Thursday 2/25/16

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THINKING AHEAD. New technology from MSU regarding concussions could change the game for athletes.

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T HU R S DAY, F E B R UA RY 2 5, 2 016

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RELIGIOUS GUIDE Look for this directory in the paper every Thursday and online at: www.statenews.com/religious Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Rd., E. Lansing Between Hagadorn & Park Lake Rds. (517) 337-9703 Sunday Worship: 10am Adult Bible Study: 9am Wed. Lenten Service: 7pm Soup, Supper: 6pm ascensioneastlansing.org Chabad House of MSU Your Jewish home, away from home 540 Elizabeth St. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 214-0525 chabadmsu.com Friday evenings: 20 minutes after sunset followed by Shabbat dinner Saturday: 11am, Torah reading at 12pm Eastminster Presbyterian Church 1315 Abbot Rd, East Lansing, MI, 48823 (517) 337-0893 www.eastminsterchurch.org Sunday School for All Ages: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 10:30am UKirk Presbyterian Campus Ministry www.ukirkmsu.org Faith Fellowship Baptist Church 1001 Dakin St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 853-9897 Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study: 6:30pm Van service available to church Campus Bible Study: Thursday at 7:30pm in Chemistry Bldg. www.ffbc.us First Baptist Church of Okemos 4684 Marsh Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 (517) 349-2830 www.fbcokemos.org/worship Sunday worship: 10:45am Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI (Meeting at the University Christian Church building) (517) 898-3600 Students welcome!

Sunday Worship: 8:45am Sunday Bible class: 10am Wednesday: 7pm - praise and worship Students please feel free to call for rides http://www.greaterlansingcoc.org

Lansing Church of God in Christ 5304 Wise Rd., Lansing, MI 48911 http://lansingcogic.org/ Worship hours Sunday: 10:30am, 5:00pm Monday Family Prayer: 6:00pm Little Flock Christian Fellowship A Non-DenominationalEvagelical Church MSU Alumni Chapel (Basement Hall) Sunday Worship Service: 10am-12 Noon.

Fellowship Lunch after the service Weekly Bibly Studies & Students’ Meetings. littleflock.msu@gmail.com www.littleflock.org

The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing 940 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 For prayer times visit www.lansingislam.com/ Trinity Church 3355 Dunckel Rd. Lansing, MI 48911 (517) 272-3820 Saturday: 6pm Sunday: 9:15am, 11am trinitywired.com

University Baptist Church 4608 South Hagadorn Rd East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4144 www.ubcel.org 10 AM Worship Service 11:15 Coffee Hour 11:30 Sunday School

Peoples Church 200 W. Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-6074 www.peoples-evolution.org Sunday Worship: 8:30am, 9:30am Tuesday: Love Life: 7-9pm Wednesday: Dinner at 5:30pm, Journey at 6:30

University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-5193 universitychristianwired.com Sunday: 11:15 am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15 am

River Terrace Church 1509 River Terrace Dr. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-9059 www.riverterrace.org Service times: 9 & 11:15am

University Lutheran Church (ELCA) One Community: Lutheran/ Episcopal Campus Ministry 1020 South Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-2559 www.facebook.com/onecommunitymsu Sunday Worship 10:45am

The Pentecostals of East Lansing 16262 Chandler Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 337-7635 www.pentecostalel.org Like us on Facebook!

Sunday worship: 11am Thursday Bible study: 7pm Hillel Jewish Student Center Thursday young adult group: 360 Charles St., E. Lansing 8:30pm (517) 332-1916 Wednesday campus Bible Friday Night study: 8pm at MSU library Services: 6pm, Dinner: 7pm September - April

Student with disability for Truman Scholarship

Unity Spiritual Renaissance 230 S. Holmes St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 484-2360 or (517) 505-1261 Sunday: 10:30am Wednesday: 6:30pm meditation

Martin Luther Chapel 444 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-0778 martinlutherchapel.org Sunday: 9:30am & 7:00pm Wednesday Worship: 9pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring)

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 Tuesday & Thursday: 9:15pm

Meagan Beck Student Issues editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews

University United Methodist Church MSU Wesley 1120 S. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-7030 universitychurchhome.org msuwesley.org Sunday: 10:30am 9:00am Garden Service in the summer TGIT: 8:00pm Thursdays Sept. - April WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbot Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 580-3744 www.msu.edu/~weisluth 6:00pm Saturday

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

Call 517-432-3000 today to speak with an Account Executive

International relations junior Julia Christensen poses for a portrait at her house on Feb. 19 in East Lansing. Christensen has been nominated for a Truman scholarship and has had to work extra hard in college after being diagnosed with lupus at the age of 12. PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

BY RACHEL FRADETTE RFRADETTE@STATENEWS.COM

A weak immune system, the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion.

