Cleaning campus plates
statenews.com | 3/20/14 | @thesnews Michigan State University’s independent voice
Dance club prepares for first show
Officials attempt to raise awareness about waste
Elementary education sophomore and president of MSU's new dance club Spartan ShowStoppers Kathryn Hale Allison Brooks/ The State News
campus+city, pG. 3
campus+city, pG. 3
A constant adventure Cab drivers in East Lansing never know what’s next, but they love their jobs anyway By Casey Holland cholland@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Adventures on the road When it comes to the cab driving business, the concept of “normal” goes out the window, Shaggin’ Wagon coowner Julie Voeller said. “Everything becomes ‘normal’ to you with this job,” she said, jokingly. “You see so much.” Voeller and her co-workers started Shaggin’ Wagon about six years ago. She said she’s seen everything that possibly could go hand-in-hand with young people drinking alcohol during the time she’s driven her 12-passenger van. One interaction with a customer of hers led to the two of them working together to track down a stolen cellphone. “She’d thought she left her phone in my cab,” Voeller said. “Later on, someone actual-
Former student could be jailed for involvement in disturbance By Geoff Preston
J
ames Wandell has watched people get punched in the face, fall onto the floor of his cab and pass out in his backseat. Such is the life of a cab driver. Wandell has been a driver for Capital Cab for almost two years. He has faced dangerous weather, potholes and pedestrians running into the road in order to transport his customers from point A to point B. Even during a hectic St. Patrick’s Day, Wandell safely moved his customers around East Lansing, all while taking in sights of festive people decked out in green leprechaun outfits. When it comes to his job, he said the most important thing is a mutual respect between cab drivers and passengers. “We all know that drinking is going on, it’s a college town,” he said. “As long as everyone can be responsible and continue to be safe, everything can continue to be fun.” With more than 20 taxi cab services on East Lansing streets, drivers who consistently taxi students across the city and campus say they enjoy their jobs and the people they meet, even if it gets a little crazy.
CRIME
gpreston@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
five to 10 minutes, but she said many cab driv-
Former MSU student Poom Boonsin could find himself behind bars for 45 days or face a yearlong suspension from any public Michigan college after he was arrested for his actions during December’s Big Ten Championship game. Boonsin allegedly incited destructive behavior by shaking a stop sign on the evening of the MSU football team’s win over Ohio State. East Lansing City Attorney Thomas Yeadon said other students ripped the stop sign out of the ground after he let go. “We look at this conduct differently,” Yeadon said. “He inspired the crowd to take down the sign.” W hen reached by phone Wednesday, Boonsin said he was an MSU student at the time of his arrest but has since transferred to Washtenaw Community College for financial reasons. He declined to comment further until his legal proceedings are over. In the meantime, Boosin’s friends are speaking out on his behalf. Neuroscience junior Herve Nonga, who said he has known Boonsin for more than a year, said it is “ridiculous” and unnecessary that his friend is facing jail time. “What was described is not indicative of the kind of person he is,” Nonga said. “He’s a really nice kid who has a good head on his shoulders.” Nonga said he doesn’t think the city putting people in jail for the civil disturbance will quell people causing trouble following sporting events. “You’re talking about one kid out of 50,000-plus,” he said. “Maybe he won’t do it again, but he’s less than a fraction of the people involved who didn’t get caught.” Yeadon said the 45-day jail sentence would include a work leave, allowing Boonsin to leave for class or work, something that also has been a part of other deals with students
See TAXI on page 2 u
See PUNISHMENT on page 2 u
photos by Erin Hampton/The State News
Lansing resident and cab driver James Wandell drives to pick up a “regular” rider Monday in his cab car. Although St. Patrick's Day was on a Monday, a school day for MSU students, Wandell had many student customers call him to get rides to parties.
“
ly called me from her stolen phone, trying to get a ride.” Voeller and the girl tried meeting with the man to retrieve her phone, but he ended up not showing up. Wandell had his own run-in with the law while picking up a client when his customer ended up Julie being arrestVoeller, ed as he was Shaggin’ getting into Wagon coowner his cab. “He was getting into the car, and six police cars started circling me,” he said. “The next thing I knew they arrested him right outside my car — they didn’t tell me why.”
One of my customers even called me their ‘mom at MSU.’ You look after them out here.”
Human biology sophomore Taylor Cheney rides in James Wandell's cab to a party Monday. Wandell, best known as “Jim-Bo,” has friendly relationships with many customers and said that he genuinely likes all of his “regular” customers.
Developing relationships Voeller’s daily shift starts either at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m. From that point, she spends 12 hours
answering calls and driving customers throughout the city. Typically, her interactions with customers last from
me n ’ s b a s k e t b a l l
world
Venezuelan students worry Spartans prepare for tournament as turmoil brews back home By Zach Smith
zsmith@statenews.com
By Rafael Lopez Aguilar rlopez@statenews.com STATE NEWS nn
For mechanical engineering freshman Andres Garcia, the worry whether his family in Venezuela will be able to make a simple trip to the grocery store is a constant one. Inflation in Venezuela has made even basic groceries an unusual expense, and the increasing crime rate also has caused constant tension in the country. “The Venezuelans were sick and tired that they had to do three hour lines in order to get the basic foods ... we were fearful that we were going to get mugged after getting our food,”
Garcia said. Many Venezuelan people have taken to the media to express their frustration with government and personal safety, only to meet censorship and the risk of reporters being imprisoned. On Feb. 12, a group of students in the country decided to take action with peaceful protests. Hundreds of Venezuelan soldiers were deployed to Caracas Monday in an attempt to dispel some of the protests, according to news reports. There currently are 10 undergraduate students and one graduate student
Venezuela currently is in a state of tension
See TURMOIL on page 2 u
THE STATE NEWS nn
SPOKANE, Wash. — Looks like Tom Izzo gave up two things for Lent: talking about injuries and officials. Luckily for him and the MSU men’s basketball team, the NCAA Tournament gets underway Thursday afternoon against the No. 13-seeded Delaware Blue Hens in Spokane, Wash. “We’re well aware that Delaware is a pretty good team,” senior guard Keith Appling said. “They have three players that average over 18 points, so they have every right to be confident. But, at the same time, we’re playing some of our best basketball, so we’re a pretty confident team as well.” Delaware is a battle-tested team, as all five of its starters are upperclassmen. The Blue Hens blazed through the Colonial Athletic Association and won the conference tournament with a 25-9 record. The top 25 has not been kind
to Delaware, as they are 0-29 against ranked teams, and 0-18 against Big Ten schools all-time. Nearly every player in the starting five averages more than 30 minutes a game, led by Jarvis Threatt, who plays 37.1 minutes each contest. “(He’s) a phenomenal athlete that is as good with the ball and getting into the paint as anybody we’ve played against,” Izzo said. “Transition defense, getting into the paint, where it’s not like he makes as much happen on kickouts like some point guards do, he makes it happen by getting fouled.” Besides Threatt, who averages 18.1 points per game, other Fightin’ Blue Hens can fill it up, too — he’s third on Delaware’s scoring list. Senior guards Devon Saddler and Davon Usher lead the way, averaging 19.7 and 19.4 points per game, respectively. As a team, Delaware ranks 24th in the nation in points per game, with an average of 79.5.
See B-BALL on page 2 u
Sophomore guard Gary Harris dunks a ball Wednesday at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Wash., during a practice the day before MSU's first game in the NCAA Tournament. Betsy Agosta / The State News