Novi for the nearest Apple Store. Psychology senior Nicolas Waldecker said he was skeptical about whether an Apple Store in the area would benefit students. Waldecker said students currently can use the MSU Computer Store for Apple repairs and purchases. They can even receive student discounts on select Apple
products. “It’s more convenient and costeffective for students to go to an on-campus site,” Waldecker said. Anthropology senior Mari Isa said a close-to-campus Apple Store would be convenient for students whose Apple products are in need of repair. Isa said she had to travel back to her hometown of Ann Arbor several times to fix cracked iPhone screens and frozen Mac computers. “I was wondering when we would get one here, because so many students have Apple products,” Isa said. “I’ve gone back to Ann Arbor to fix various Apple products, so it would be more convenient to have one here.”
Across
1 Lunchbox staple, initially 4 Handy, say 8 Hatcher of “Lois & Clark” 12 Pakistani language 14 Pakistan neighbor 15 Tablecloth fabric 16 Striped fish 17 Dangerously sharp 19 Ranch nightmare 21 “Wake Up Little Susie” singer Don or Phil 22 “Curb Your Enthusiasm” creator 24 Next-to-last Greek letter 26 Difficult turn on the slopes 27 Fellows 28 Cape Town’s land: Abbr. 31 1983 Streisand film 33 “From __ to shining ...” 34 Has-__ 35 Common pump choice 39 Early garden 40 La-Z-Boy room 41 Very unpleasant, weather-wise 42 Country south of Turk. 43 Costly crackertopper 44 35-Across, e.g. 46 Boxer’s stat
47 Gnarly one on the waves 50 “Beat it, kid!” 53 “I’m serious!” 56 “Star Wars” droid, and a hint to letters shared by 17-, 22-, 35and 47-Across 58 Eyelid trouble 59 Taxi fixture 60 Clothier Strauss 61 Traffic sound 62 Glimpse 63 Lose sleep (over) 64 Mario Brothers console
Down
1 Stout servers 2 Unruly kid 3 Holden Caulfield creator 4 Cable stations, e.g. 5 Vintage sitcom stepfamily 6 Vegged out 7 Ambient music pioneer Brian 8 Assisted through a tough time, with “over” 9 Caltech grad, often: Abbr. 10 Hose holder 11 Race nickname 13 West Point letters 15 “Deathtrap” playwright Ira 18 Disclose 20 Suave shelfmate
23 “So true!” 24 Funereal piles 25 Like some rye bread 28 Comedian who ended his show with “... and may God bless” 29 Make arrangements for 30 Raggedy dolls 32 Winery cask 33 Baltimore daily 34 Cry from a flock 36 Loved to pieces 37 Scuba spot 38 Come after 43 Gossip fodder 44 Vinyl record feature 45 Cleverly skillful 47 “Here, piggies!” 48 “It’s open!” 49 Imprecise cooking measure 50 Pool or polo 51 Raw rocks 52 Web address opening 54 Harp kin 55 Strong urges 57 Pixie
Get the solutions at
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4 | Th e Stat e N e ws | t ue sday, February 2 5, 201 4 | state n e ws.com
Opinion
Featured blog Mom buys Pacsun T-shirts so others can’t
Cam pus reaction s
Students turned to social media to make sense of shooter reports
Seeing a modestly clad woman in an advertisement is a rarity these days. That fact gave rise to a dramatic response from Utah mom Judy Cox. — Sierra Lay, State News reporter Read the rest online at statenews.com/blog.