That is how international relations junior Julia Christensen experiences while going about her every day activities.

Christensen was diagnosed with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, which can affect any part of her body at any given time, when she was 12 years old.

“My own experience has shown me how big of a difference it is from having relatively minor accomodations, all things considered, having that support and accommodations I need versus not having them.”

Julia Christensen, International relations junior

Recently, her illness is like a second thought as Christensen has been nominated for the coveted Harry S. Truman Scholarship by MSU. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation, a formal memorial to President Truman, is awarded to 55-65 students each year.

Christensen said the scholarship is intended for students who work in public service and intend to pursue a career in it.

She is involved with the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, and is part of the Council of Students with Disabilities, where she serves as a representative for ASMSU. MSU submits four candidates to be among the 600 applicants competing for the scholarships.

The other three candidates include astrophysics junior Sara Denbo, human biology junior Austin Martin and social relations and policy junior Rachel Poole.

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T H E STAT E NE WS

The award ultimately pays for a graduate program education for the scholars.

Christensen said she decided to apply for the scholarship last summer and has been in the application process since then.

Christensen said the application process is rigorous and a lot like taking on the responsibilities of another class.

Her policy proposal for her application focuses on an inclusive environment and education for students with disabilities.

“My own experience has shown me how big of a difference it is from having relatively minor accommodations, all things considered, having that support and accommodations I need versus not having them,” Christensen said.

Christensen said, while there has been progress for preparing classrooms for students with disabilities, separating students with disabilities does no good for the students or community.

“There’s been progress made in converting schools in regions that are already set up specifically for students with disabilities into resource centers,” Christensen said.

She said teachers in mainstream schools are able to come in and learn what an accessible classroom looks like.

She said creating a learning environment for all students with or without disabilities, but with accessibilities, is essential.

“For people with disabilities who want to be educated, who are held back from a good career and opportunities,” Christensen said.

“As a result, who are forced to rely on government programs to support themselves is a problem on human rights level, people deserve opportunities.”

Christensen said she specifically chose MSU over other universities because of its disabilities office, the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities.

Christensen said if she is awarded the scholarship she plans to attend Columbia University in New York City.

“To justify all of that, why that degree, why that school ... took a lot of time,” Christensen said.

T H U R S DAY, FE B R UA RY 2 5 , 2 01 6

Contents INSIDE

East Lansing to get inclement weather Thursday, check for updates

The history behind East Lansing’s name

MSU poker club gives members tips and tricks on the game

SEE STATENEWS.COM

PAGE 6

PAGE 8

BY T H E N U M B E R S

7.3

Average number of assists per game for Denzel Valentine See page 10

“We are continuing to work with any candidates that are interested in coming to campus.

We haven’t spent any money on any of the candidates ... Our only cost is promoting the event and getting the word out.”

ASMSU President Domonique Clemons, on inviting presidential candidates to speak at MSU See statenews.com

Coffee served in MSU dining halls partially brought to MSU by business professor with international ties

BY IAN WENDROW IWENDROW@STATENEWS.COM

Every day, thousands of MSU students filter through the cafeterias to grab their breakfast and a cup of coffee. They grab the black mugs stacked by the beverage machines, plop them under the metal canisters labeled “French Roast” or “Spartan Green” and flip the switch to fill them up.

This happens day in and day out, but what few realize is that this coffee is fair trade, meaning it’s ethically sourced and promotes growth for farmers in developing countries around the world.

Were it not for a jovial Eli Broad College of Business professor Paulette Stenzel, MSU’s coffee and the rest of its involvement in the fair trade movement might not be where it is today.

“I came to MSU in 1982, so I came very young,” Stenzel said. “It’s kind of gradually crept in from different directions. I wouldn’t call myself ‘the person’ but, to my knowledge, I’m the person who has for 25, 26 years now been here, stayed here and (is) consistently writing and speaking about it.”

A professor of sustainability and international business law, Stenzel began her career by writing about environmental law.

Going into the 1990s, MSU was heavily developing its international presence, prompting Sten-

zel to take advantage of her extensive international background.

“I studied in France, Colombia, Mexico long before I came here and when (the North American Free Trade Agreement) came along, I saw an opportunity to examine the international ramifications of our environmental regulation, or lack thereof,” she said.

Fluent in French and Spanish, much of Stenzel’s research and outreach projects have been located in Central America, in countries such as Nicaragua and Guatemala.

Her most recent research trip took her to Cuba, an opportunity that opened up with thawing relations between the United States and the island country.

