Tuesday 2/26/13

Wrestling team’s seniors say goodbyes

About $39,000 owed on former City Center property

Women basketball lost to Buckeyes, 67-60

SPORTS, PAGE 6

CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 3

SPORTS, STATENEWS.COM

ADAM TOOLIN/ THE STATE NEWS

Weather Snow High 37° | Low 32° Michigan State University’s independent voice | statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | Tuesday, February 26, 2013

CRIME

Three-day forecast, Page 2

THE GIRLS’ SCOUTS Behind the women’s basketball team are a bunch of guys striving to play like girls

By Stephen Brooks brook198@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

K ATIE STIEFEL/THE STATE NEWS

The rock on Farm Lane reads “In Memory of Andrew and Anna” on Monday to raise awareness of the two deaths of MSU students during the weekend.

MSU community mourns death of two Spartans last weekend

By Darcie Moran morandar@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

Andrew Singler’s alleged attacker, 18-year-old Okemos resident Connor McCowan, was arraigned Monday at the 55th Dist r ic t C ou r t in Mason for reportedly st abbi ng t he nut r itional sciencMcCowan es senior to death Saturday.

McCowan reportedly attacked Singler early Saturday morning in the 6200 block of Rothbury Way, where Singler lived. A roommate drove Singler to Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.

McCowan, clad in a dark, striped jumpsuit and handcuffed, appeared before Ingham County District Court Magistrate James Pahl on a closed-circuit television as relatives fought back tears nearby. One woman sobbed heavily throughout the proceedings despite others’ attempts to console her.

McCowan faces life in prison on open murder charges, which allows a jury to determine the degree of murder.

Pahl noted McCowan had no criminal history. He is being held without bond at the Ingham County Jail.

Dur ing t he proceeding, McCowan’s lawyer, Chris Bergstrom, said bond would be handled at later date. He declined to comment on why this decision was made or anything else about the case because of the “sensitive situation” at hand.

McCowan is scheduled for a pretrial hearing March 5 and a preliminary examination on March 7, which will determine if enough evidence is present to move forward to trial.

A lthough police did not respond to a request for comment, prior to the arraignment Meridian Township police Sgt. Andrew McCready said Singler was acquaintances with his attacker.

A Twitter account believed to be McCowan’s, based on location, photos and name, last t weeted, “‘@MSUpart ystories: This time of the night is when phone calls and texts are regretted in the morning.’ @ AndySingAllDay” to an account believed to be Singler’s around 3 a.m. Saturday morning.

The account believed to be Singler’s also included photos tweeted to McCowan’s supposed account.

See STABBING on page 2 X

They are former star players, team captains and allarea performers. They know the tendencies of the Big Ten’s top teams and players.

They put in tireless hours at Breslin Center preparing for the next opponent with fi lm sessions and scouting reports.

But at the end of the day, when their practice jerseys are drenched in sweat and their Nike basketball sneakers are kicked off, they get nothing from it but good exercise and a pat on the back.

They are the MSU women’s basketball scout team — 12 regular male students that put in hours similar to a parttime job to practice with the Spartans throughout the season. They’ll never step on the floor as scholarship athletes, but each time their female counterparts do, such as yesterday’s 67-70 loss to Ohio State, their unnoticed work becomes evident.

“They like being a part of the team. A lot of these guys have IM teams, but it’s not the same, they are invested in our program,” said Julie Dombroski, director of basketball operations and technology.

“When we win, they win.

When we win a Big Ten championship, they win a Big Ten championship.”

We want you Before the end of September, the athletics department will hold tryouts for prospective scout team members it has identified through wordof-mouth and by searching intramural courts. Girls interested in walking-on to the team try out at the same time, Dombroski said.

“We’ll basically split the court in half and run two si mu lta neous prac t ices

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN WAN/THE STATE NEWS

Assistant coach Mark Simons, second left, talks with scout team members for a play Friday at Breslin Center. The scout team is made up of MSU students who volunteer their time each week.

“ … they’re skilled and they’re committed. … I’m always so impressed with their dedication and just how much they help us. “ Suzy Merchant, women’s basketball head coach

because we always tell our walkons, ‘If you can’t play with these guys, you can’t play with us.

Because these guys are our practice guys,’” Dombroski said.

The tryout draws crowds as large as 40 with only seven to 12 guys being selected for the scout team. Players must be full-time students, compliant with NCAA rules — meaning they are volunteering their time — and even are subject to grade checks.

The only prerequisite is having previous basketball experience in some capacity.

“A couple of our guys made final cuts for the men’s basketball team,” Dombroski said.

“Some of these guys were allstate, all-county. So the level of competition that they face — they’re all very good players.

And they’re going to have to be,

Sophomore center Jasmine Hines, left, looks for a shot during practice as food industry management junior and scout team member Marc Kanitz plays defense. Kanitz has since brought his friends who are qualified to be on the team on board.

because ... they train like student-athletes. They are studentathletes.”

Being on the scout team can be a thankless job, however, as the only compensation the players see is the rare occasion they’re tossed some exclusive Nike gear.

For finance sophomore John Stibich, a first-year scout team player, being on the squad is about regaining his former

love.

“Basketball’s always been my main sport and, after my freshman year when I wasn’t playing, I just missed it,” Stibich said. “So I thought that I needed to find something to do and this was it.

It fulfills everything that I wanted — I’m staying in shape and I’m playing basketball, so it’s a lot of fun.”

See BASKETBALL on page 2 X

N AT I O N + W O R L D

N EWS B RI E F

Automatic budget cuts, global events capturing U.S. attention

DEATH OF MSU STUDENT HAS FAMILY, POLICE ‘BAFFLED’

By Kellie Rowe rowekell@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

In between hashing out lastminute spring break details, take a look at a few key news events happening in the world around East Lansing.

1. Looming sequester After Congress passed legislation to avert the fiscal cliff economic crisis last month, the negotiations only held off a $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect March 1.

The massive automatic spending cuts, often referred to as sequester, were created to pressure Congress to reach a deal that would reduce the nation’s $16 trillion debt.

If the sequester hits, “around 2,490 fewer low-income students in Michigan would receive aid to help them finance the costs of college, and around 1,300 fewer students will get work-study jobs that help them pay for college,” according to a release from the White House.

The cause of death for geological sciences sophomore Anna Flory still is under investigation, according to police and family members.

Flory was determined dead by authorities after she was found not breathing in her Bailey Street home Saturday.

East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy said in an email there will be no updates from police on Flory’s death until the

medical examiner releases a cause of death.

Flory’s parents, Nancy and Brian Flory, said their daughter’s death has police “baffled,” as the cause of death is unclear but no foul play is suspected.

They said an autopsy found she had an enlarged heart, and a cardiac pathologist will be taking a look to determine the cause.