editorial cartoonist
Letter to the editor brandon hankins bhankins@statenews.com
M
embers of the MSU community took to Twitter Monday afternoon at about 1 p.m. after receiving a text message alert of a man entering Bessey Hall, possibly carrying a gun. Many warned Twitter followers to stay away from Bessey Hall, relaying MSU’s message about a gunman possibly being in the building and telling fellow Spartans to remain safe. Although the university sent out a message on its alert system about 10 minutes after the announcement to let people know the
nn
Pres. Simon’s ‘student behavioral concerns’ comment blames victims
man had been carrying a training weapon, the incident shook many across campus. Bessey Hall began nationally trending on Twitter as students expressed terror while they waited to find out what was going on. People continued to post reactions on social media as they made sense of what had happened once MSU determined the shooting had been a false alarm. Check out how the events unfolded through the eyes of the MSU community’s posts on Twitter. — Rebecca Ryan, State News Opinion Editor
Tweets from Monday about Bessey Hall nn
Matt Ciolino @mattciolino So there is a guy with a gun in bessey hall. And the teacher just told us to stay in the room......... 1:05 p.m. — 24 Feb 2014 From East Lansing, MI
hope pell @hpell13 Yup just sprinted out the emergency exit of my classroom in Bessey hall. Apparently there is a gunman inside. #wtf 1:14 p.m. — 24 Feb 2014 From East Lansing, MI
On Feb. 18, The State News reported that President Lou Anna K. Simon addressed “student behavioral concerns,” in particular, sexual assault and the recent murders on campus. On Feb. 21, students received an email from Paulette Granberry Russell, who serves as the university’s Title IX coordinator, informing us about the sexual assault prevention resources available to students on campus. As much as I wish these were displays of MSU’s concern for its students, the sentiments expressed give me a very different impression. These are both blatant efforts to deflect blame from the university for the violence on our campus. President Simon’s use of the phrase “destructive behaviors” is an appallingly inaccurate way to describe the violent crimes to which she is referring. The irresponsible, immature actions of teenagers are simply not comparable to the rapes and murders that have occurred in our community. Her statement that students are solely responsible for preventing such violence is absolutely ludicrous. As Granberry Russell’s letter explains, our sexual assault prevention programs are incredibly important and increasingly effective. Unfortunately, though, these programs are simply unable to immediately and completely eradicate sexual violence at MSU. I have been the victim of sexual violence on campus, and I have met many other sexual assault survivors in the four years I have attended MSU. We were all taught in the sexual assault prevention programs we attended that we are never to blame for the violence committed against us. That message is severely muddled when the president of our university tells us that MSU believes we are, in fact, the only ones responsible for preventing sexual assault. There is no doubt that students should take care of one another. However, it is unreasonable and infuriating to be told the university does not care to help us keep each other safe. We deserve better.
“
“Her statement that students are solely responsible for preventing such violence is absolutely ludicrous.”
Christianna Gluys, Social relations and policy senior
Grant Boxey @honestlyboxey Something that isn’t #wtfmsu was our reaction time in Bessey. Emergency protocol went smoothly. Only problem? No locks on doors. @thesnews 1:23 p.m. — 24 Feb 2014
Today’s state news poll
Matthew Martin @themattural2 You haven’t panicked until a cop with an M-16 tells your class to get on the ground because there’s someone with a gun in the hall 1:35 p.m. — 24 Feb 2014
Evan Schrage @EvanSchrage @thesnews @thesnewsopinion someone with a gun “heading into” the building that houses headquarters of the afrotc didn’t seem that concerning
Were you happy with MSU’s response time and methods of alerting students of a possible (and later determined to be false) gunman on campus? To vote, visit statenews.com.
2:55 p.m. — 24 Feb 2014
We want to hear your thoughts. The State News welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include your year and major, email address and telephone number. Phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be fewer than 500 words and are subject to editing. How to reach us: Questions? Contact Opinion Editor Rebecca Ryan at (517) 432-3070. By email rebecca.ryan@statenews.com; By fax (517) 432-3075; By mail
Monday’s poll results JUST SO YOU KNOW No 30%
Would you attend another celebration in Cedar Village during March Madness, given the example the city is making of students from the Big Ten championship game?
None 74%
16% One 23%
46% 39% 0
10
Letters to the Editor,
20
30 PERCENT
The State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave.,
Yes, but I’d stay far away
East Lansing, MI 48823
No way
40
Yes, the police don’t scare me Total votes: 71 as of 5 p.m. Monday
50
5 | Th e Stat e N e ws | t u esday, february 2 5, 201 4
state n e ws.com
Features
Features editor Anya Rath, features@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075
Dancing to their own beat North American Indigenous Student Organization continues to celebrate culture MSU alumnus and head male dancer Marcus Winchester dances to a traditional song on Saturday at the 31st annual Powwow of Love event put on by the North American Indigenous Student Organization at Jenison Field House. Winchester is a member of the Potawatomi Tribe.