Though she has worked with major organizations such as the World Trade Organization, Stenzel is most proud of her work with smaller scale programs like As Green As It Gets, Esperanza en Accion, otherwise known as Hope in Action, and El Rosal, an all-women’s cooperative located in the Intag region of Ecuador.

Many of these programs aim to empower struggling communities by providing them financial and physical resources to make them first self-sufficient and then stable enough to sell their goods on the market at a fair price.

Read more online at statenews.com

Interdisciplinary studies in social science sophomore Megan Feeley feeds a squirrel on Feb. 18.

Feeley likes to interact with the squirrels on her way to class. See page 11 for more.

PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

VOL . 106 | NO. 42

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MSU professors create new tech to aid in concussion diagnosis

BY RACHEL FRADETTE RFRADETTE@STATENEWS.COM

Two linemen of the same stature collide on the line of scrimmage, the force reverberates from the hit. One of the linemen absorbs the blow, the other stands up without trial.

Concussions, a traumatic brain injury that can occur from a blow to the head or body, are different for every individual. A hard hit to the head or body can differ for each athlete depending on a variety of factors.

“Concussions are not a yes no, red light green light thing.

It’s very much about working with an athlete to see where they’re at and run them through tests and kind of get a feel for what’s going on.”

Joanne Gerstner, Journalism professor researching concussions

No concussion is the same for every athlete, making research and diagnosis complicated.

“There is no such line for every single person,” MSU journalism professor Joanne Gerstner said.

“Everyone concusses in a different way and has a different threshold.”

Gerstner has been researching concussions for several years and is currently working on a book about them.

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

When Marcos Dantus, an MSU chemistry professor and researcher, emailed MSU professor Gary Blanchard stating the two of them should put their heads together and contribute to the NFL’s head impact competition for new technology to identify concussions, Blanchard couldn’t resist.

Blanchard said scientists have a nose for important problems to solve.

“If we identify an important problem and we

think that we can bring something to the table, then we’ll go for it,” Blanchard said.

Blanchard said the awards went to research about imaging, blood tests and modeling concussions. He said no rapid on-site evaluation was included.

The decision was to create a physical impact sensing device that provides magnitude and impact location.

The headband worn by players has a removable and replaceable strip inside, which is made up of thin sensor arrays. Depending on the amount of G-forces absorbed in a collision, the strip will begin to display circles and then stars depending on magnitudes.

Blanchard said Dantus and himself are not experts on concussions but wanted to create something that could aid the problem. While they were going through the process and testing, MSU neurologist Dr. David Kaufman assisted them.

“When players come off the field, if we are suspicious, understanding the G-force that was absorbed by the student athlete is the value,” Kaufman said.

Kaufman said the headband will aid trainers and neurologists, but an actual diagnosis can only come from a clinical exam.

“Concussions are not a yes no, red light green light thing,” Gerstner said. “It’s very much about working with an athlete to see where they’re at and run them through tests and kind of get a feel for what’s going on.”

Kaufman is on the MSU football sideline for every home and away game in addition to two practices each week.

Kaufman said if a player were to come off the field in a seemingly healthy state with a perfect examination, but the sensor displays they absorbed 80 G-forces, then there is probable cause to make sure nothing was missed.

“I think the interesting thing about this is the lightweight nature of it and that it can be used in non-helmeted sports like field hockey or soccer,” Kaufman said. “That makes it very useful.”

SELF-REPORTED CONCUSSIONS IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS NUMBERS REPRESENT CONCUSSION PERCENTS

ONCE MULTIPLE

WOMEN’S SPORTS 20.9

ICE HOCKEY

8.3 15.2

FIELD HOCKEY

6 13.9

SOCCER

7.1 14.3

LACROSSE

6.2 14.1

BASKETBALL

3.9 MEN’S SPORTS 19.5

WRESTLING

8.2 17.9

FOOTBALL

9.5 18.6

ICE HOCKEY

7.1 17.8

LACROSSE

7.8 16.8

SOCCER 6.4

MAKING THE MODEL

Thirty seconds — a bowling ball with a helmet

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Chemistry professor Gary Blanchard prepares to drop a test dummy on Feb. 23 at the Chemistry Building. A sensor was attached to the back of the helmet, which would allow Blanchard to determine the force of the impact on the dummy. PHOTO: KELLY VANFRANKENHUYZEN

said. “It means nothing until a real player wearing a real helmet goes out on the field.”

Blanchard said approximately five MSU football players participated during the fall season wearing the headbands in practice time, all in different capacities.

Dantus said through human trials the sensors were tested with real-game occurrences. He said size, sweat, heat and friction were now a reality for the headbands’ testing.

Dantus said players were hesitant but eventually got used to the idea of the trials and use of the headband.