DARCIE MORAN

STORM

WINTER STORM EXPECTED TO HIT EAST LANSING

ANDREE K AISER/MCT

The Syrian army turned the national hospital at Azaz in northern Syria into a military base last June. Rebels restored the hospital and the army bombed it from the air in January.

If the sequester hits, Michigan also would lose about $1.7 million in funds for employment search help, placement and referral, causing about 54,400 fewer people to receive skills and assistance to get a job, according to the release.

The two programs expected to bear the brunt of the

cuts are domestic and military programs.

For MSU, the cuts could mean decreases in research funding — a major initiative on campus, as well as MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon’s Bolder by Design project.

See NEWS on page 2 X

East Lansing could see an estimated 4-5 inches of snow today through tomorrow thanks to a storm with it’s sights on the area said Brandon Hoving, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

The storm is slated to hit East Lansing during the afternoon today and could affect rush hour traffic , Hoving said.

Hoving added the snow will be more of a wet snow, and there could be wind gusts of up to 25 mph .

Although there have been multiple snow storms hitting East Lansing this year, Hoving wouldn’t consider this winter out of the norm, he said.

“I can’t say that this year has been an unusual year one way or the other,” Hoving said.

Director of Public Works Todd Sneathen said there will be no efforts tonight toward plowing or salting East Lansing roads, and the city will wait until tomorrow to act.

“It’s during the work day, so there’s no reason to do anything tonight,” Sneathen said. “We will handle it as we would handle any other storm.”

News of the winter storm on its way came as an unpleasant surprise for kinesiology junior Carly Cooper, but she doesn’t plan to switch up her routine of attending class.

“I’ll go to class — I go to class every day,” Cooper said. “I would be upset, but I would still go to class.”

ROBERT BONDY

2 | TH E STAT E N E WS | T U ES DAY, FEBRUARY 2 6, 201 3 | STATE N E WS.COM

Police brief MSU cyberbullying results in police investigation MSU police said cyberbullying has been reported off campus.

An MSU student reportedly issued a threat to her roommate via Twitter between Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. and Feb. 22 at 12:30 p.m., MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothianTaylor said.

McGlothian-Taylor said two female students who are roommates off campus had a disagreement because one roommate apparently was ignoring the other.

After having a verbal argument, one of the women reportedly made a threat to the other via Twitter.

The suspect denied making any verbal or computerbased threats. The case is ongoing.

DARCIE MORAN

Three-day forecast

Wednesday Snow High: 37° Low: 32°

Thursday Snow High: 36° Low: 25°

Friday Snow High: 29° Low: 21°

Continued BASKETBALL

Teams have a brothersister relationship, share successes and failures on the court FROM PAGE ONE

Saving grace With three players sidelined with season-ending injuries and two players previously suspended for the fi rst nine games of the season, the scout team has been forced into a larger-thannormal role.

Head coach Suzy Merchant has relied heavily on the scout players in lighter, slower-paced practices all season to conserve her team’s limited energy and bodies.

The guys started working with the team on the first day of practice in October because of the circumstances, Dombroski said, but they usually wait a few weeks into the season.

“They’ve been an absolute blessing, there’s no question, and we’ve got a really nice group of them, too,” Merchant said of

the scout team.

“These guys, they get after it every day. They’re athletic, they’re talented, they’re skilled and they’re committed. … I’m always so impressed with their dedication and just how much they help us.”

None of the scout players names will appear next to an MSU win or loss — but they feel attached to the result as if they were At their busiest times — such as this week with three games in seven days — the scout team is practicing for two-to-three hours, four times a week. During that stretch, third-year scout player Marc Kanitz said he could learn as many as three teams’ styles and the tendencies of a handful of players.

Different assistant coaches and graduate assistants rotate the duty of getting the scouts up to speed on MSU’s next oppo-

nent before each practice, Kanitz said.

Whether an opposing player likes to drive right or can’t finish with her left hand in the paint, it’s the responsibility of the scout team to know.

“The hardest thing, I think, is learning when you’re (playing) a shooter, when you have to shoot,” said Kanitz , a food industry management junior.

“You’re allowed to play outside your comfort zone. Like, I’m not a very good shooter personally, but if I have to shoot, I put a shot up.”

Work hard, play hard Off the floor, the Spartans and scout team players have close relationships and often spend time together away from basketball.

That doesn’t always mean things on the floor are so friendly as MSU prepares to play championship-caliber basketball on a weekly basis.

“They’re really good ball players and we really get into them,” Stibich said. “I know a few of the players, Courtney Schiffauer, she’ll really get into it,

get mad at you and push you around. It gets pretty interesting sometimes, but we have a great time with it.”

Dombroski said the players and scout team form a brother-sister relationship during the course of a demanding season — one in which the scout players go nearly unrecognized. If they don’t have class, the scout guys form the heart of the student section at women’s games, she said.

“They’re 100 percent of the reason why we get wins like we do,” said Schiffauer, a senior forward. “It’s gotta be hard for them to be told to play like someone else. … They’re like our brothers on and off the floor, so it’s great to have a good group of guys that really want you to win.”

Though they put in similar time and effort, none of the scout players names will appear next to an MSU win or loss — but they feel attached to the result as if they were.

“Their successes are your successes and their defeats are your defeats,” Kanitz said. “You take it kind of personally.”

VOL. 104 | NO. 034

Index Campus+city Opinion Features Sports Classified Crossword

3 4 5 6 5 3

TO CONTACT THE STATE NEWS (517) 432-3000 For distribution/circulation questions, email distribution@ statenews.com ■■

EDITORIAL STAFF (517) 432-3070

■■

Corrections The State News will correct all factual errors, including misspellings of proper nouns. Besides printing the correction in this space, the correction will be made in the online version of the story.

If you notice an error, please contact Managing Editor Emily Wilkins at (517) 432-3070 or by email at feedback@ statenews.com.

■■

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.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid at East Lansing, Mich.

Main offices are at 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI, 48823. Post office publication number is 520260.

POSTMASTER Please send form 3579 to State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave., c/o MSU Messenger Service, East Lansing, MI 48823.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrew Krietz MANAGING EDITOR Emily Wilkins BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Beau Hayhoe DESIGN EDITOR Drew Dzwonkowski ASSISTANT DESIGN EDITOR Liam Zanyk McLean PHOTO EDITOR Natalie Kolb ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Adam Toolin OPINION EDITOR Katie Harrington CAMPUS EDITOR Rebecca Ryan CITY EDITOR Summer Ballentine SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Campbell FEATURES EDITOR Matt Sheehan COPY CHIEF Caitlin Leppert ■■

ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(517) 432-3010 ADVERTISING MANAGER Colleen Curran ■■

STABBING

McCowan apparently knew Singer, will be charged with murder, faces life in prison FROM PAGE ONE

A funeral for Singler is scheduled for Wednesday in his home town of Rochester, Mich., and friends previously said they hope to have some sort of memorial service for him.

