statenews.com | 4/2/14 | @thesnews Michigan State University’s independent voice capitol
MSU could lose $500K for union affiliation
Voting in the ASMSU election?
Locals host minimum wage rally
On the big stage
Check out our breakdown of the student government ballot
Protesters gathered outside U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers’ office
Three MSU gymnasts head to regionals
campus+city, pG. 3
campus+city, pG. 3
Gymnast Elena Lagoski Julia Nagy/The State News
SPORTS, Pg. 6
For the love of spuds MSU professor and researcher David Douches is enjoying the limelight for his expertise in potato growth Dave Douches, a Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences professor, poses with his potato memorabilia Tuesday at the Plant and Soil Sciences Building. Douches has studied potatoes for decades and is nationally known for his potato research.
By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
A recent state subcommittee proposal could cut $500,000 out of MSU ’s appropriations because of the university’s involvement with union-building workshops. T he Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education approved a budget on March 27 that included new lang uage requiring public universities to “not participate in any instructional activity that encourages or discourages union organizing of employees.”
Betsy Agosta /The State News
MSU was contracted by North America’s Building Trades Union Department to provide oversight of its academy Since May 2013, MSU’s School of Human Resources and Labor Relations was contracted by North America’s Building Trades Union Department to administer and provide academic oversight of the Building Trades Academy, MSU spokesman Kent Cassella said. The mission of the academy is to provide non-credit educational courses that offer skill-building development for union staff and leadership, according to its website. Some of the courses cover topics such as dispute resolution, contract negotiations See UNIONS on page 2 u
By Cayden Royce roycecay@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS nn
D
avid Douches spends his days at the office surrounded by Mr. Potato Heads. Amidst a slew of paperwork, folders and research documents, plastic spuds peek out from nearly every corner. The professor and potato researcher even has a
Mr. Potato Head flag hanging from his office window. To some, Douches’ collection might seem like an odd quirk. But for a man who has spent more than three decades studying the art of potato growth, it makes perfect sense. Douches teaches a plant biotechnology class during spring semesters while conducting potato research studies yearround and developing potato varieties for Michigan’s potato industry. T he New Jersey nat ive is nationally known for his resea rc h, a nd his ef for ts recently paid off in a big way
ASMSU
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An unexpected 15-minute intermission highlighted the Failure:Lab event put on by ASMSU Tuesday night at Wharton Center. In front of a mostly-filled crowd, ASMSU welcomed the popular Grand Rapids-based lecture series to MSU, only to be interrupted about halfway through by what ushers said was smoke detected on the 4th floor. Audience members were ushered outside of Wharton Center until the East Lansing Fire Department arrived and
See POTATO on page 2 u
By Matt Sheehan
msheehan@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Korona and former Chief Correspondent to the U.S. House of Representatives Jacquise Purifoy, among others. Hollis told the story of how when he was a child, his father left the family outside of Port Huron, Mich. “As a child, I thought I had the perfect life,” he said. “One day I came home from school and my mother was crying. My dad had left. “Instead of comforting her I ran away, I left,” he said. “I’ve been running ever since.” Hollis used running away as a theme for his talk. He spoke about running out of
The 2013-14 men’s basketball season just ended three days ago, and you know what that means — the next season has already begun. Seniors Keith Appling and Adreian Payne won’t be on next year’s roster, and there could be a few more departures this offseason as well. Two names that are on the top of every MSU fan’s “worry list” are sophomore guard Gary Harris and junior forward Branden Dawson, who could make the jump to the NBA Draft prior to their graduation. Head coach Tom Izzo told the media he thinks Harris should leave and take his chances with the NBA if his stock is high enough, but noted he thinks Dawson would have a better shot if he sticks around. “From what I gather, (Harris’) status is still very, very high,” Izzo said. “And when it’s that high, my advice over the years has been if you’re ready mentally, you should go.” Izzo said he will be talking with agents and NBA general managers in the next week to discuss the outlook on Harris’ potential.
See FAILURE on page 2 u
See B-BALL on page 2 u
Hollis, other prominent speakers headline Failure:Lab THE STATE NEWS
potato industry, Steere said. “If we can develop varieties that are even geographically specific, that’s an advantage to the growers themselves,” Steere said. Douches spent his years as an undergraduate studying at Rutgers University. He earned his master’s degree at North Carolina State University and received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. The institutions he attended are all land-grant universities or government-sponsored colleges that must teach agricul-
IZZO: HARRIS SHOULD MOVE ON, DAWSON SHOULD STAY
Danyelle Morrow/The State News
By Geoff Preston
A long career Douches discovered his love for potatoes while studying genetics in graduate school, and has been a researcher for 32 years. He said he likes the potato
because he’s aware of its international importance as the No. 3 food crop in the world. But Michigan’s niche is developing varieties that can be stored into June. “Dave’s developed several varieties for both applications, whether we’re eating it with a fork at the table or a potato chip bag,” MSU research technician Greg Steere said. D ouc he s co ord i n ate s a research team while developing potato breeding trials in 11 different locations in the U.S. The team is working to replace two main potato varieties that are a staple of the
M E N ’ S B A S K E T B A LL
Athletic Director Mark Hollis talks about his childhood during Failure:Lab, hosted by ASMSU on Tuesday at Wharton Center.
gpreston@statenews.com
— Douches was able not only to meet President Barack Obama when he visited MSU in February, but also had the opportunity to feed him potato chips. Douches has grown roots at the university, and with a network of friends, family and coworkers, he plans to promote potatoes for years to come.
declared the scene safe. The theme of the night was overcoming past failures in life and using them to foster future success. The venture was founded by four West Michigan businessmen in 2012 to focus on empowering people through their failures. The event features different speakers from city to city. The event at the Wharton Center featured many speakers associated with MSU. Once the event got started again it showcased prominent speakers from different industries, including MSU Athletic Director Mark Hollis, a Detroit MC featured in the movie “Eight Mile” named Miz
Julia Nagy/The State News
Sophomore guard Gary Harris goes up for the basket as Connecticut guard/forward Lasan Kromah guards March 30 at Madison Square Garden in New York.