Blanchard said the sensors within the strip work differently than most others. He said the strip isn’t electronic, hackable or built into a player’s helmet.

CONCUSSIONS — AN INDISCRIMINATE ISSUE

and sensor strip on drops to the ground — Dantus’ son retrieves the ball and must change the sensor strip with a time crunch.

Dantus said Kaufman came to their earlier trials and explained he needed to make a decision in thirty seconds between plays to determine whether everybody on the field could stay on the field.

Dantus said Kaufman needed enough time to see the sensor and determine if a significant impact had taken place and replace the sensor if needed.

Blanchard and his research team have come a long way since their early trials in the summer of 2015. The team dynamic has evolved from using a bowling ball.

The team goes through a full process in lab while testing the sensors within the headband.

Dantus’ and Blanchard’s testing of the head-

band begins with placing the band on a human The conversation surrounding traumatic brain mannequin head. Then, a helmet is placed on the injuries has reached national discussion with foothead, just like a football player would wear during ball as the main talking point. practice.

“Women and girls in general have lower neck Blanchard said the impact involves a drop from strength than guys,” Gerstner said. “Our necks a determined amount of feet up from the target.

The accelerometer measures the impact of G forces from the drop experienced by the head.

Kaufman said the simplicity of Blanchard’s headband with sensor arrays makes it valuable. He said many complicated, technologically inclined indicators are expensive and difficult for players.

Through the assistance of MSU head athletic trainer Dr. Sally Nogle, Blanchard was able to test on actual players. He said the football team’s role brought real life data to their research.

“It doesn’t matter what you do in the lab,” Dantus

The sensor reading above is a lighter G force.

The second reading illustrates a heavier, more dangerous impact.

SOURCE: GARY BLANCHARD

can whip a little faster or kink a little easier than guys. When that happens that means we can get easier susceptibility to concussions.”

Gerstner said MSU has a large amount of sports which can cause concussions but football, as an important revenue sport for the school, can take precedence.

“We are fully aware that female student athletes are more vulnerable to concussion than males and that the same G-force could have a larger impact regarding concussion on females,” Kaufman said.

In females, soccer is at the highest rates of developing a concussion.

In 2010, the NCAA GOALS survey estimated 13.9 percent of female soccer players reported at least one concussion. The players also reported multiple concussions at 7.1 percent rate.

Kaufman said it is important that Blanchard’s device first be validated.

He said it cannot be commonly used among sports until it is accurate enough.

“There are many places that this technology could ultimately be deployed,” Blanchard said.

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Cameron Macko Public Concerns editor city@statenews.com @thesnews

How East Lansing received its name

BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI SOLSCHANSKI@STATENEWS.COM

For all intents and purposes, the original home of MSU is not East Lansing — at least in name.

In 1855 the legislature of Michigan created the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan, or ACSM, nearly four miles outside the state’s Capitol of Lansing. The unnamed spot of land became the eventual site of MSU as it is known today.

As the college developed into the sprawling 13.67 square miles that make up campus, so did the city.

According to the program given out at East Lansing’s Golden Anniversary celebration, the site of the first 30 years of development of MSU was known as the Village of Agricultural College.

Thus, this unincorporated town, or area without independent governance, was the home of MSU. When the need for housing and buildings to service the students and faculty reached its tipping point, the community decided land needed to be

put aside to develop the city.

Without a real estate developing company, the community chose two important faculty members – W.J. Beal and R.C. Carpenter.

The two plotted land, which became “sixty-nine lots located across Michigan Avenue from the west entrance to the college,” according to a website dedicated to East Lansing history created by MSU alumnus Kevin Forsyth.

Forsyth could not be reached for comment.

Beal and Carpenter named the newly-plotted lots Collegeville. A Michigan Historical Marker is placed out front East Lansing City Hall commemorating the efforts of the two men and the incorporation of East Lansing.

The sign can be misleading, as at first glance it suggests East Lansing was at once named Collegeville but that was only the name of the area’s first subdivision.

From Collegeville, other subdivisions began to sprout, building off Beal’s and Carpenter’s work

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at mapping out the area, more places were platted, including what it now East Lansing’s business district. Sometime during the creation of multiple subdivisions, the area took on another name.

This time the community called itself Agricultural College, Mich.

The rapid growth, however, couldn’t keep up with the demand and necessities of the community beginning to take shape in the area.

“After much debate the legislature finally decided upon ‘East Lansing,’ despite that this name might lead to the obvious misconception that the new city was actually a part of Lansing.”

Kevin Forsyth, MSU alumnus

The citizens of the community felt it was time for the community to become a city. They sought to incorporate the area into either a village or city.