Students memorialized Singler’s death by painting the rock on Farm Lane on Monday.

The painting also recognized geological sciences sophomore Anna Flory, who was found dead of unknown causes in her Bailey Street home Saturday.

“In Memory of Andrew and Anna” was written in white on a green background on the rock. On the back: “Spartans,” a heart and the date of their deaths were painted in white.

“I think painting the rock helps unite MSU when something like this happens,” elementary education freshman Megan Borgeson said. “Since it is a really big campus, we are able to come together and see a memorial for it, which makes everyone seem more connected through this.”

Staf f repor ter Chr i st ine LaRouere contributed to this report.

NEWS

Proposals for guns finding debate, Syria opposition group will not attend conference FROM PAGE ONE

2 . The national gun debate Discussions about gun control have been a popular topic in the U.S. following the Connecticut shooting, and legislators are making steps toward tighter gun restrictions.

This week, Congress is expected to debate legislation requiring background checks for anyone who purchases any type of gun, according to The New York Times.

President Barack Obama issued 23 executive orders last month, which included training school officials for active shooter situations and asking the Centers for Disease Control to study gun violence prevention. While Congress begins debating gun control legislation, the National Rifle Association or NRA, continues to push to keep guns in Americans’ homes.

“Our only means of security is the Second Amendment when the glass breaks in the

middle of the night and we have the right to defend ourselves,” said NRA Vice President Wayne LaPierre during a speech in Utah on Saturday.

3. Unrest in Syria Almost every day, the Middle Eastern country of Syria appears in U.S. headlines.

Since March 2011, the country has been engaged in a civil war between the forces of President Bashar al-Assad and Syrian citizens who are fighting against his rule.

The conflict arose when the government implemented harsh restrictions on protesters who rallied for more political freedoms. According to CNN, the United Nations said the death toll has reached about 70,000 and many have fled Syrian borders to take shelter in neighboring countries.

The country’s main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, announced Sat-

urday it refuses to attend the Friends of Syria conference, where dozens of countries are meeting to search for a solution to the crisis.

International relations senior Anas Attal, an international student from Syria, said the coalition refuses to participate because the conferences usually are all talk and no action.

“They meet and for hours to talk and talk — boring meetings and stuff — and they get nothing out of it,” he said. “We’re not moving forward in those conferences.”

The White House has released statements recognizing the violence in Syria, yet only has agreed to provide assistance to the groups that is nonlethal. Secretary of State John Kerry sent diplomats to Syria on Monday to convince the opposition group to attend the conference.

Staff reporter Isabella Shaya contributed to this report.

PROFESSIONAL STAFF GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon, (517) 432-3000 EDITORIAL ADVISER Omar Sofradzija, (517) 432-3070 CREATIVE ADVISER Travis Ricks, (517) 432-3004

Level: 1

2 3 4

WEB ADVISER Mike Joseph, (517) 432-3014 PHOTO ADVISER Robert Hendricks, (517) 432-3013 BUSINESS MANAGER Kathy Daugherty, (517) 432-3000

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.

COPYRIGHT © 2013 STATE NEWS INC., EAST LANSING, MICH.

2/26/13

SOLUTION TO MONDAY’S PUZZLE

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 © 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Media Services. All rights reserved.

Campus+city

STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, F EB RUA RY 26 , 2013 |

CAMPUS EDITOR Rebecca Ryan, campus@statenews.com CITY EDITOR Summer Ballentine, city@statenews.com PHONE (517) 432-3070 FAX (517) 432-3075

FACE TIME ZADE ALSAWAH

TESTING THE

WHITE HOUSE INTERN

hen political science and prelaw junior Zade Alsawah applied to intern at the White House last summer, he did so hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Although he said running for office after graduation isn’t on his agenda, Alsawah plans to take what he’s learned in Washington D.C., when applying to law school and serving the public in the future.

Last weekend, The State News corresponded with Alsawah via email and asked about his experience at the internship.

– Samantha Radecki, The State News

THE STATE NEWS: What are your daily tasks?

ZADE ALSAWAH: As an intern in the communications department, one of my main tasks is monitoring the news from a specific region. I help monitor news and make press clip summaries for the Midwest and Southeast region and for African American media. It’s always pretty neat to see stories break. In addition to that, I help manage incoming inquiries from reporters and other projects as assigned. It keeps me constantly busy, but that’s exactly how I like it.

SN: What do you hope to accomplish during your internship?

ZA: There are a few things: I hope to be able to see the inner-workings of government, especially the executive branch, from a hands-on perspective. I’ve always been able to learn quickly from hands-on work, and this has been perfect for that. More importantly, however, I hope to get a better sense of what I want to do with my life and how to best give back to the community. If I can leave the White House with a better sense of how I want to go about serving the community, then I know I have accomplished a lot.

SN: If you could shadow anyone in Washington, D.C., for one day, who would it be and why?

ZA: Tom Donilon, (a) national security adviser to …

President (Barack Obama). I think he personifies my idea of working in foreign affairs (and) national security and still having a leg in public service. It would be awesome to spend a day with him and see what it’s like.

SN: What are your future aspirations?

ZA: At the moment, I am leaning towards going to law school and obtaining a degree in international trade law. Foreign affairs have always been my interest, and I believe I can play a major role in this profession moving forward. With that said, however, I am leaving the door open. I initially went to MSU with the assumption of becoming a doctor. Little did I know when I came to MSU, I would be interning at the White House. So one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned at college is that you just have to learn what you like most, and that you should always come in to something with an open mind.

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Leftover bit 6 Kitchen meas.

10 Highland tongue 14 Thrill to pieces 15 Commuter’s option 16 Cuts short 17 “Understood!”

18 Egg on 19 Debt-heavy corp. takeovers 20 Pittsburgh fan base, collectively 23 A pop 24 Confirmation or bar mitzvah 25 Tons of, casually 27 Philatelist’s pride 31 Pet welfare org.

32 Tie up loose ends?

33 Shed a few tears 34 “Bus Stop” playwright 37 Radar’s favorite drink 40 Butter on the farm?

43 Windy City trains 45 Solemn promises 49 Annual political speech 54 Appeared on TV 55 Penlight batteries 56 AFL affiliate 57 Commercial interruptions literally found in this puzzle’s three other longest answers 61 Just as you see it 62 City near Sacramento 63 Young neigh sayers

waters Journalism sophomore Matthew Arvin, left, and criminal justice sophomore Leo Ornelas test the nitrate levels of the Red Cedar River Monday.

The students were testing the water for their ISP 203 class.

W

And now, as he works in Washington, D.C., performing the daily tasks of an intern in the Office of Communications, he said he always knew working at the White House might be possible.