cholland@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
By April Jones ajones@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
H
undreds of dancers dressed in traditional native clothing gathered in Jenison Field House Saturday in celebration of the annual MSU Powwow of Love. For 31 years, MSU and the North American Indigenous Student Organization have hosted a day full of dancing, drumming and singing. Saturday’s powwow celebrated a variety of American Indian cultures. Participants danced to the beat of the drums for hours while dressed in tribal clothing. Vendors also were posted around the venue for attendees to purchase homemade products, such as dreamcatchers, necklaces and T-shirts. North American Indigenous Student Organization is an inclusive student organization, but members are not required to be Native American, said Cassondra Church, interdisciplinary studies
in social science junior. Church, co-chair of the organization, said the group gives an opportunity to students to learn more about native cultures while discussing key issues within the community. It wasn’t until Church came to MSU three years ago that she started to become interested in her heritage. Church said she always knew she was a part of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi Indian tribe, but it wasn’t something stressed in her upbringing. During her sophomore year, she joined North American Indigenous Student Organization to get a better feel of the history of her culture. “I knew I was Native American but I wanted to know more about who I was and that’s what pushed me to get involved,” she said. Once people know what the group stands
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for, they become passionate about it and want to know more, Church said. The group serves as a second family said social work junior Jessie Lucero, another co-chair of the group. Before she began at MSU, the organization’s adviser tracked her down and talked to her father, who forced her to attend meetings, Lucero said. After she attended the first meeting, she was hooked. Over the course of three years, she hasn’t missed a single meeting. Lucero, who’s a member of the Taos Pueblo tribe located in New Mexico, said she has learned a lot from the group. “I didn’t know much about Michigan tribes before I came here, so I’m learning a lot about the ones here and hopefully they learn a lot about me too,” she said. In Michigan, there are 12 native tribes and the group has a mix of most of them. For the students who join the club but do not know
The Powwow of Love has been held for 31 years
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much about their tribe, Church said the group tries to cater to their needs. They will often spend a meeting talking about the tribe and sometimes bring a keynote speaker to speak. The group meets biweekly. During meetings, members often make crafts such as moccasins, dream catchers, or play games such as native bingo. Outside of meetings, the members often get together for team building activities such as laser tag or group dinners. “We try to build that (native) community within MSU,” Church said. “By doing that, the groups often takes freshman students under their wing to help make MSU’s big campus feel a little bit smaller.” However, because the group is fairly small, Church said the group sometimes goes unnoticed. They often help host various events such as the powwow to get word of the organization out to the MSU community. “When people hear NAISO, I want them to know what it is,” she said.
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World-famous orchestra performs at the Wharton By Casey Holland
Erin Hampton/The State News
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For the first time, the St. Pete r sbu r g Ph i l h a r mon ic Orchestra performed at Wharton Center’s Cobb Great Hall last night, drawing a crowd of more than 1,000. The orchestra, made up of more than 100 string, percussion, wind and brass players, was accompanied by their current director, Yuri Temirkanov. He has directed the group for more than 25 years. The music of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra has been shared for 100-plus years. The group was originally founded in 1882. The orchestra performed for Alexander III as the court’s music choir. It was under the rule of Nicholas II that they expanded into a full orchestra. Ryonn Clute, marketing manager at Wharton Center, said seeing them perform together is “electric.” “The energy between the director and the orchestra is so fluid and tight,” Clute said. “The strings sound out of this world.” The ensemble performed three pieces during their show with an intermission between the first and second piece. Their first performance was the “Overture to Il barbiere di Siviglia” from Gioacchino Rossini. The performers’ muscles were relaxed as they began to play the soft beginning melodies. As the piece went on
and the notes grew sharper, their faces became tight with concentration. Next, the orchestra took on Sergei Prokofiev’s “Violin Concerto No. 2” with their soloist, Vilde Frang. The piece was written by a Russian composer, something Clute said was a specialty of the orchestra. As Frang stood beside her conductor and began her performances, her eyes closed drifted closed. Her body moved in time with the notes that flowed from her violin, her fingers moving precisely along the strings with unbreakable focus. “They could write a book on performing the two Russian pieces,” Clute said. The final performance was Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Symphony No. 2,” another Russian piece. Wharton Center has been working to bring the orchestra to East Lansing for a few years. However, the orchestra doesn’t tour in America every year, and they wanted to ensure they would be touring with Temirkanov. Supply chain management sophomore William Woo said he had two reasons for attending the show: the conductor and his own passion for conducting. “First of all, I came because the conductor is famous,” he said. “Secondly, I grew up learning conducting. Sadly, I’m not in the College of Music, but I still want to connect with music. This was a really good way to do that.”