However, “there was no unanimity on which it should be or on the name that should be given the municipality,” according to the Anniversary program.

Three men, C.B. Collingwood, postmaster in the community, A.M. Brown, secretary of ACSM and

community attorney C.C. Wood, were tasked with drafting a charter and a bill for the city’s incorporation bid before the legislature. The program from the 50th Anniversary sates, “several names were proposed and the (state) Legislature selected the name of East Lansing” in 1907.

The program makes no mention of the names proposed. However, local historians have uncovered potential names for the city that were lost in history.

Suggested names included, Collegeville, Bird Center, College Park and for it to remain Agricultural College.

“I have always heard that Collegeville was the common name in MAC’s early days,” Valerie Marvin, president of the Historical Society of Greater Lansing, said. “However, if you look in the House Journal for 1907 you will see it referred to ask College Park, which is then replaced by East Lansing.”

The original lines of the House Journal suggest the name College Park was brought forward in the bill created by Collingwood, Brown and Wood.

“After much debate the legislature finally decided upon ‘East Lansing,’ despite that this name might lead to the obvious misconception that the new city was actually a part of Lansing,” Forsyth said on his website. “It has been rumored that the Post Office might have had something to do with this choice, as the name lends itself to logical mail delivery.”

After the debate, the bill was changed for the town to be called, “East Lansing.”

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Horse and buggy on an unpaved section of Michigan Avenue in what was once Agricultural College, Mich., in 1898. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MSU UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES AND HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS

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Members of E.L. and MSU Muslim community share stories, experiences

BY JOSH BENDER JBENDER@STATENEWS.COM

In a college town and on a university campus full of students and faculty members of diverse backgrounds, many community members often still feel isolated or experience a variety of struggles.

However, sometimes students and faculty members find their faith can positively influence their experiences at MSU or while living in the U.S. Muslim people from MSU and East Lansing communities came together and were given the opportunity to share their experiences, both positive and negative, in an event sponsored by the Committee on Diversity of MSU College

of Osteopathic Medicine called “Visions for the Future: Stories from your Muslim Neighbors,” on Feb. 23.

Speakers came from faraway countries and cities like Dubai and Pakistan in addition to metropolitan Detroit.

The panelists answered a list of prepared questions from the event’s moderator and then answered audience questions audience members had.

Some of the panelists touched on what being a Muslim meant to them.

“Being a Muslim is integrated into everything I do, every action must benefit society or please God,” graduate student Heba Osman said.

All of the student panelist members were graduate students enrolled in either MSU’s

College of Osteopathic Medicine or College of Human Medicine.

Some panelists said they felt Islam had influenced their career choices.

“One verse in the Quran really influenced my desire to be a doctor,” graduate student Faraz Khan said. “It says, ‘If you save one life, it’s as if you saved all of humanity.’”

“I’m not a better Muslim because I wear a hijab, but it reminds me that I’m a Muslim and of my responsibilities.”

Heba Osman, Graduate student

Many audience members expressed curiosity about two of the female panelists’ choice to wear the hijab.

First year osteopathic medicine Heba Osma speaks during a student panel “Legacies of the Past, Visions for the Future: Stories From Your Muslim Neighbors” hosted by Committee on Diversity of MSUCOM at Fee Hall on Feb. 23. PHOTO: EMILY ELCONIN

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The hijab is a traditional islamic head scarf worn by women.

“I’m not a better Muslim because I wear a hijab, but it reminds me that I’m a Muslim and of my responsibilities,” Osman said.

Second year human medicine graduate student Susan Edlibi said the hijab allows her to not be judged based on how she looks.

Some of the panelists expressed sadness over the beliefs some Muslims abroad hold about the U.S. treatment of American Muslim people.

“I volunteered in a refugee camp and one of the women asked me how I could wear hijab in America,” Osman said. “Because of the media’s portrayal she thought Americans hate Muslims. She was going to turn down an offer to immigrate and chose to stay in a refugee camp because of this.”

As a whole, the panelists expressed appreciation of the diversity in the U.S. and acceptance they have found here.

“America isn’t a melting pot, it’s a salad,” Edlibi said. “We’re all separate but we come together to make something great.”

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Crossword

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

News

MSU student aims for career in poker

ACROSS

1 Beach tube letters 4 Tube in Paris 9 __ butter: cosmetic moisturizer 13 Roofing sealant 14 Gem weight unit 15 Home extension?

16 __ standstill 17 Intensive study program 19 Classic laundry soap 21 They’re drunk at socials 22 Fish in hamo, a Japanese delicacy 23 It’s the opposite of a flying one 26 Auto racer Busch 27 “Uh-huh” 28 Miscellany 30 Faux pas 33 Certain king’s pride 36 Nunavut people 39 Mighty clash 42 Simple type of question 43 “Good one!”