Alsawah is one of about 140 college students across the nation who currently are participating in the Spring 2013 White House Internship Program. He is the only MSU student working in the office, according to a press release from the White House.

3

K ATIE STIEFEL | THE STATE NEWS

DEVELOPMENT

Former foreclosed site maintains ownership

By Michael Koury kourymic@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

An agreement between two investors will, at least for now, maintain ownership of the former site of City Center II, which previously was threatened by foreclosure and now is saddled with about $39,000 in back taxes.

Core Campus, LLC recently proposed to construct an eightstory building with 54 luxury housing units, a six-story building with 127 luxury units and a parking structure containing 382 spaces.

Plans for the site long have been delayed because of financial issues, and the agreement saves the site from additional uncertainties the deadline posed.

CADA Investment Group LLC, and ROB LLC, two of the principle subjects on the property, 100 W. Grand River Ave., have agreed on an extension for CADA to try to retain ownership of the proper-

L.A. Times Daily Puzzle

65 Adjust, as strings 66 Close 67 Slippery as __ 68 Israel’s only female prime minister 69 Nile threats 70 Toy bear named for a president

DOWN 1 Line piece: Abbr.

2 Places to hide skeletons?

3 Dilapidated dwelling 4 End in __: come out even 5 He refused to grow up 6 Faithfully following 7 Oil units 8 Talk with one’s hands 9 Earnest request 10 Nixon attorney general Richardson 11 Like some of Michael Jackson’s moves 12 Advertiser 13 Twisty curve 21 DMV certificate 22 Dr. Mom’s specialty 23 “This is your brain on drugs,” e.g.

26 Unspecified quantity 28 12th century opener 29 Deighton who wrote the “Hook, Line and Sinker” trilogy 30 40-Across mate 35 Prefix with thermal 36 Santa’s helper

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

38 Pet on your lap, maybe 39 Author Fleming 40 Cape Town’s country: Abbr.

41 Being debated 42 Bond’s is shaken, not stirred 44 Comedy genre 46 Got a giggle out of 47 Raised, as a flag 48 Nestlé’s __-Caps 50 Movie trailer, e.g.

51 Boston summer hrs.

52 Nuns’ clothing 53 Kernel holder 58 Rick’s love in “Casablanca” 59 Fireworks responses 60 Top-shelf 61 Way to check your balance, briefly 64 Sneaky

Get the solutions at

statenews.com/puzzles

ty, according to county records.

The property was foreclosed in October 2012 and was sold at a sheriff’s sale to ROB for more than $533,000. Under a prior agreement, CADA had until yesterday to buy back the property by paying ROB back for the amount of the sale, along with daily fees and interest rates.

But according to county records, an amendment to the agreement signed Feb. 14 extends the redemption period to March 18.

City Attorney Tom Yeadon said with the new extension on the redemption period, CADA still is the official property owner of the

former Citizens Bank building.

Although ROB received the deed last October, it will not take effect until the redemption period ends in March, Yeadon said.

“The only thing that doesn’t make ROB LLC the outright property owner is the redemption (agreement),” he said.

Scott Chappelle, president of Strathmore Development Company, signed the amendment on behalf of CADA. Chappelle’s Strathmore Development Company was the primary developer of the former City Center II project, which included the property at 100 W. Grand River Ave. It was rejected last June because

the city deemed it financially infeasible.

Chappelle could not be reached by press time Monday.

CADA owes $36,132 in taxes from the 2012 summer season, and about $3,246 is owed from the winter season, totaling more than $39,000 back to the city, according to city records.

The summer payment was due Aug. 31, 2012, and the winter payment was due Feb. 14.

If the $39,000 is not paid to the city by Thursday, the county will become responsible for collecting the money, East Lansing Assistant Treasurer Jamen Winters said.

4 | THE STAT E N E WS | T U ES DAY, FEBRUARY 2 6, 201 3 | STATE N E WS.COM

Opinion

Featured blog

Michelle Obama fights for veterans’ rights

OU R VOICE | E DITORIAL

“Readjusting to civilian life would be difficult enough, but there’s a secondary problem: returning veterans don’t have the qualifications to get the jobs at home that they had in the military.”

ACTIVE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR SAME-SEX RIGHTS

— Caleb Nordgren, State News reporter

EDITORIAL BOARD Andrew Krietz EDITOR IN CHIEF Katie Harrington OPINION EDITOR Greg Olsen OPINION WRITER Derek Blalock STAFF REPRESENTATIVE Omari Sankofa II MINORITY REPRESENTATIVE

A

major victory for proponents in support of ending a federal ban on gay marriage soon could be on the horizon.

Last week, President Barack Obama and his administration fi led a brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to declare unconstitutional a section of federal law that only recognizes malefemale marriages.

The administration said Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, denies same-sex couples — that have been legally married — many federal benefits available to samesex couples, including Social Security.

The president has said this restriction “violates the fundamental constitutional guarantee of equal protection.”

Declaring this section of DOMA to be unconstitutional would be a groundbreaking step in the fight for more fair and equal rights for gay and lesbian couples.

But it is hard not to stress the measures and support we, as citizens, should show to aid same-sex couples in their fi ght for civil rights.

In recent years, support for same-sex marriage among the public has been growing, but the country still remains divided.

A 2012 Pew Research Center poll found 49 percent of the public favored allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally and 40 percent were in opposition.

This statistic bears a stark difference compared to 2008, which showed only 39 percent of the population in support of gay marriage and 52 percent against it.

But as much as this statistic reveals about the changing emotions felt toward same-sex marriage, even more overwhelming is the amount of support expressed by younger Americans.

In a Gallup poll conducted last year, 7 percent of people between 18 and 29 years old said they agreed with legalizing gay marriage, while only 39 percent of people older than 65 years felt the same.

Because of the almost unanimous support this issue has generated amongst younger communities in this country, it is clear simply favoring legalizing same-sex marriage no longer is enough to see that change be carried out.

Many public figures have voiced their support for this issue and the actions they plan to take to help further the civil rights movement along.

This includes celebrities, such as Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard, who announced their plan to postpone getting married until same-sex marriage is legalized in all 50 states. But advocating for change shouldn’t be limited to just celebrities or other public figures.

To help ensure that equal marriage rights no longer are denied to any group in this country, we all must put a larger burden of responsibil-

Read the rest online at statenews.com/blog.

ity on each of our shoulders.

Small measures — such as contacting the White House or writing to legislators — might seem insignificant, but they reaffi rm the message that a majority of people in this country don’t agree with current laws.

Legalizing same-sex marriage is a hotbed issue likely to continue generating hostility and anger from a portion of the population.

But this shouldn’t deter the work that still must be done.

The decision the Supreme Court will make in a month has the potential to be a major step toward seeing no group of citizens feels excluded from the fundamental rights we are all guaranteed.

Let’s hope they side with the majority.

EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

Comments from readers ■■

“Wresters lose final match of regular season to Central Michigan”

ANDY CURTIS curtisa7@msu.edu

Wow, eleven straight loses to CMU. That has to be a record. I would bet that no other sport in the history of athletics at MSU has lost eleven straight to a MAC school. Actually, I would bet that no other B10 school has lost eleven times in a row to a MAC school in ANY sport. It’s practically impossible. A B10 school should be superior to MAC school in any sport (more resources, better recruiting, etc.) (comment continued at statenews.com) Robert Clarey, Feb. 24 via statenews.com

“Practicality prime facet of city proposals”

JUST SO YOU KNOW No 30%

TODAY’S STATE NEWS POLL None 74%

Don’t dismiss the Parkside Project (Carpenter) proposal. It is, in fact, the most honest one. The city sought proposals prematurely, without the private CC II properties being clarified, and as some earlier SN people understood, ownership, liens, mortgages, etc. make a simple sale of those properties problematic (even if some with proposals claim to have commitments to buy).

Yes One 27% 23%

;`[ pfl nXkZ_ k_\ 8ZX[\dp 8nXi[j fe Jle[Xp e`^_k6

How stressed are you about midterms?

To vote, visit statenews.com.

No 73% 0

10

20

30

40 50 60 PERCENT

70

80

(comment continued at statenews.com) Matt, Jan. 28 via statenews.com

Total votes: 75 as of 5 p.m. Monday

New campus club redefines animal activism

W

hen most people think of animal rights activists, the fi rst thing that comes to mind might be PETA , an organization infamous for being too radical. People picture animal rights activists as fake-blood splattering, angry sign yielding nut jobs — a stereotype to be avoided at all costs.

As a vegetarian and a member of the environmental residential program on campus, believe me, I am fully aware that people might see me as a bit of a “hippie.”

But I think I can say with reasonable confidence that when it comes to animal or environmental activism, I’m not a nut job.

I like to try to make positive

impacts, sure.

But, like most people, I think the extreme and sometimes harmful techniques PETA uses often are completely unacceptable. That’s why when I heard about a new animal rights club, I couldn’t help but be a bit cautious.

The club is called SPAR , or Students Promoting Animal Rights . SPAR existed previously at MSU, but was often condemned, much like PETA , for using radical methods to achieve its goals.

SPAR now is under new leadership, and President Alexis Hinson has decided to completely reinvent the way the group will operate.

“We’re basically a brand new group,” Hinson said. “We’re really looking forward to building it up again.”

Hinson, a freshman, had the idea to start a club focusing on animal rights since the fall

The group has met twice semester. With the help of Dr. Laurie Thorp, the director of since the spring semester the RISE , or Residential Initia- began, and has since gained a tive on the Study of the Envi- decent membership size for a ronment, program, Hinson got brand new club.

As an attendee of these together with graduate advimeetings, I found sors and worked Hinson’s reform tirelessly to get GUEST COLUMNIST of the group to be the club up and more rational and running. accommodating “ W h i le PETA and already was has accomplished making a change some really great in the way people things, a lot of looked at animal people feel that activists. the way they Quite a few of go about ma kt he new meming change is too KIRA BUCKSBAUM bucksba1@msu.edu bers sa id t hey e x t r e m e ,” s h e were ner vous said. to come at first “ We wa nt to work with the MSU commu- because they didn’t want to nity of students and facul- get involved with a PETA ty to make changes and pro- wannabe group. After the fi rst mote animal welfare, and we meeting, however, even some want to do it in a way that is of the more reluctant students cooperative and logical,” Hin- agreed this new club was nothing like PETA . son said.

SPAR might have just started up this semester, but it already has a full agenda for the rest of the year. Some of the scheduled activities in the group’s future include petitioning to halt wolf-hunting legislation, touring the MSU dairy farm to observe the cow’s living conditions and volunteering at animal shelters in the East Lansing and Lansing areas.

“We only have a few months left of school this semester,” Hinson said.

“So there aren’t too many huge projects we can take on right now. We can defi nitely start them, though, and plan our actions for next year. Then, in the fall, hopefully we’ll have a large enough membership that we’ll be able to take on larger tasks and start adding accomplished goals to the group’s repertoire.

After having gotten involved with SPAR , any skepticism

How to reach us 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.

Questions? Contact Opinion Editor Katie Harrington at (517) 432-3070.

By email opinion@statenews.com; By fax (517) 432-3075; By mail Letters to the Editor, The State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823

or doubts I might have had about the group have been squandered.

Animal rights might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but those who want to now have a new chance to get involved.

The meetings provide a very accepting environment, where anyone who has an idea for a project or activity can be heard and taken seriously.

Everyone in the group obviously cares about animal welfare, but by no means are there any expectations for members to be vegan, vegetarian or do an extreme amount of activism outside the club.

For the average student who wants to get involved, but does not want to go overboard with advocating animal rights, SPAR has proven to be the perfect opportunity.

For more information about SPAR, contact sparmsu@gmail. com.

STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, F EB RUA RY 26 , 2013 |

Features

FEATURES EDITOR Matt Sheehan, features@statenews.com PHONE (517) 432-3070 FAX (517) 432-3075

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

ART Pieces of artwork hang on a wall Monday at Peckham Inc., 3510 Capital City Blvd., in Lansing. Art@ Work, a creative collaboration between Peckham client artists, community artists and MSU students in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities was unveiled Saturday.

SPARTAN-PRODUCED ‘LAGGED OUT’ TO LAUNCH THURSDAY

By Omari Sankofa II sankofao@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

MSU alumnus Ryan “Anthony” Jurado would tell you when it comes to popular media, the geeks and nerds are underrepresented. In his new “gamer comedy,” “Lagged Out,” Jurado hopes to bring the nerd and video game subculture to the forefront.

“I just wanted to represent gamers in a way that is fun and in a way that represents the people that I know are like me,” Jurado said.

“Lagged Out” is an upcoming web series about Nicole Symanski, a premedical student who was deported from Korea after working as a commentator in Korean electronic sports. Now in America, she tries pursuing her dream of being a electronic-sporting commentator again by building a team of professional gamers.

Jurado is not a serious gamer himself. However, he said his friends inspired him to create the show.

“I have a lot of friends, especially when I was younger in high school, that took video games seriously,” he said.

Jurado first became interested in comedy writing during his junior year at MSU. He wrote for The Black Sheep and freelanced for humor websites, such as College Humor and Cracked.

After saving up to pay for the pre-production costs, last summer he assembled a production crew from colleges all over Michigan.

“We have people from Michigan State University, Oakland University, Eastern University, Central Michigan, Northern Michigan, U of M, a whole assortment of people who are very talented and have dif-

“I just wanted to represent gamers in a way that represents the people that I know are like me.”

