Monday 3/14/16

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PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

ANOTHER ONE MSU men’s basketball defeated Purdue 66-62 in the Big Ten Tournament championship game March 13. The Spartans were then selected to the Midwest region of the NCAA Tournament Bracket as a No. 2 seed.

— PAGE 4

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Basketball MSU basketball puts on a show in Indianapolis

Senior guard Denzel Valentine shoots a basket over Purdue center A.J. Hammons during the first half of the game March 13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Boilermakers, 66-62.

PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

Both of the Spartan basketball teams played their way into the Big Ten Tournament championship game during spring break. The men defeated Purdue, 66-62 and were named champions, while the women lost to Maryland, 60-44.

Redshirt-junior forward Aerial Powers embraces junior guard Tori Jankoska during the women’s basketball Big Ten Tournament semifinals game against Ohio State University March 5 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes, 82-63. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

Senior forward Matt Costello kisses Big Ten championship trophy after the game March 13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Boilermakers, 66-62.

PHOTO: CARLY GERACI 2

THE STATE N E WS

MONDAY, MARCH 1 4, 2 01 6

Head coach Suzy Merchant reacts to a call during the women’s basketball Big Ten Tournament semifinals game against Ohio State University March 5 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Spartans defeated the Buckeyes, 82-63. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

Contents INSIDE

MSU student shows passion can make money, starts VK Sweets bakery

Aerial Powers looks for a championship to solidify her legacy

Syrian student at MSU struggles to keep in touch with relatives

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BY T H E N U M B E R S

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MSU men’s basketball’s seed in the Midwest region of the 2016 NCAA Tournament See page 10

“(Obtaining a No. 1 seed) was out of our control. We took care of what we could take care of and we know we have more goals ahead of us.”

Matt Costello, MSU basketball senior forward on the selection committee’s seeding choice See page 9

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a press conference before the Democratic debate March 6 at The Whiting Auditorium in Flint. PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

VOL . 106 | NO. 45

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MSU’s IPF continues construction of 1855 Place and Breslin Center Hall of History during spring break

BY STEPHEN OLSCHANSKI SOLSCHANSKI@STATENEWS.COM

During spring break, MSU’s Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, or IPF, continued construction on 1855 Place, which is a student and family housing complex being built to replace Spartan Village.

From March 5-12, IPF continued construction of underground utilities for 1855 Place, namely sanitary sewer and duct bank work, Andy Linebaugh of IPF said.

The construction closed off sections of Garden City Road and parking spaces on the south side of University Village. During that same timespan, East Lansing shut down one lane on each side of Harrison Road in order to install a temporary bus stop on the east side of Harrison Road and construct a crosswalk across the road for pedestrians when the parking structure opens up. Harrison Road was also closed because of ongoing construction at Breslin Center.

Work at Breslin during spring break included installing sanitary sewer components, Linebaugh said.

Construction at Breslin is part of an upgrade proj-

ect, which will include a 26,000 square foot addition to the concourse, renovations of restrooms, concession stands and improvements to infrastructure, according to the IPF website. The Breslin upgrade will also include an addition to the building, which will be the home to the Hall of History.

Construction of the upgrade to Breslin is expected to be substantially completed by August 2017.

“We’re anticipating opening the parking ramp of the 1855 Place Project in mid-April,” Linebaugh said.

The parking structure will allow for 880 spaces within the structure itself and an additional 1,200 parking spaces around the new 1855 Place.

The new parking spaces will provide more space for visitors to the university.

Linebaugh also said the crosswalk construction should have been finished March 10 and other construction projects by IPF were ongoing on campus but none required any road closures.

1855 Place project was developed after Residential Hospitality Services found family housing and apartment style housing to be a persistent need at MSU. Read more at statenews.com.

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EDITORIAL STAFF (517) 295-5149 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Olivia Dimmer MANAGING EDITOR Ryan Kryska PUBLIC CONCERNS EDITOR Cameron Macko STUDENT ISSUES EDITOR Meagan Beck SPORTS EDITOR Nathaniel Bott FEATURES EDITOR Jake Allen PHOTO EDITOR Sundeep Dhanjal DESIGN EDITOR Katie Winkler COPY CHIEF Casey Holland Copyright © 2016 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.