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academy awards in less than a week The 2014 Oscars are less than a week away, and audience members will be anxiously glued to their televisions to see the winners. Here are some of the nominations for this year’s awards: “American Hustle” is one the leaders among the contending movies with 10
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different nominations. The film was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor with Christian Bale, Best Actress with Amy Adams and Best Supporting Actor with Bradley Cooper. Jennifer Lawrence also earned the movie a nominee as Best Supporting Actress. CASEY HOLLAND
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Horoscope By Linda C. Black 10 IS THE EASIEST DAY — 0 THE MOST CHALLENGING
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Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 6 — Don’t make a promise you won’t keep. Don’t avoid promising from fear of failure, though. If you’re going to risk, make sure it’s worth it. Get support, for a wider view. Selfdiscipline, plus your big heart, earns success.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8 — A new income possibility arises with creative inspiration. Stick to practical goals, and take quiet action. Stay home and handle important homework behind the scenes. Don’t drop out exercise and health routines. Create something of beauty.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 — Follow a hunch to avoid possible breakdowns. Don’t give away all you know. Spend carefully, and budget to bring a passion project to life. Change your tune, and sing in harmony with creative partners.
Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 7 — Stick to basics. Don’t gamble or speculate. Consider the effort involved. Do the homework. Don’t be late for a family affair. Keep confidences. Circumstances play a big role in your decisions. Find balance and harmony.
Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22) Today is a 6 — Link up with a creative partner to get to the heart of the project. Consider all possibilities, and think huge! Let your passion flavor the work. No shortcuts... follow all steps, and polish carefully.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 — Rely on someone stable to discover the missing piece. Apply self-discipline to distractions. Assume authority, and put your heart into it. Do a good job, despite annoyances. You’re getting wiser. Encourage love and harmony.
Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 6 — Put your heads together to get to the bottom of a situation. A revelation leads to proposed changes. With responsibility comes strength. Avoid risk and travel. Put your heart into your work, play by the rules and beauty arises.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 6 — Creative collaboration thrives. Together, you see farther. Gather essential facts, supplies and an articulate message. Call an experienced friend, for private advice. Simplify your routine. Apply discipline to what you love, and discover the sweet spot.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 6 — Plan your road ahead. Consider well being, health and family. Take on a project that inspires. Do it for love, not money (although that could come). Your past work speaks well for you. Keep it cost-effective. Create beauty. Express your love.
Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 7 — Your input makes a difference. Support your partner. Postpone a trip. Use your common sense regarding changes at work. Keep digging for the clue, and work together. Test your hypothesis. Family comes first.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 6 — An opportunity arises for your group. Listen to all considerations. Make secret plans for a jump on the competition. Postpone travel for a day or two. Craft a message expressing the heart of the endeavor.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 6 — Taking on more responsibility leads to fatter account balances. Dress for the part. Practice your art. Something you try doesn’t work. Get help from family and friends. New possibilities open up. Let your light shine.
Sports
state n e ws.com | The State N ews | tu esday, f eb rua ry 25, 2014 |
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sports editor Beau Hayhoe, sports@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075
struggles continue for msu after U-M men’s basketball
Head coach Tom Izzo talks with senior center Adreian Payne during the game against Michigan on Sunday at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Spartans lost to the Wolverines, 79-70.
matt Sheehan msheehan@statenews.com
Dawson’s absence a big blow
Danyelle Morrow/The State News
Izzo disappointed by loss, says healthy team will compete better By Zach Smith zsmith@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
One day after the No. 18 MSU men’s basketball team’s 79-70 loss to No. 16 Michigan, Tom Izzo’s stomach isn’t any better. Nik Stauskas scored 25 points for the Wolverines, and Caris LeVert added 23 of his own. The Spartans committed 13 turnovers leading to 14 U-M points, a stat Izzo said was the difference of the game. “Disappointing loss for us yesterday,� Izzo said during a teleconference Monday. “They made a couple plays down the stretch, cut the lead to two. We came out in the second half
and got into foul trouble and couldn’t guard Stauskas.â€? MSU has been hampered by injuries all season, and the Spartans have been without junior forward Branden Dawson for the past nine games, five of them losses — including Sunday. Seniors Keith Appling and Adreian Payne also are recently coming back from extended time away from the team, as Appling’s wrist dogged him since December before finally sidelining him. Izzo said this has been a crazy year when it comes to injuries, and he can’t remember another like it in nearly 20 years at the helm. “I haven’t had a past decade
when I’ve had injuries like this,� he said. “When we go back and look at all the practices missed, there’s a five-year period where we haven’t had the same number of practices missed as we have this year.� It won’t be easy for the Spartans to get back in the groove of playing with each other. In their loss Sunday afternoon, Payne looked gassed for much of the game, and Stauskas scored the majority of his points when Appling, with his sore wrist, was guarding him. However, Izzo said he thinks this team can overcome the adversity, get back to its winning ways and find a balance. “We’ve got to make sure Payne realizes he’s still a threat
inside and doesn’t leak outside,� he said. “When Dawson comes back, we’ll be better defensively. We’re 22-6, not 6-22. It will pass and we’ll get through it.� MSU has a bit of a break before hosting Illinois on March 1. Izzo said the sense of urgency was there in Ann Arbor, and there was no lack of respect for their opponent — it’s just going to take time to get back in the driver’s seat. “Some of these things we should control, and some of these things we have no control of,� Izzo said. “It is what it is. We’ve just got to get better and get some practice time. I love this team, I love the talent of the team.�
hockey
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Spartans need to focus on improvement It might sound weird to hear, but winning shouldn’t be the number one priority for MSU hockey in its final three weeks of the regular season. I know, as former NFL head coach Herm Edwards famously said, “You play to win the game,� but save me the “Hello� Herm, and hear me out. For MSU, improving from day-to-day should remain the point of emphasis from head coach Tom Anastos and his staff.