44 Dumped, perhaps 45 Sister brand of the Sensor razor 47 “You’ve found the right person” 49 D.C. bigwigs 51 2014 WNBA Finals runner-up 57 Wood-scratching tool 58 Pakistani bread

59 Loosen, as laces 60 Award to be announced February 28, previously won by the first words of 17-, 23-, 39- and 51-Across 64 Cellular messenger 65 Take the helm 66 Trees yielding caffeine rich nuts 67 Staples of many websites 68 Giveaway bag 69 One-for-one deals 70 Touch gently

DOWN

1 British Invasion drummer 2 Hibachi spot 3 Mali money 4 Real people?

5 Maestro’s forte 6 Refrain bit 7 Many a reggae musician 8 Additional 9 “Fifth Beatle” Sutcliffe 10 “Sure, take it!”

11 Picasso supporter 12 “Set Fire to the Rain” singer 15 Call for help 18 “The Censor” of Rome 20 Part of a winter suit

24 Penultimate contest, for its winner 25 Work with pupils 26 Bob Marley Museum city 29 The Blackbirds of the NCAA’s Northeast Conf.

30 Babe’s pen 31 Falsity 32 “Everything’s ready to go!”

34 Surveillance org.

35 Moral principle 37 Not close to 100% 38 Texas senator Cruz 40 Neither partner 41 Avatar of Vishnu 46 Faddish berry in smoothies 48 Hesitant okay 49 Old Milwaukee maker 50 Have because of 52 Accesses illegally, in a way 53 Hitched behind 54 Camera holder 55 In a way, slangily 56 Old Milwaukee-making ingredient 58 “Morning Edition” airer 61 Links supporter 62 Suffix with form 63 Criticize

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2

3

4

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History education junior Jason Andrews counts chips during a MSU Poker Club meeting on Feb. 19 in Erickson Hall.

Members of the club meet weekly and play poker against one another, competing for points. PHOTO: ALICE KOLE

BY CONNOR CLARK CCLARK@STATENEWS.COM

From Go Fish to Euchre, history education senior Jason Andrews’ love for card games got its start at an early age.

Watching poker on ESPN as a child, players like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth and Mike “The Mouth” Matusow inspired Andrews to dive into the realm of poker.

He continued his passion for poker in high school Now, Andrews continues to play with the MSU Poker Club where he loves to compete.

Andrews said he hopes to refine his game and pursue poker professionally.

‘‘You have to analyze your game constantly. You have to find leaks, find spots to take advantage more often in certain situations because it is not as easy to make money in poker as it was 10 years ago.”

Jason Andrews, History education senior

With more than 100 members, the MSU Poker Club holds weekly free tournaments for students wanting to participate.

Currently between 30 and 40 players attend each tournament, biosystems engineering senior Anuj Vyas said.

With this many players participating, Andrews said he is constantly studying the game.

Using Twitch, a social video platform, Andrews is also able to watch how his favorite players make decisions in real time.

This allows Andrews to work on his own strategy.

Andrews said this is ever important as he can continues playing and hopes some day to become a professional poker player.

“You have to analyze your game constantly,” Andrews said. “You have to find leaks, find spots to take advantage more often in certain situations because it is not as easy to make money in poker as it was 10 years ago.”

Andrews holds strategy sessions for members of the club.

Being able to read situations and being a good decision-maker during a hand can be a crucial factor for whether a player wins or loses, Andrews said.

One aspect of poker Andrews said he values highly is the ability to control tilt.

Tilt is a state of frustration and confusion that might lead a player to use poor strategy and become overly aggressive.

The MSU Poker Club provides players a place to share ideas and strategies about the game.

It focuses on various skills, such as critical reasoning and risk assessment, Vyas said.

“We Believe that in order to improve as a poker player one must evaluate decisions based solely on long term profitability of those decisions. We believe that poker itself promotes discipline, intelligence and rational thinking,” according to the MSU Poker Club Constitution.

MSU POKER CLUB

2/25/16

8

© 2016 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

THE STATE N E WS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 5, 2 01 6

The next tournament will be held on Feb. 26 at Erickson Hall in room 228 at 4 p.m.

Sports

Ryan Kryska Sports editor sports@statenews.com @thesnews_sports

Chemistry, friendship and Spartan seniors

Then-junior guard Denzel Valentine, 45, talks with then-junior forward Matt Costello during the game against Maryland on Dec. 30, 2014, at Breslin Center. The Spartans were defeated by the Terrapins, 68-66 in double overtime. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

BY RYAN SQUANDA RSQUANDA@STATENEWS.COM

After an MSU men’s basketball practice in mid-February, senior guard Denzel Valentine, like he so often does, found himself surrounded by a slew of the local media.