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Ryan Kryska Managing editor feedback@statenews.com @thesnews

MSU men’s and women’s basketball

BY RYAN SQUANDA RSQUANDA@STATENEWS.COM

Coming into the 2016 Big Ten Tournament, the MSU men’s basketball team (29-5, 13-5 Big Ten) felt they had something to prove.

With the feeling they’d let the regular season title slip away, the Spartans were on a mission to capture something of a resemblance to a Big Ten title.

And after three victories in three days, which culminated in a 66-62 victory against the Purdue Boilermakers on Sunday, the mission was accomplished.

“It was a feeling you can’t explain,” MSU sophomore point guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. said. “Watching the confetti fall and watching everybody smile and everybody happy, it’s just a blessing to be a champion.”

This weekend’s championship marks both MSU head coach Tom Izzo’s, as well as MSU’s fifth Big Ten Tournament Championship, the most all-time.

For Izzo, after finishing second in the Big Ten’s regular season standings, being able to

MSU COMPUTER STORE HELP AND REPAIR

“This is definitely a mark in my career that is going to add to my legacy and the seniors’ legacy.”

-MSU SENIOR GUARD DENZEL VALENTINE

come out and win the Big Ten Tournament was huge.

“I felt like winning the Big Ten was such an accomplishment this year,” Izzo said. “And I think it saved face a little big because we hurt ourselves early in the year losing those games. ... We put ourselves out of the Big Ten race.

It’s nice to regroup and figure in three days that you can save face a little bit.”

The last two days of the Big Ten Tournament have been the hardest fought games MSU has played in a while.

After blowing out a majority of their opponents for the last six weeks, the Spartans found themselves grinding out victories in backto-back days, with a four-point victory over Purdue on Sunday, and a three-point victory

against Maryland on Saturday.

“I want to take a nap,” MSU senior forward Matt Costello joked after defeating Purdue.

Make no mistake about it, the Spartans appreciate this title.

But as MSU senior guard and Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Player Denzel Valentine grabbed the microphone during MSU’s championship celebration on Sunday, he delivered a message that is a commonplace in the mindset of all MSU’s players.

“We’re not done yet!” Valentine shouted to the contingency of Spartan fans who watched MSU cut down the nets.

Costello shares the same sentiment as his senior teammate.

“It’s a championship,” Costello said of Sun-

day’s title. “That’s what we’ve been working for all year. We had the goal of winning four.

We have two right now. We missed one with the regular season so we’ve got one more we’ve got to go get.”

The Spartans now move on to the NCA A Tournament, where they drew a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Regional. MSU will tip off on Friday against the No. 15-seed Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders (24-9, 13-5 Conference USA).

For Valentine, who averaged 17.3 points, 9.0 assists and 8.7 rebounds throughout the course of MSU’s three games this weekend, that now becomes the focus.

“When the buzzer went off, it felt good,” Valentine said of Sunday’s championship victory. “But ... I’m not trying to sound bad on this, but I’m like, ‘I already did this before.’ I want something bigger. No disrespect. I’m grateful for this. ... This shows that we can put something together and win something and this is definitely a mark in my career that is going to add to my legacy and the seniors’ legacy.

But that national championship, that’s where we want to be.”

Go Mad for an

iPad Mini

Enter a bracket tournament for a chance to win an iPad Mini!

• Enter to win at the MSU Computer Store now through April 1 to gain a bracket spot in the tournament.

• 20 lucky winners will be drawn every week and announced on Facebook, Twitter, and in the MSU Computer Store.

• All bracket winners will receive an MSU Computer Store T-shirt.

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• The final four and grand prize winner will be drawn on April 4.

• Drawing rules: Open to current MSU students, faculty, and staff.

One entry per person per day. Only official entry forms are eligible. Per MSU policy, the name of the iPad mini winner must be provided to Accounting. IT Services staff are ineligible.

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THE STATE N E WS

MONDAY, MARCH 1 4, 2 01 6

Sophomore guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. dibbles the ball during the first half of the game March 13 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Boilermakers, 66-62.

PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

play in Big Ten championship game Women’s basketball makes a run in Big Ten Tournament

BY CASEY HARRISON CHARRISON@STATENEWS.COM

Head coach Suzy Merchant and the Spartans have had a successful campaign this season. MSU has been led on the court by redshirt junior forward Aerial Powers and junior guard Tori Jankoska and the team’s hard work has translated into success, propelling it all season. As one of the top teams in the nation, the Spartans have proven they’re a force to be reckoned with. Despite their disappointing 60-44 loss to top-seeded Maryland in the Big Ten Tournament championship game, the No. 16 MSU women’s basketball team still has a lot to look forward to with March Madness right around the corner.

“We just have to continue to have a good mentality throughout the ncaa tournament.”

-REDSHIRT-JUNIOR FORWARD AERIAL POWERS

MSU’S WEEKEND IN INDY

MSU’s 13-5 Big Ten regular season record earned the Spartans a third-place seed in the conference tournament. That resulted in a double-bye through the first two rounds, which gave MSU six days of rest and readied the team to play the Purdue Boilermakers March 4.

In their opening game of the Big Ten Tournament, the Spartans skated away with a narrow 65-64 victory over the Boilermakers.

MSU looked sluggish out of the gate, tallying just four assists through two quarters. But a resurgence during the second half helped MSU live to see another day, as the Spartans more than doubled their first half assists total with 10 and started efficiently communicating on the defensive end.

The Spartans were able to sustain that energy March 5 against the No. 2-seed Ohio State University Buckeyes. MSU was on the offensive from the tipoff. The Spartans took advantage of a banged up Buckeyes team to advance to the Big Ten championship game by a final score of 82-63. The Spartans led by as much as 36 points on Saturday, with Powers and Jankoska combining for 54 points.

“And even though we didn’t have everybody going when we played Purdue, it showed that we can will ourselves to a win,” Powers said. “So, we just have to continue to have a good mentality throughout the NCAA Tournament.”

As the Spartans were making their way through the tournament, so was conference-leading No. 1-seed Maryland. The No. 5-ranked Terrapins came into the tournament boasting a 16-2 conference record and some of the best offensive numbers in the nation. Maryland was ranked fourth in the NCAA in total offense, averaging about 84 points per game and third in the nation with a plus-24.3 scoring margin, which held true and resulted in defeat for the Spartans during the championship game on March 6.

“Well, we didn’t play well at all (Sunday),” Merchant said. “But I thought we were battling the first half and then just really came unraveled in the second. They outhustled us and outworked us. In the second half, we were just a little flat, and that was frustrating.”

Going into halftime MSU had a two-point advantage on the Terps, leading 26-24. The Terrapins, however, outscored MSU 36-18 during the second half to clinch their second consecutive Big Ten title by a final score of 60-44. Jankoska was the only Spartan to finish with double-digit points, as she ended the game with 12 points.

As a team, the Spartans shot 18-for-56 from the field, finishing the game shooting 32.1 percent.

“They’re extremely physical,” Jankoska said. “So you have to match that. We did in the first half. And in the second half, we just didn’t.”

LOOKING FORWARD TO MARCH MADNESS

Two wins against a top-10 Ohio State team combined with a 24-win season have proven MSU is undoubtedly one of the best teams in the nation. Their two wins during the Big Ten Tournament helped

Sophomore guard Branndais Agee defends Maryland guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough during the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament championship game against the University of Maryland March 6 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans were defeated by the Terrapins, 60-44. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

move the Spartans’ national rank from No. 19 to No. 16.

“We just beat the No. 9 team in the country, and we were up 36 yesterday,” Jankoska said after the championship game March 6.

“So it’s not like this whole weekend is a downer for us. ... We have to learn from our mistakes we made in the second half and then move forward and take our mistakes and not do them again in the NCAA Tournament.”

Final seeding for the NCAA Tournament will be released at 7 p.m. March 14. The first round begins Friday.

“For me, when I look at the NCAA Tournament, I feel like we have opportunities to do some things,” Merchant said. “We can morph ourselves into whatever we need to have said about our team. We

can defend people, if it’s in play that way. We have been able to put a lot of points on the board at times, and we needed to be playing against Minnesota and Ohio State. So our team has been able to be a little chameleon-like in terms of its ability to morph into what had to happen.”

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Student starts sweets business from home

Sociology junior Kady Cox, left, squeezes frosting into a jar as Residential College in the Arts and Humanities freshman Ciara Hamilton watches her on Feb. 26 at her home on East Coleman Road in East Lansing. PHOTO: SUNDEEP DHANJAL

BY DEJA GREEN DGREEN@STATENEWS.COM

for voting for

Like many college students, Kady Cox, a sociology junior and the founder and owner of VK Sweets, wanted to find a way to bring in more dough.

