Tuesday 4/16/13

Weather Partly cloudy High 60° | Low 41° Michigan State University’s independent voice | statenews.com | East Lansing, Mich. | Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Hard head? New study shows no helmet law ineffective CAMPUS+CITY, PAGE 3

The Karate Kid — local teen knocks out competition FEATURES, PAGE 5

Three-day forecast, Page 2

Football team continues search for next leaders SPORTS, PAGE 6

BOMBS SHAKE MSU COMMUNITY Explosions kill at least 3, injure dozens more during Boston Marathon with Spartans at scene Police officers with their guns drawn hear the second explosion down the street. The first explosion knocked down a runner at the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon.

PHOTO BY JOHN TLUMACKI/THE BOSTON GLOBE VIA GETT Y IMAGES

PHOTO BY JOHN TLUMACKI/THE BOSTON GLOBE VIA GETT Y IMAGES

A woman kneels and prays at the scene of the first explosion on Boylston Street near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon on Monday.

By Robert Bondy and Kellie Rowe bondyrob@msu.edu and rowekell@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

Two large blasts explode in the heart of Boston. People scatter across the streets. Witnesses’ screams are matched with the sounds of sirens as officials rush to the scene.

Sharon Bade , a mother of two MSU students, finished the Boston Marathon nine minutes before explosions threw the city into panic Monday afternoon.

Choking back tears, Bade, a 4-year Boston Marathon veteran, reflected on how she could have possibly finished the race with her fastest time without training all winter long.

“Now I know why I did,” she said. “There’s a reason why I did. God wanted me to.”

At about 2:50 p.m., two explosives went off ten seconds apart on the corner of Boylston and Exeter streets in downtown Boston, killing at least three people and injuring more than 100, according to numerous media reports.

Throughout the chaos, Bade kept reminding herself how thankful she was that unlike

“

other years competing in the race, she didn’t bring her children this time around, including finance sophomore Luke Bade.

“I was a little shook up,” L u k e Bade said, recalling the moment she told him ab out t h e bomb. “I left class to call her. She was crying.”

A s news of the Boston t rage Jonathon dy r ipple s ac ros s t he Geer, nation and finance sophomore worldwide, evoking millions of thoughts and prayers to Massachusetts, Luke Bade and his mom are appreciating their safety.

And they aren’t the only Spartans.

My parents were standing right where the bomb went off. It was really scary knowing that it could have been them.”

Check twitter. com/ thesnews for breaking news updates.

For a timeline of the day’s events, visit statenews. com.

Surviving more than just the race An 8-year-old boy was among those killed during the chaos.

Boston hospitals reported at least 132 people are being treated for injuries, with at least 10

CAMPUS

amputations as of press time.

An estimated 27,000 people crossed the fi nish line before the explosions, and at least three of those participants are MSU students.

Graduate student Cody Har-

lacher was lucky enough to cross the finish line before the bombs exploded and made it back to his hotel, which was about 2.5 miles from the race, he said.

Harlacher thought what

occurred at the race finish line was horrific and haunting because of a Facebook post he had made prior to the explosions.

See BOMBING on page 2 X

ENVIRONMENT

MSU bests Big Ten in recycling

By Robert Bondy bondyrob@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

MSU had its most successful performance in the 2013 Recyclemania competition, going against universities across the country to improve recycling on campus.

MSU continued its improving trend, placing either first or second in the Big Ten in all of the events they participated in, MSU Waste Reduction Coordinator Dave Smith said.

Recyclemania is a nation-

NATALIE KOLB/THE STATE NEWS

Steelhead trout are released into the Red Cedar River on Monday on the west side of campus.

The fish were from the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery in Mattawan, Mich.

3,000 TROUT RELEASED INTO RED CEDAR RIVER

By Milan Griffes griffes4@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

It was an unusual gathering over the river — students, administrators, faculty and fishermen from the community assembled around a brightly painted truck on a bridge spanning the Red Cedar River.