Ryan “Anthony” Jurado, producer of “Lagged Out”

ADAM TOOLIN/THE STATE NEWS

ferent specialties and are interested in the project,” he said.

Oakland University alumna Vivian Rackover plays the role of Nicole Symanski. As a gamer, Rackover said she connected with Nicole’s character.

“The character overall really was pretty much me,” Rackover said. “The personality, the fact that she was a gamer. It was all very, very reflective of who I am, so I was really attracted to that role.”

One of the “Lagged Out” recruits is John Sfreddo. Sfreddo roomed with Jurado during their junior year, and he currently works as a lighting chief. He said working with the cast has been a wonderful experience.

“It’s a really refreshing change of pace from my normal 9-5,” Sfreddo said. “It’s a great experience working with the cast and crew, and (‘Lagged Out’ is) something that we can all be proud of.”

The show will launch this Thursday and can be found on YouTube. Jurado said the Internet is a good place for the show to call home.

“In the modern media age, we don’t see as many strong comedies, and they don’t seem to last as long, especially on the big networks,” Jurado said. “For me, it’s sort of a personal passion to try and make sure that scripted comedies stay strong somewhere.”

Business gets makeover from MSU students

By Katie Abdilla abdillak@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

It took some convincing at first to get professor and artist Guillermo Delgado on board with the Art@Work project.

But once he set foot in Peckham Inc.’s Lansing facility, turning down a chance to design a 200-foot by 40-foot wall was not an option.

“I was blown away by all the languages I was hearing and the different colors of fabric people were wearing,” Delgado said. “I knew I was drawn to this place.”

The nonprofit, which provides job training and placement for people with disabilities, has been collaborating with the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, or RCAH, as well as the MSU College of Engineering, since 2010 as a part of Art@Work.

The project consists of a public art display at Peckham Inc.’s location, 3510 Capital City Blvd., in Lansing. Art@Work, which was unveiled to the public Saturday, will eventually cover the entire wall, with work commissioned by local artists and

CHECK OUT THE STATE NEWS ONLINE:

www.statenews.com

Classified Class TO PLACE AN AD …

AD ACCEPTANCE All ads are subject to editing, alterations, approval, or rejection

by The State News management.

LINE ADDITIONS Changes resulting in additional lines will be treated as a new ad and return to the firstday rate.

Sue McGuire, art program developer

MSU students.

Most of the work is made up of both traditional and contemporary portraits of clients of Peckham Inc., which Vincent Delgado said was the optimum art medium.

“These portraits memorialize and document a process that our students and client artists went through together,” he said. “Portraits really help people think about who they are in the way that other mediums don’t necessarily do. You take all these stories together, what you have is a gigantic novel about what this collaboration really is.”

Vincent Delgado, the academic specialist for civic engagement in RCAH, said he coordinated with Peckham Inc. Art Program Developer Sue McGuire to bring student involvement during the entire process.

“Early on, we began putting a couple of amazing artists together to begin to respond to a real exciting and interesting chal-

lenge,” Vincent Delgado said. “It led to bringing students in and them working with the client artists at Peckham, and we had classes to help students understand community-based art and its role in affecting positive social

DEADLINES

Classified liners appear online at no additional charge.

Cash, check, credit cards accepted

LINER ADS 2 p.m., 1 class day prior to publication CANCELLATION/CHANGES 2 p.m., 1 class day prior to publication CLASSIFIED DISPLAY 3 p.m., 3 class days prior to publication

REFUNDS No cash refunds will be issued for cancellations. Credit will be applied to subsequent ads for one year.

PAYMENT All ads must be prepaid unless credit has been established with The State News.

NOTE TO READERS The State News screens ads for misleading or false claims but cannot guarantee any ad or claim.

Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

change.”

McGuire said she wanted to give her clients a method of communication through the project.

“I thought it would be really cool to have their voice heard through art,” she said.

But for Guillermo Delgado, it was all about telling their own stories.

“I wanted a spotlight on people’s narratives,” he said. “My hope is that these stories make us look closely at the community around us.”

Horoscope By Linda C. Black

lucky. Watch for opportunities at the top; you can be wellpaid. But beware, costs could be higher than expected.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 — Allow yourself more quiet time this month. You may as well tell the truth; it saves hassle. Stick to old rules and your schedule to avoid misunderstandings. Think before speaking.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 — Household chores are more enjoyable.

Keep home fires burning by updating finances. Gossip could arise ... it would be wise to avoid falling into that trap.

10 IS THE EASIEST DAY — 0 THE MOST CHALLENGING

1-5 DAYS $2.50/line/day 6-9 DAYS $2.30/line/day 10+ DAYS $2.10/line/day

COPY ERRORS The State News is only responsible for the first day’s incorrect insertion. Liability is limited to the cost of the space rendered.

“I thought it would be really cool to have their voice heard through art ... each part has a story behind it.”

Your campus marketplace! www.statenews.com/classifieds

RATES

BY TELEPHONE (517) 432-3010

BY FAX (517) 432-3015 IN PERSON 435 E. Grand River Ave.

BY E-MAIL classads@statenews.com ONLINE www.statenews.com/classifieds OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is an 8 — Dress for power and practice success. Watch for short tempers if you’re going to be late for a family affair (or just be on time). Group activities go well.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 7 — For the next month, it’s easier to advance your agenda, especially by listening to other people’s considerations and taking actions to support them.

Work smarter and make more money.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 7 — You overcome new challenges and set ambitious goals to further you career. A glitch in the communication could rain on your parade.

Don’t take it personally.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 — It’s becoming easier to save, not just now, but for the next month. It’s also easier to make money. Offer a calming voice to a loved one.

Rediscover a gift or talent that you have.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9 — You have superpowers to clean up messes now. Move quickly through your stack of stuff and request promised benefits. Reassure o ne who’s easily upset. Add time for the unforeseen.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 — The days ahead are good for achieving romantic or creative goals. Take action.

Keep checking the quality and integrity of the project without obsession. Play it cool and easy.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8 — Full speed ahead, you’re in high gear and extra

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 — Get off to a quick start. You’re even smarter than usual. Discover hidden resources. Keep on schedule for best results. Visit a local establishment for supplies.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 7 — Be patient with a passionate partner and get rewarded. Re-evaluate your work habits for greater fulfillment. Start a light-hearted fire under procrastinators.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is an 8 — You’ll feel especially appreciated for the next four weeks. Offer corrections to erroneous assumptions; you may find some resistance. Defend your position with love. It’s important that they know.

Employment

Employment

Apts. For Rent

Apts. For Rent

Apts. For Rent

Apts. For Rent

Duplex/Rent

Personal

BOARDING KENNELS looking to hire an energetic, caring personnel.

P/T, days, weekends, holidays. Exp helpful.

Send resume to Melissa 714 Gulick, Haslett, MI 48840.