She decided to start her own business by putting baking skills she had learned from her father’s girlfriend to use by selling baked goods.

“I started in January (of 2016) and I was just selling brownies,” Cox said. “I made my official website on Feb. 9.”

“A lot of people say I have inspired them since I have been doing it. I think people love my drive and determination. It takes a lot of drive, determination and money to do this.”

Kady Cox, Sociology junior and VK Sweets founder

OF MSU WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED APRIL 4TH!

Cox said it felt like she was making a lot of money back then, which is why she began to sell the baked goods.

“When I first started, I was doing orders every day and not going to sleep until 3 a.m.,” Cox said. “Now it is only on the weekends, because I am (a) student as well.”

This past February is when Cox said she discovered she had a greater passion for baked goods.

“I said, ‘This is art,’” Cox said. “I was coming up with ways to make the food look nice.”

Cox said one of her focuses is getting more people to consistently order from her.

“I let them know you can order in advance because I only work on the weekends now,” Cox said. “I’m missing out on money, but I have stuff to do. It is a bit of a compromise.”

Although Cox’s store is only open during the weekends, she has many things in store for the 6

T H E STAT E NE WS

future of her company.

“Organizations on campus have considered me to be a vendor, and I am a vendor for events in Detroit,” Cox said.

Cox said she does orders for events and people in Detroit but is working on shipping to other states.

She said her chocolate covered strawberries and cheesecake bars are becoming a hot commodity.

In the future, she also said she plans on doing fundraising in addition to working towards getting a limited liability company, or LLC, designation for the business.

“I want to represent our name in different ways,” Cox said.

Cox said she has also come to understand the importance of customer service.

“I realized some strawberries were mushy and I contacted those customers to let them know I would replace them,” Cox said.

Because of the recent growth of her business, Cox hired two interns in February.

VK Sweets public relations intern Nieyri Cobb said the idea of a public relations internship began as a class assignment.

“I also knew she needed a public relations assistant,” Cobb said. “I thought, ‘Why not help her succeed?’ So I took the opportunity.”

Cobb is working on a media kit including a press release, fact sheet and news advisory for VK Sweets.

VK Sweets intern Ciara Hamilton said she inquired about the position because her mother bakes sweets and she has always wanted to learn more about it.

Since starting her business, Cox said she has learned many things so far.

“I have learned teamwork,” Cox said. “I have learned I need people, just like people need me.

I have learned a lot about food, there are a lot of precautions you have to take.”

Cox said she also recognizes what it takes to run a business.

“A lot of people say I have inspired them since I have been doing it,” Cox said. “I think people love my drive and determination. It takes a lot of drive, determination and money to do this.”

M O N DAY, M A R C H 1 4 , 2 01 6

News 1. FORMS Form W-2 This form is received by the taxpayer from their employer and details taxable wages and federal and state withholding from the past year.

Form 1098-T This form is received by the taxpayer from the university or college the student is attending. It will detail all money paid to the institution by the taxpayer for tuition during the past year. It can be used later in the process to potentially earn tax credits.

Form 1099-INT, Form 1099-DIV, and Consolidated Form 1099 These forms regard income made outside of wages, otherwise known as investment income, such as money made by the taxpayer from interest, dividends and trust funds.

Form 1040 (or 1040 EZ, if qualified) This form is the responsibility of the taxpayer to fill out and file.

This is the federal tax return form that is sent to the IRS. If qualified, taxpayers can choose to fill out the Form 1040 EZ instead, which is a simpler version of the Form 1040.

A student guide to taxes

BY MASON BAILEY FEEDBACK@STATENEWS.COM

Filing for taxes can be a difficult task if a student has never done it before.

There are also a lot of forms to have on hand and information to know about filing taxes before the deadline of April 18.

Many students are also looking to get

as much money back from their return as possible.

To help students get ready for tax season, The State News spoke with Aaron Pahl, CPA and senior tax manager at Warmels & Comstock in East Lansing, for information regarding taxes such as what each form means and what exemptions are.

Read more at statenews.com.