At some point during the post-practice interviews, Valentine was asked about the improved play this season of MSU senior forward Matt Costello.

“When I throw the ball in it’s pretty much an automatic bucket, and I think he’s one of the best big men in the country,” Valentine said. “Every so often, he comes to me in the game and says, ‘Zel give me the ball’ and I’m fully confident. ... I know if I throw it in there, it’s going to be a bucket, foul or worse comes to worse, he might miss, but he’s shooting such a high field-goal percentage, it’s almost a bucket every time.”

Costello was seated only a few seats away from Valentine, and after his own media crowd dispersed he caught wind of what Valentine was saying about him. So being the goofy guy he is, Costello crawled across the row of seats and mauled Valentine — with a hug.

“You’re so nice,” Costello said. “I love you.”

The media chuckled. Valentine and Costello smiled, while Valentine pushed his teammate off of him.

“Get off of me, bro,” Valentine said. “Oh man.

He stinks too.”

It’s been quite the four years for these two MSU seniors. They came to MSU in the fall of 2012 as the two best high school players from the state — Costello, the 2012 Hal Schram Mr. Basketball from Bay City Western High School and Valentine, the two-time state champion from Lansing J.W. Sexton High School.

And in those four years, they’ve grown into one of the best and most accomplished senior duos in the country. Their accolades include 106 victories, a Big Ten tournament championship and Sweet Sixteen, Elite Eight and Final Four runs in THUR SDAY, F E B R UARY 25, 2016

the NCAA Tournament.

Costello and Valentine will tell anybody that all their past runs have been nice, but this season has been about more than that. This is the season they will cement their legacies at MSU and make one last run at a national title — ­ something MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo said the two have maybe worked harder at than any other guys he’s ever coached. “(Costello) and Denzel are kind of a perfect pair,” Izzo said. “They really are best friends. They care about each other. They are kind of opposite ends of the spectrum in some ways. But I’ve never seen two guys start banding together ... to try to accomplish something.”

Perhaps an even greater part of the Costello-Valentine friendship is the level to which they support each other. Each of them is the other’s biggest fan.

When Costello gave a spirited performance on a hobbled ankle during a victory over Maryland, Valentine jumped on Costello’s back for a piggy back ride as the two of them strolled around Breslin Center, high-fiving the Izzone.

Costello is having a career year. He’s averaging a career-high 10.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game. In addition to his stats, time and time again Costello’s goofy celebrations following big plays have gone viral across the Internet. To Valentine, he knows the amount of work Costello has put in, and loves seeing that side of him come out.

“I like when he plays like that,” Valentine said.

“He’s an emotional guy. Sometimes he needs to just let it out. He’s playing well right now, and why not let it out and have fun playing? This could be his last year or our last year, doesn’t matter, but at the end of the day you want to have fun doing what you love to do and I think he’s having fun and he’s bringing joy to us.”

Valentine is really having a season for the ages — as of Tuesday’s game against Ohio State University, he’s averaging 19.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game. Costello said it goes to show how much hard work can pay off.

Read the full story at statenews.com.

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25.4

19.6 7.3 7.6

2.2

.501 .487 5.5

FIELD GOAL %

3-POINT %

POINTS

PER GAME

ASSISTS PER GAME

REBOUNDS

PER GAME

.473 .451

FIELD GOAL %

3-POINT %

BATTLE FOR

player of

the year BUDDY HIELD

DENZEL VALENTINE

PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER MICHIE / THE OKLAHOMA DAILY

PHOTO: SUNDEEP DHANJAL

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Features

Jake Allen Features editor features@statenews.com @thesnews

Students, conservation expert weigh in on feeding of squirrels

BY DANIELLE DUGGAN DDUGGAN@STATENEWS.COM

Interdisciplinary studies in social science and education sophomore Megan Feeley feeds a squirrel on Feb. 18 outside Wells Hall. Feeley said she likes to interact with squirrels on her way to class.

PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

‘‘They’re great to show kids and get them interested in the natural world. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and that’s how I became interested. (It) was just seeing squirrels in the backyard, at the local park and that kind of thing.”

Dr. John Koprowski, Director of the Conservation Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona

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What started as an experiment to see if a squirrel would eat peanuts out of her hand, turned into an ongoing friendship between interdisciplinary studies in social science and education sophomore Megan Feeley and various squirrels around campus.

“They bring me joy,” she said. “It’s like seeing a dog.

I like squirrels.”