The day was Dec. 17, and MSU just dealt a 30-point loss to North Florida. You might not remember it. You also probably don’t remember, or have never even heard, that Ospreys head coach Matthew Driscoll essentially predicted the future of MSU’s season. In the middle of his eccentric press conference filled with MSU compliments and witty one-liners, the whimsical head coach laid out just how important junior forward Branden Dawson is to the Spartans. “Dawson, to me, is (MSU’s) guy, almost to the point where you might not be able to lose him,� Driscoll said. “He gives you that one person that can put it on the floor and go get rebounds, guard multiple positions all the time — bigger, stronger, doesn’t matter what he’s doing.� That was more than two months ago, and here we are looking at a Spartan team that has gone 4-5 in its last nine games. It’s no coincidence Dawson has missed those nine games, because Driscoll was right — Dawson is the player MSU couldn’t afford to lose. Right now, I would consider voting Dawson as the team MVP, because he is showing how crucial he is when on the bench. And make no mistake about it, Dawson’s presence
It’s no secret that winning the inaugural Big Ten Tournament in late March is the only way MSU can advance to the NCAA Tournament this year. Three games in three days to continue its season. It might sound like a tall task for a team that hasn’t scored more than three goals in any of its Big Ten games, but if this was a year ago, the road would be a lot tougher for MSU. The newly formed Big Ten offers a single-elimination tournament, not multiple threegame series before single elimination that the Central Collegiate Hockey Association had in place a year ago. So instead of having to win the six games needed last year to earn the automatic bid into the NCAA tourney, MSU only needs three. Like I said, three games in three days to continue its season, something the Spartans will have to emphasize. This brings us back to my statement of winning taking
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Losses in the last nine games for the MSU basketball team without forward Branden Dawson. on defense could have helped MSU make the “L� column a little emptier. When MSU played Michigan at home a month ago, in Dawson’s first game out because of a broken hand, three Wolverines scored 17 or more points. At Wisconsin, Badger forwards Sam Dekker and Frank Kaminsky both scored in double figures in a two-point victory over MSU. Even bench player Nigel Hayes scored 14 points against an MSU post presence that was depleted with foul trouble. Nebraska forward Walter Pitchford went off for a surprising 18 points in a ninepoint win over the Spartans. Sunday at U-M, Nik Stauskas went off for 21 second-half points, many of them scored against Keith Appling — a guard six inches shorter than Stauskus. Those are four conference losses without Dawson, and I’m willing to bet a meal at Crunchy’s his presence would have changed at least two of those games. Instead of only having two or three Big Ten losses, MSU has four. That means it will need to win its final three games and have U-M slip at least once to have MSU split the Big Ten title with its rival they lost to twice. Could you think of an emptier way to win a championship? But there is good news, Spartan fans. Dawson is slated to come back Saturday against Illinois, and his defensive dominance will be back in action. Unfortunately, the return is coming four conference losses too late. Matt Sheehan is a State News basketball reporter. Reach him at msheehan@statenews.com.
a back seat to simply improving in the next three weeks. Now obviously, MSU still is playing to improve its seeding for the conference tournament — currently they are the No. 5 seed — but after dropping both games last weekend at No. 6 Wisconsin, it’s looking like the Spartans won’t be climbing too far up the seeding ladder. Especially because its final four games come against that same Wisconsin team, and No. 13 Michigan, the only other team in the conference to sweep the Spartans in a weekend series. Here is the format for the Big Ten Tournament: The top two teams get first-round byes, with the third seed taking on the sixth seed and the fourth against the fifth.
More online ‌ To read more about how MSU should prep for the tourney, visit statenews.com.