2 . CREDITS Tax credits can be used by taxpayers to lower the amount the government requires them to pay into taxes. There are certain ones exclusively available to college and university students.

One credit available to student taxpayers is the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which can award a taxpayer up to $2,500 in tax credits. The federal government will match total yearly tuition payments of up to $4,000, with the first $2,000 being a dollar-for-dollar credit and the remaining $2,000 being a 25 percent credit.

3. DEPENDENTS One of the first things students need to do before filing a tax return is find out if they will be claiming themselves as a dependent or if they will be claimed by their parents.

To find out whether or not they can be claimed as a dependent by their parents, students must analyze how much support they are receiving. Students can qualify to be claimed by their parents if they receive at least 50 percent support for all living expenses.

4. EXEMPTIONS For students who claim themselves as dependents, there are separate exemptions from taxes that students whose parents claim them do not have. Self-dependent students do not have to file a tax return as long as their gross income is below $10,300, and therefore do not owe any taxes.

A student in this scenario, however, can still receive the American Opportunity Tax Credit, and since it will not be used towards taxes, the student can be awarded up to $1,000 on their return from this tax credit.

5. HELP For students looking for help completing their taxes, there are many services readily available for them.

For students at MSU, there is the MSU Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA. VITA is an IRS-sponsored volunteer organization designed for income tax return assistance and preparation at no cost to taxpayers.

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Aerial Powers keeps a chip on her shoulder

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THE STATE N E WS

Junior forward Aerial Powers dribbles down the court during the women’s basketball Big Ten tournament game against Purdue March 4, at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Spartans defeated the Boilermakers, 65-64.

MONDAY, MARCH 1 4, 2 01 6

PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

BY RYAN KRYSKA RKRYSKA@STATENEWS.COM

MSU redshirt junior Aerial Powers is preparing for her second NCAA Tournament appearance, but she said this one has a different feeling. Not only is this the most confident team Powers has ever played with, but a Big Ten Player of the Year snub also adds a heralded chip on her shoulder.

“I really do take that to heart that I haven’t earned that yet,” Powers said. “Especially the way I have been playing and the things I do for my team. Because I do more than just score for my team, and I think that is what being a leader is about and being a player of the year is about — doing more than just scoring. I rebound, play defense hard and I assist, too. So yeah, it puts a big chip on my shoulder, honestly.”

In late February, the eventual 2016 Big Ten Player of the Year, Minnesota’s Rachel Banham, and Powers put on a show at Breslin Center proving both worthy of the accolade.

Powers totaled 40 points, eight assists and six rebounds in a winning effort against the Golden Gophers, while Banham went for 52 points, seven assists and five rebounds. Powers is averaging 21.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game this season, while Banham is averaging 27.6 points, six rebounds and four assists per game. No. 16 MSU’s overall record is 24-8, while Minnesota’s is 19-11.

“After our Minnesota game I got a picture with (Banham) and I plan on putting that up after the tournament, just congratulating her on her 3,000 points,” Powers said. “I have a lot of respect for her, but obviously I am passionate about basketball so it’s going to put a chip on my shoulder.”

Powers, a 6-foot forward from Detroit, tore her achilles

tendon during her first year at MSU and missed the entire season. In 2013-14, as a redshirt freshman, Powers was the first Spartan freshman ever to be named First-Team AllBig Ten. She was also selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team, but the freshman of the year award went to then-Minnesota center Amanda Zahui B. Powers followed those honors, and lack of, by recording her ninth career double-double in a Big Ten Tournament semifinals matchup with Nebraska. She then went on to record her 10th double-double and a MSU NCAA Tournament record for rebounds in a game against firstround opponent Hampton University, as she totaled 26 point and 18 rebounds.

MSU lost to the University of North Carolina at its home in Chapel Hill in the second round during the 2013-14 season.

In 2014-15, Powers was a unanimous First-Team Big-Ten selection by the coaches. The player of the year award, however, went to Zahui B for media and Ohio State University’s Kelsey Mitchell for coaches.

The Spartans missed the NCAA Tournament, in part because injuries, but Powers put together a season of 24 double-doubles, which tied for first in the Big Ten and third in the NCAA last season. Powers averaged 21.9 points and 12.1 rebounds in 2014-15.

Now, in her fourth year at MSU and third year of eligibility, Powers finds her window of opportunity closing.