After a few brief remarks

More online …

To see a video of the release, visit statenews. com/multimedia.

were made to the crowd, 3,000 steelhead trout began to fly into the river.

The gathering celebrated an ordinance passed by the MSU Board of Trustees in December. For the next three years,

hook-and-line fishing will be permitted along a select portion of the north bank of the river.

Trustee Dianne Byrum explained the decision to the crowd.

“The entire Red Cedar on campus was a sanctuary and hasn’t been open See RED CEDAR on page 2 X

“One of the things we really want to focus on next year is recycling things that people are unaware of that they can recycle on campus, such as paper cups.”

Dave Smith, MSU Waste Reduction Coordinator

wide event that competes with more than 500 colleges in multiple recycling competitions. This year’s event ran from the beginning of February to the end of March.

MSU placed the highest in the category for highest gross ton-

nage of certain recyclables, finishing fourth out of 365 schools with a total of 1,015,341 pounds recycled. This result exceeded last year’s total of 947,187 pounds and exceeded the goal Smith said See RECYCLE on page 2 X

Tree of life at Science Festival Graduate student Emma Berckmans holds the roots of what eventually will be a spruce tree at the MSU Science Festival on Saturday under the Lansing State Journal Expo Tent in the lawn area between Agriculture Hall and North Kedzie Hall. The festival runs until April 21.

— Katie Stiefel, SN See FESTIVAL on page 3

2 | TH E STAT E N E WS | T U ES DAY, AP RI L 1 6, 2 01 3 | STATE N E WS.COM

Police brief Look out below: Police investigating falling debris at Olds Hall The sky is falling.

MSU police responded to a complaint Sunday of debris outside the front entrance to Olds Hall and further investigations suggested gray concrete blocks were thrown off the building’s roof.

MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said officers searching the area found broken concrete on the sidewalk on the east side and directly in front of the building.

They also found an unbroken concrete block on the grass on the east side of the building and several missing blocks on the roof.

Damage was estimated at $200 and MSU’s Physical Plant was contacted to handle the debris and blocks.

McGlothian-Taylor said an individual likely gained access to the roof and threw the blocks. She said there are no suspects, and the incident is under investigation.

DARCIE MORAN

Three-day forecast

Wednesday Partly sunny High: 56° Low: 47°

Thursday Storms High: 70° Low: 45°

Friday Rain High: 48° Low: 34°

VOL. 104 | NO. 066

Index Campus+city Opinion Features Sports Classified Crossword

3 4 5 6 5 3

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Continued BOMBING

RED CEDAR

As Obama vows justice, experts say despite attack, country mostly is safe

Red Cedar stocked as fishing allowed in river for first time since 1960s

FROM PAGE ONE

FROM PAGE ONE

“I jokingly posted it’s a ‘Boston Massacre’ because I was so tired from the race,” Harlacher said. “It’s just very tragic. I’m without words.”

Like Harlacher, hospitality business senior Benny EbertZavos competed in the race and also was long gone when the bombs exploded at the finish line.

Ebert-Zavos said this was his best time in such a race, and he was ecstatic about his finish.

But those emotions faded away after he heard the news.

“It was really devastating,” he said. “Boston (Marathon) is the pinnacle — people train for months for this race, and they dedicate all they have for this, and it is beyond me that a bystander would conduct this.”

Finance sophomore Jonathon Geer finished an hour before the bombs exploded, but reflected on what would have happened if he hadn’t.

“My parents were standing right where the bomb went off,” Geer said. “It was really scary knowing that it could have been them.”

The MSU Alumni Club of Boston has yet to hear from any Spartans involved in the tragedy, club president Jennifer Bunce said.

She said the club has sent out messages via its social media avenues, but hasn’t been contacted by MSU alumni affected by the incident. As investigations continue to develop, Bunce said she will look into the victims’ names once they are released.

“I’ll do some research on my own to see if they’re part of our Boston MSU family,” she said.

for fishing since the 1960s,” Byrum said. “As a trustee, I took it to the policy committee. And in December, we opened up this section of the Red Cedar River for fishing, not only for opportunities for students and faculty, but for local citizens.”