PHONE SURVEYS, flex hrs, up to $9.00/hr, East Mich Ave location. 4828884.

1, 2 and 3 bdrm apts available for spring and summer move ins. Huge living spaces, garages, washer and dryers in every home. 24 hr fitness center. Free tanning.

Pool, spa and more.

Waitlist already started for summer leases. Don’t miss out on your new home. Call today. 517351-9400.

2 BED/ 2 BATH, Private entrance, central air, pet friendly, fireplace, garages avail. Starting at $735.

Move-in special now, $300 off 2nd month’s rent. Limited availability.

Now accepting pre-leases for Summer and Fall.

888-709-0125

AVAIL FALL 2013 – 2 bdrm Apt. Located 1 block South of Grand River near Frandor, downtown Lansing & walking distance to MSU. Remodeled kit available, heat & water included.

Call 517-489-3101.

GOING FAST! Huge 2 bdrm w/ walk-out patio or balcony overlooks Red Cedar. East side of campus, walk or bike to class. Free heat + water.

August. $450 per person. Call 517-268-8457.

111 OAK HILL. 2 bdrm.

Lic. 2. $1,050/month. No pets. 332-8600

SINGLE WEREWOLF seeks veterinarian.

Meet me behind HG 3987.7.O23

ABBOTT POINTE - Large 2 bdrm apts for Fall 2013! Best deal in East Lansing. Remodeled kitchens, free heat, fitness center, cats + dogs welcome. Call 507-3267.

AVAILABLE NOW! Summer lease!

Remodeled kitchen.

Heat + water included.

Pet friendly, parking, Cata #1. From $710 total.

517-268-8562.

AMAZING PET Friendly Apartments! On Grand River just east of campus. Spacious 2 bdrms.

Split floor plan. Free heat + water, plenty of parking. Starting at $382 per person! Call 517-2688562.

BRAND NEW for August 2013! Luxury 4 bed/2.5 bath 2-level apts. Furnished living room, parking avail, located directly across from MSU. Call 517-6235302.

AUG 13’ studio apts downtown E.L. 517-575-0008. www.hudginsrealty.com.

No pets.

BURCHAM DRIVE- Great 1 bdrm apts, pool, v-ball, balconies, new kitchen + bath avail. Great location/value. Avail summer & fall ‘13. Call for info.

517-233-1158.

DIRECT CARE work w/ 40 yr old male involving OT, PT + speech. Perfect for those interested in medicine. Please call 517-374-7670 DIRECT CARE worker.

Assist individuals w/ autism. all shifts avail.

High school diploma/ GED, reliable trans. & valid driver’s lic. req. Call 517-374-7670.

ENGLISH GARDENS in Metro Detroit. Hiring for Spring/Summer seasonal jobs. Apply online at englishgardens.com/ our-team IMMEDIATE OPENINGS, Great starting pay. flex. schedule around class, great resume builder in customer sales and service. call 517-333-1700 or @ workforstudents. com

SMILING FACES wanted! immediate openings for front counter help.

Part time, flex sched.

Afternoons and Sat. 20-28 hrs/wk. Seeking someone who is friendly, reliable, punctual, detail oriented, upbeat and has a positive attitude.

Must have reliable transportation. Start at $8.50 apply at any Baryames location. No phone calls please.

T E L E P H O N E RESEARCHERS wanted. $9/hr. Evening shifts 5-9pm. Flexible scheduling. Mitchell Research And Communications, inc. Call 517-351-4111.

WAIT STAFF, all shifts.

Immediate openings.

Apply at Paul Revere’s Tavern. 517-332-6960.

1, 2, 3 & 4 BDRM Exciting Developments! Superb Service! Great Locations - be a PART of CAMPUS, not apart from it! www. cronmgt.com or 3511177.

128 COLLINGWOOD New! Few remaining, upscale 4 bdrm apt, granite, washer/dryer, d/w, central air, leather furn, pkg on-site! www.cronmgt. com or 351-1177.

5

AUG 50 yrds to MSU. Lic 1-2. Wood flrs. St. 1 Bdrm eff. 332-4818.

HUGE 3 bdrms, 2 full bath, lic for 3. On Grand River, next to campus.

Prices start at $575 per person! Washer + dryer available. Parking included! Private backyard! 517-233-1121.

NOW LEASING 1 bedroom apartments and studios for 2013-14.

Contact CRMC at 517337-7577. www.crmc1. com

Duplex/Rent 1317 APPLEGATE. Avail now. Nice. 3bdrm/2bth. $1000/mo+ 332-7726.

3 BDRM Duplex for 2013-14 school year, 1517/1519 Cambria. No app fees, free washer/ dryer & $300 off first month’s rent. Save $720!

CRMC 517-337-7577, www.crmc1.com

1816.5 MICHIGAN. Near Macs bar. No app fees, free washer/dryer & $400 off first month’s rent. Save $960! CRMC 517-337-7577, www. crmc1.com AUG 2 houses, 4 Bdrm.

Lic. for 4. W/D near MSU. Melrose and Marigold.

517-204-7902.

HOUSE FOR Rent. 4 bdrm, 2 bath. $1400/mo.

517-482-3624

Automotive 2012 KIA Soul Plus. Hard to find. “Hamster Car”.

Exc cond. 11,000 mi. $18,399. 882-4689.

‘99 SUBARU OUTBACK, air, cruise, CD, 126K miles, clean, well-maintained, $3500. Call 517332-5951.

BREWER SALVAGE buyer of cars, batteries, converters, and nonserrous metals. 517-8030288.

Business Opp. S T U D E N T PAY O U T S .

COM Paid survey takers needed in E.L. 100% Free. Click Surveys.

Go Green!

Go White!

Go State!

4 BEDS FOR FALL!

6 | THE STAT E N E WS | T U E S DAY, FEBRUARY 2 6, 201 3 | STATE N E WS.COM

Sports

SPORTS EDITOR Kyle Campbell, sports@statenews.com PHONE (517) 432-3070 FAX (517) 432-3075

WRESTLING

SPORTS BRIEF

Senior Night draws nostalgia from wrestlers

By Zach Smith

The MSU women’s swimming and diving team finished in 11th place at the Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis last weekend.

“It’s just really a very deep meet,” head coach Matt Gianiodis said.

“It’s difficult to score points, but from a performance standpoint we did really well.”

Career-best marks fell left and right.

Senior Lauren Baisden set a new career mark with 1:59.90 in the 200-meter backstroke, junior Summer Strickler swam the 100-meter freestyle in a personal-best time of 50.33 seconds, and senior Jenny Rusch and junior Brooke Telander each swam personal bests in the 100-meter freestyle, swimming

smithza9@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

Friday night, Dan Osterman lost the final regular-season match of his Spartan career.

On a night that could have been filled with remorse, he wanted nothing more than to cheer on his brothers one more time.

But he wasn’t the only one cheering that night.