“Going deep in March is something I want to add to my legacy,” Powers said. “I mean, I have broken records, but those things don’t mean anything if you don’t have anything to show for your team. That you can lead your team into a title. I am looking for that to get under my belt.”

Read more at statenews.com.

Sports

NCAA selection committee places MSU as the Midwest No. 2 seed

NO. 2

MSU seed in the Midwest region The Spartans will play March 18 in St. Louis.

421 E.Grand River

Good Luck Coach Izzo, Coach Merchant and MSU Basketball teams in the tournament!

Senior guard Denzel Valentine speaks with head coach Tom Izzo during the second half of the game Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Spartans defeated the Boilermakers, 66-62. PHOTO: CARLY GERACI

BY JOSH THALL JTHALL@STATENEWS.COM

No. 2 MSU came into the Big Ten Tournament championship game Sunday with speculation that a win could earn MSU a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, especially with both Villanova and Virginia losing Saturday night in respective conference championship games.

“We want to continue to just win. We want to win the national championship and when we win the national championship, there’s nothing else to be said.”

Eron Harris, MSU basketball junior guard

The NCAA Tournament selection committee had other plans, though, as it awarded Virginia in the Midwest, North Carolina in the East, Oregon in the West and Kansas in the South as the four No. 1 seeds for the NCAA Tournament.

It was announced just as MSU head coach Tom Izzo’s press conference was ending that MSU had been selected as a No. 2 seed in the Midwest region. Senior forward Matt Costello said the team was not bothered by not getting a No. 1 seed

and the players were focused in on their ultimate goal of winning a championship.

“As far as the one seed — it is what it is,” Costello said. “That was out of our control, we took care of what we could take care of and we know we have more goals ahead of us. So we’re going to enjoy this win for a little bit, but we have some work to do.”

Izzo said he does not feel like he has a chip on his shoulder after missing out on a No. 1 seed. He said he feels all the No. 1 seeds were deserving and he is excited for the NCAA Tournament.

“I really don’t think I’ll look at it as a chip on my shoulder,” Izzo said. “I really don’t. I’ve been through so many things so it will be fun to listen to my AD (Mark Hollis) on how everything went down. But I mean, Virginia is very deserving, Kansas is very deserving, North Carolina’s very deserving and probably Oregon is. I don’t get to see them very much.”

After the announcement of the No. 1 seeds, Izzo decided to skip watching the rest of the selection show in order to meet with the media sooner so the team could get back to East Lansing as early as possible.

MSU at 29-5 has the best record of all the No. 2 seeds and has a better record than three of the four No. 1 seeds.

Despite this, Izzo said he was not concerned about the seeding because like officiating or injuries, the team had no control over the outcome.

Izzo also said he wasn’t concerned with the seeding because if MSU advances it will end up playing the best teams

regardless.

“I’m not even going to worry about that,” Izzo said. “I might be bummed tomorrow, maybe, I doubt it, but I am going to enjoy (the win) ­­— I don’t do this much. I love George Perles, he was kind of a mentor when I got to Michigan State, as we all know, he has the 24-hour rule — mourn a loss for 24-hours, celebrate a win. These guys deserve to feel good about it.”

Izzo said MSU made some critical mistakes which cost the team a Big Ten regular season title, and was excited for his players for being able to bounce back and earn the Big Ten Tournament title.

MSU junior guard Eron Harris said the players learned a lot about themselves this weekend and thinks not having a No. 1 seed will keep the team focused and working as hard as it can to reach its goal of a national championship.

“We learned that we have fighters on our team,” Harris said. “We’ve got guys that really want to win. But that’s nothing new for Michigan State. Michigan State is the base, the root of what we are is winners, is competitors and that’s what we got.

“We want to continue to just win,” he said. “We want to win the national championship and when we win the national championship, there’s nothing else to be said.”

No. 2 seed MSU (29-5) will take on the No. 15 seed Middle Tennessee State (249) in St. Louis on Friday.

If MSU wins, it will face the either No. 7 seed Dayton (25-7) or No. 10 seed Syracuse (19-13) on Sunday.