This love for squirrels began when she arrived at MSU last year.

After successfully feeding peanuts from the cafeteria to squirrels with some friends, she grew more interested in the creatures.

Feeley said she sometimes spends between 30 and 40 minutes feeding and bonding with the animals.

They are very skittish, so it takes a while for them to feel comfortable with a person. But if you are patient, the squirrels will approach, Feeley said.

Many other students also enjoy bonding with and observing the squirrels.

Nine MSU students are part of a Facebook group called the MSU Squirrel Watching Club. Though this group doesn’t actually have arranged meetings, they post anything from stories about squirrels to funny pictures they take and find.

One member of the club, economics graduate student Andy Chou, said he enjoys observing the squirrels more than actually interacting with them.

Chou never feeds the animals because he doesn’t believe directly interacting with wildlife is healthy for the animals, he said.

Dr. John Koprowski, the director of the Conservation Research Laboratory at the University of Arizona who does research on rare tree squirrels, recommends this behavior.

Feeding a squirrel leads to a squirrel’s reliance on

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this food source, Koprowski said.

Koprowski said if one is looking to feed squirrels, he or she should be committed to it, or only do so for a short period of time.

The squirrels will grow accustomed to the food they’re being fed and if that food source disappears, they might not know how to find a new one, Koprowski said.

Depending on what a person feeds a squirrel, this also might hurt them.

Squirrels need to get a certain amount of nutrients and oftentimes people feed squirrels non-natural food items.

This results in the animal not receiving the right amount or diversity of nutrients. Sunflowers, for example, are rich in some nutrients, but if fed in large quantities to squirrels they can lead to physical maladies and bone issues for squirrels, Koprowski said.

Koprowski said feeding squirrels also puts a person at risk of being bitten and of catching diseases.

If a person still hopes to provide squirrels with food, he recommends doing it in a natural way.

He suggests planting things that will act as natural feeders.

These include bushes that produce flowers, berries, seeds or nuts.

This establishes a long-term food source for the squirrels.

Koprowski said he greatly enjoys watching squirrel behavior. His squirrel-watching hobby began when he was growing up.

Koprowski said watching squirrels is an easy way to get children interested in wildlife.

“They’re great to show kids and get them interested in the natural world,” Koprowski said. “I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and that’s how I became interested. (It) was just seeing squirrels in the backyard, at the local park and that kind of thing.”

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Meagan Beck Campus editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews

New minor added to School of Journalism “It helps students pick, ideally, the right kinds of skill sets to be marketable in that area.”

Ann Hoffman, Assistant dean for undergraduate education in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences

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THE STATE N E WS

BY DEJA GREEN DGREEN@STATENEWS.COM

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences has recently planned a curriculum with the aim of giving students more options for a field of study.

Namely, animation and comics storytelling in media will be a new minor within the School of Journalism in fall 2016.

Ann Hoffman, assistant dean for undergraduate education in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, said the journalism school has been offering classes centered around comics and visualizing information for about two years, but a minor in animation and comics was only recently made official.

Hoffman said the content of the classes was tested out in special topics courses.

“If we package these classes together, it allows ... a student’s record for having a background in animation and comic storytelling in media,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said there is a high interest in animation and comic storytelling at MSU. Transdisciplinary artist-in-residence Stacey Fox, who established the new major, said the department has plans to grow in the future.

She said the College of Communication Arts and Sciences began to offer courses in animation, comics, political cartoons and graphic novels about a year ago.

“We realized the students were really interested in it,” Fox said.

“We’ve served actually over 400 students already.”

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 5, 2 01 6

Fox said the minor is open to any undergraduate at the university.

“It is actually possible to do the minor in one year,” Fox said.

“Since these courses are open in the summer, they will count toward the minor in the fall.”

On top of the new minor, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences also made changes to its media and information Bachelor of Arts program within the Department of Media and Information.

“The current structure of the B.A. has three focus areas and they’re not (able to be listed on transcripts),” Hoffman said. “It has more of a modular design so that students will take a series of classes that are considered the MI (Media and Information) core and then will take courses across focus areas.”

Hoffman said she believes the new system will be more efficient.

“It helps students pick, ideally, the right kinds of skill sets to be marketable in that area,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman said she hopes the change will produce students who are “T-shaped professionals,” a term for professionals who possess deep discipline in one skill but are able to communicate their skill across many professional areas, according to tsummit.org.

“A current (Media and Information) student who is a junior won’t (be) disadvantaged,” Hoffman said regarding the changes. “Newer students can group their classes into very specific buckets of knowledge.”

Both changes will go into effect in fall 2016.

For more information on the animation and comics in media minor, contact Fox at sfox@msu.edu.