Every time Osterman took the mat, a young boy rose from the stands to cheer as loud as he could for the senior.

His 5-year-old nephew Trae Fields has been at nearly every match this season, and Osterman said the two have a special relationship.

“That’s my little coach,” he said. “My junior year of high school he was born, and him and his mom, my sister, lived in our house. Every morning, I would come home for lunch and I would spend time with him. I’m sure he took my loss harder than I did.”

The 149-pounder has made two trips to the NCAA Championships, and looks to return one last time.

For Osterman and two other Spartan wrestlers, the band of brothers on the MSU wrestling team always will be intact.

He, along w it h senior 157-pounder David Cheza and junior 133-pounder Chris Lyon, were honored before the Spartans 27-10 loss to No. 10 Central Michigan on Friday night.

Cheza was granted a sixth year of eligibility after suffering a shoulder injury last year, but his extra season was cut short when his shoulder gave out again.

Lyon has played a backup role for his three years on the team, but has been a great student and someone the team always could count on.

Osterman lost his match 3-2 on senior night, but said he tried not to linger on his loss because he

PAIR OF SPARTAN DIVERS ADVANCE TO NCAA REGIONALS

50.47 and 51.97 respectively.

No swimmers made it to the NCAA Regionals, but a pair of Spartan divers did.

Sophomore Alison Menzies scored 257.6 on the 1-meter board and 276.45 on the 3-meter board, and junior Cristee Cordes got 257.55 on the 1-meter board and 262.05 on the 3-meter board.

“I thought they did well,” diving coach Eric Best said.

“We could’ve done better in certain places, but the nice thing was that they were nice and consistent, and they both finished considerably higher than they did in the last Big Tens.”

Best said neither expected to get this far and it will be good experience for them moving forward.

“They put themselves in a good position to make it to the finals next year,” he said.

ZACH SMITH

ADAM TOOLIN/THE STATE NEWS

Senior 149-pounder Dan Osterman lost 3-2 to Central Michigan’s Donnie Corby on Friday at Jenison Field House.

wanted to be there for his team.

“I had a hard time dwelling on my loss because I knew it was my last time with my teammates, I wanted to be there with them all the time,” Osterman said. “You really couldn’t even tell I lost my match. I was right on the side of the mat cheering them on the entire time.”

Lyon, who is graduating a year early, said though he won’t get his name on the wall of the wrestling room, he still has a lot to take from his time as a Spartan wrestler.

“These guys are like brothers to me now,” Lyon said. “Our record doesn’t show it, but we’ve done a lot of great things. You don’t get to see what goes behind all the hard work, but it’s amazing.

I can’t even describe it.”

Lyon’s twin brother Brenan still is on the team, so he said the coaches are going to have to do their best to keep him out of the wrestling room in the future.

Head coach Tom Minkel said unlike other sports where wins and losses mean everything, wrestling is an intimate, personal sport that he hopes changes lives off the mat as well.

“Because wrestling is so hard, and it’s so individual, and you’re

so exposed, the challenge (is) it really tests you as a man and as a person,” Minkel said. “All those things that are really important, you go back to wrestling, and the lessons you learn from when you were out there and you had to face the chaos.”

Minkel said the graduating trio gave a lot to MSU and the program, and even though Osterman was the only one who wrestled the majority of the season, they were all extremely valuable.

“It’s hard to see these kids graduate,” he said. “At the same time you’re excited because they’ve got a bright future after Michigan State.

I’m enormously proud of them, and it’s been nice to be a part of their college experience.”

For Lyon, the hardest part of senior night was going up on stage and saying goodbye to his teammates who have turned into his brothers.

“As a kid you always dream what collegiate wrestling is going to be like, and you imagine competing, but there’s so much more to it,” he said. “It’s pretty much a dream come true.”

MEN’S BASKETBALL

JULIA NAGY/THE STATE NEWS

Head coach Tom Izzo talks to senior center Derrick Nix during the game against Ohio State on Sunday at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. The Spartans lost to the Buckeyes 68-60.

Men’s basketball plays “fat and sassy” in losses

By Dillon Davis

davisdi4@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

The past two weeks have been nothing short of a roller coaster ride for Tom Izzo and the No. 9 MSU men’s basketball team.

Just 14 days ago, the Spartans were riding high, fresh off a major home victory against No. 4 Michigan and earning praise from fans and media across the country.

It was a brief and punctuated message catapulting the Spartans to the top of the Big Ten standings.

But that was then.

Coming off back-to-back losses, the most recent a 68-60 loss at the hands of No. 16 Ohio State (20-7 overall, 10-5 Big Ten), the Spartans (22-6, 11-4) now are left scrambling for answers with three games to play. During his postgame press conference in Columbus, Ohio, Izzo said his team has lacked a certain grit of late, causing them to get lost in the details of the game. “‘Fat and sassy’ doesn’t mean we didn’t come out and compete,” Izzo said. “We competed, but our attention to detail wasn’t very good.”

Following the victory against U-M, senior center Derrick Nix

made comments in a practice noting the team is nationally underrated and said multiple Spartans favorably compare to the NBA talent of some of the nation’s most highly-rated players.

“If Michigan would have won, Trey Burke would have been God, Tim Hardaway (Jr.) would have been God, Glenn Robinson (III) would have been God,” Nix said at the time. “We won, and they didn’t even show our highlights.”

The comment was not well received by Izzo, citing a lack of maturity from his team and a heightened inability to handle success after the team’s loss to the Buckeyes.

“It’s a big concern and that’s why I get upset about things written or said, because it’s hard to deal with kids having success right now,” Izzo said. “When they do (have success) they say things or do things and I’m disappointed in that respect.

“I wish we could be a little more mature than that.”

Another area the Spartans are dealing with is the recent disappearing act of junior guard Keith Appling.

In the past two games against No. 1 Indiana and the Buckeyes, Appling has battled to find his

form, accumulating just nine total points in 70 minutes of play. And beyond his scoring output, Appling struggled to guard Indiana’s Jordan Hulls and Ohio State’s Aaron Craft, allowing 33 points between the two players.

Fellow backcourt mate freshman guard Gary Harris said the team has seen what Appling can do and fully expects him to find his groove again.

“He’s struggling a little bit, but we’re all sticking with him and we know he’s going to bounce back,” Harris said. “He’s definitely going to bounce back.”

With a chance to halt the losing skid, the Spartans now have a week to regroup and refocus before heading to Ann Arbor for a rematch with the Wolverines (Sunday at 4 p.m., CBS). For Harris, it’s a chance to remind the college basketball world how good the team can be.

“We can’t let that happen,” Harris said. “We’ve got to play with the same (intensity) we did a few games ago and we’ve got to bounce back off this losing streak.”

More online …

To watch a recap from Sunday’s game, visit statenews.com/multimedia.