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SWEET SIXTEEN

ELITE EIGHT

FINAL FOUR

FINAL FOUR

ELITE EIGHT

SWEET SIXTEEN

ROUND 1

16 AUSTIN PEAY

ROUND 3

ROUND 2 1 UNC 16 FDU/FGCU

8 COLORADO

11 VANDERBILT

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8 USC

9 UCONN

11 WICHITA ST.

11 TULSA

9 PROVIDENCE

16 HOLY CROSS

16 FDU

16 SOUTHERN

16 FGCU

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5 INDIANA 12 CHATTANOOGA

4 CAL 13 HAWAII

4 KENTUCKY

SOUTH

EAST

LOUISVILLE, KY

PHILADELPHIA

13 STONY BROOK

6 ARIZONA

6 NOTRE DAME

11 VANDERBILT/WICHITA ST.

11 U-M/TULSA

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3 WEST VIRGINIA

14 BUFFALO

14 SF AUSTIN

7 IOWA

7 WISCONSIN

NATIONAL CHAMPION

10 TEMPLE 2 VILLANOVA

10 PITTSBURGH 2 XAVIER

15 UNC ASHEVILLE

15 WEBER ST.

1 OREGON

1 VIRGINIA

16 HOLY CROSS/SOUTHERN

16 HAMPTON

8 SAINT JOSEPH’S

8 TEXAS TECH

9 CINCINNATI

9 BUTLER

5 BAYLOR

5 PURDUE

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12 LITTLE ROCK

4 DUKE

4 IOWA ST.

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WEST

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11 GONZAGA

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14 FRESNO ST.

7 OREGON ST.

7 DAYTON

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10 SYRACUSE 2 MSU 15 MTSU

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ROUND 2

Features

Jake Allen Features editor features@statenews.com @thesnews

After family tragedy, MSU student uses activism to fight for Syrians

BY ALEXIS SARGENT ASARGENT@STATENEWS.COM

The family of physiology junior Tasneem Sannah came from Syria to the United States in 1980.

Although Sannah has only visited Syria three times, most recently in seventh grade, she has many relatives in the country and activism purposed to help Syrians has become a large part of her life at MSU. Her father, whose name could not be printed to ensure the safety of the family’s relatives who remain in Syria, said Sannah’s activism started after a family tragedy.

‘‘We managed to support her through that hardship. She took the opportunity of her grandmother’s death as a way to support the revolution.’’

Tasneem Sannah’s father

In February 2014, Sannah’s grandmother, who lived in Syria, went to check her parsley plant in the yard behind her home. She was killed by a bomb. It denoted near her leg and arm and caused her to bleed to death.

No one, including police officers or the Syrian government, took the blame for the death of Sannah’s grandmother.

“It’s very emotional, because even though it has been two years, every time I tell the story I have to cry,” Sannah’s father said.

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Sannah’s father described the tragedy as a changing point in his daughter’s life.

“You cannot really explain what happened to her,” Sannah’s father said. “We managed to support her through that hardship. She took the opportunity of her grandmother’s death as a way to support the revolution in any way she could.”

Sannah is now an officer of MSU’s chapter of the Students Organize for Syria, or SOS. The organization is dedicated to sustaining a student network to actively support the cause for a free Syria.

Sannah also has a large part in “Books Not Bombs,” a program with a chapter at MSU which campaigns for Syrian refugees to receive educations in the U.S. During Sannah’s senior year of high school she held bake sales to raise money to support children in Syria.

The well-being of several family members in Syria is something constantly on Sannah’s and her family’s minds.

“It is just heart-wrenching right now,” Sannah said. “Because I have family there, it is so tough when you hear the news and see what is happening in the cities that are near where your relatives live. I’m constantly wondering, ‘Are they okay?’”

Sannah’s family finds the Internet is a relatively easy way to connect with family. But there are always risks involved because many of the relatives live in regime-controlled parts of the country, where everything they say or write on the Internet is closely monitored.

With this limited communication, Sannah has small tokens to remind her of her family members.

Physiology junior Tasneem Sannah poses for a photo on March 1 at East Holmes Hall. Sannah was wearing a Syrian flag and sweatshirt. PHOTO: KELLY VANFRANKENHUYZEN

“I always wear a bracelet that has a symbol of the Syrian flag on it,” Sannah said. “Every time I look at it, I am always reminded of my grandma, my aunts and my cousins.”

Although Sannah is a physiology major, she said her heritage continues to influence her studies.

“My Syrian heritage has pushed me towards studying Arabic and pursuing a minor in Arabic studies,” Sannah said. “I want to improve my

Arabic skills in case I ever get the opportunity to go back to Syria and help out in any way I can.”

Sannah is also taking a middle eastern geography class this semester so she can be more informed about the dynamics of the Middle East.

“Tasneem chose to stay involved, keep thinking about the tragedy in Syria and see what she could do about it,” Sannah’s father said. “I’m very proud of all that she has done.”

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Employment

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C H R I S T I A N ’ S GREENHOUSE looking for retail/register person. Must be avlble holidays/wknds.

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NEW PROJECT requiring morning and afternoon hours.

MSU’s Survey Research Lab is hiring telephone interviewers to conduct computer-assisted interviews in English.

Two shifts available, 9am 1pm or 1pm to 5pm. P/T, flex work schedule. Other projects also available that require evening and weekend hrs. Paid training. $9.00/ hr to start, opportunities for advancement. To apply call 517-353-5404 or come to Room 10, Berkey Hall with your resume.

PERSONAL CARE assistant for male paraplegic. No lifting. Flex hrs. Pay negot. EL. Ideal for nurse aide/student.

Call/text 517-333-4353

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If you love children and want a caring, fun environment we need Counselors for sports, arts, waterfront, tennis, gymnastics and much more. Interviews on the MSU Campus March 16th. Select The Camp That Selects The Best Staff! Call 215-9443069 or apply www.campwaynegirls.com

VAN ATTA’S Greenhouse in Haslett is hiring. Multiple positions avail. Apply in person at 9008 Old M-78, Haslett, MI or online @ vanattas.com

AVAILABLE FALL! Treehouse Apartments right across from Beal St entrance to campusstudio, 2 & 4 bedroom apts. lic. for 1, 2, 3 or 4. Contemporary furnishings, A/C, patio or balcony, parking and on-site laundry- www.cronmgt.com or 517.351.1177 for more info or to view.

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WELCOME BACK FROM SPRING BREAK! WE HOPE YOU’RE NOT TOO BURNT.

WORK ON Mackinac Island This Summer – Make lifelong friends. The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are looking for help in all areas beginning in early May: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas. Housing, bonus, and discounted meals. (906) 847-7196. www.theislandhouse.com

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TH E STATE N E WS

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Features

Jake Allen Features editor features@statenews.com @thesnews

Former MSU athlete turns comedian ‘‘I’m a storytelling type of comedian. I’m still an amateur, but all the greats started as amateurs.’’

Tony Fant Jr., Media and information senior

BY CONNOR CLARK CCLARK@STATENEWS.COM

Media and information senior Tony Fant Jr. performs stand-up on March 1 at the Union. Fant is performing a stand-up show at the Kellogg Center on April 8. PHOTO: NIC ANTAYA

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From dodging tackles to tackling crowds, former MSU running back and media and information senior Tony Fant Jr. is diving into the world of comedy.

After an achilles tendon injury in his right heel, Fant had to end his football career at MSU. Since January 2014, Fant has made several appearances at the University Activity Board’s Open Mic Night, Crunchy’s and at the Grand Rapids LaughFest.

“It was hard to adjust after football — I didn’t know who I was,” Fant said.

On April 8, Fant and three other comedians will be putting on a show at the Kellogg Center. All proceeds of the event will go to one of Fant’s friends, criminal justice senior Michael Collier.

Collier was involved in a car accident and had part of his leg amputated in the process. The performance is meant to help ease the burden of Collier’s medical bills.

Fant said his path to comedy hasn’t been an easy one.

His first performance was extremely difficult and did not go as planned, and Fant said after he had to take a month to get back on his feet. Since that moment, he has been optimistic about his future.

“It tanked, it tanked bad,” Fant said. “Since then, I love the progress I’m making.”

Hanging out with his friends and using his past experiences is how Fant said he gets the majority of his jokes.

“I’m more chill, I’m like that guy your mom told you to not be friends with,” Fant said. “I want everybody to relate, I just don’t want white jokes or black jokes.”

Fant said he admires comedians Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart and Chris Rock.

“I’m a storytelling type of comedian,” Fant said.

“I’m still an amateur, but all the greats started as amateurs so I am shooting high.”

Go to statenews.com to read more about Tony Fant and for updates about Michael Collier.