The steelhead, a variety of rainbow trout raised in captivity, were brought to campus in a specialized fish stocking transportation vehicle, a large transport resembling a fire truck. They were raised at the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery, in Mattawan, Mich. The event was organized in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, or DNR. After their release, the steelhead will head down Red Cedar River toward Lake Michigan . They will swim back up the river during their spawning season.

DNR Director Keith Creagh explained the numbers before introducing the fish to the river.

“These are 3,000 of the 19 million fish we plant around the state,” Creagh said. “And with that, let’s see if we can stock some fish!”

Twent y distinguished guests, including Byrum and Creagh, as well as Sparty, each dumped a ceremonial bucket of steelhead into the river. DNR workers then attached a large pipe to the side of the truck, which began to spew fish and freshwater into the river.

Elyse Walter, a communication specialist with the Fisheries Division of the DNR , was enthusiastic about the new fishing opportunity.

“It’s very exciting for anyone who is an avid angler,” Walter said. “The department rears fi sh across the

Spartans will While victims and their families recover and Boston begins its healing process, the nation is bound to begin asking the big questions — why and how did this happen?

“Knowing what terrorists are capable of, I wasn’t surprised,” criminal justice professor Steve Chermak said. “The Boston Marathon is a high profi le event and very difficult to keep safe.”

He said as the chaos ensued in Boston on Monday, law enforcement was working on two simultaneous goals. The fi rst was to lead the public to safety, secure the crime scene and collect evidence. At the same time, officials began using these clues to generate leads to find suspects in hopes of apprehending them as quickly as possible, Chermak said.

President Barack Obama addressed a worried and upset nation at about 6 p.m.

Monday.

“We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts,” Obama said. “Make no mistake — we will get to the bottom of this and we will fi nd out who did this, and fi nd out why they did this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the full weight of justice.”

Although the president was careful not to use the word “terrorism” to describe the Boston bombings, some Americans could remain fearful of subsequent attacks. But Chermak said they shouldn’t forget how far safety has come since 9/11.

“The number of foiled terrorists’ plans since 9/11 is an incredible number,” he said.

He said police usually have homeland security plans in place to prevent terrorism, and during the next few weeks, law enforcement officials and lawmakers will try to figure out where the gaps were.

Despite the haunting memory of this year’s Boston Marathon, Ebert-Zavos said he isn’t afraid to run in the event again in future years and hopes others will do the same.

“I hope for years to come that people will continue to run,” Ebert-Zavos said. “I will run in memory of those who died.”

Numerous State News reporters contributed to this report.

NATALIE KOLB/THE STATE NEWS

Graduate student Brandon Armstrong prepares to fish in the newly stocked Red Cedar River on Monday on the west side of campus.

“An opportunity to fish on my campus — that’s awesome, not many schools can say that.”

Josh Boucher, MSU Bass Fishing Team member

state of Michigan. In the spring, we stock them in public waters to enhance fishing opportunities. They are a very popular sport fish.”

MSU Bass Fishing Team member Josh Boucher, a mechanical engineering sophomore , was very excited about the development.

“An opportunity to fi sh on my campus — that’s awesome, not many schools can say that,” Boucher said. “If you

walk right from class down to the river — a great opportunity, a great fishery for some awesome steelhead.”

Boucher has noted the fishing opportunities in the Red Cedar before, and now he can make use of them.

“There’s so many coho (salmon) in the fall. I’ve been walking down by the bridge before and seen them swimming through,” he said. “It’ll be cool to fish for them.”

RECYCLE Fourth in nation, first in Big Ten for highest gross tonnage of recyclables FROM PAGE ONE

they set for the university this year.

“We set our goal a little bit higher than last year, and we exceeded that goal,” he said, adding this year’s goal was 1,000,000 recycled pounds.

“Our participation and (the) amount of materials we collected was better.”

MSU also improved in the Grand Champion category, where they increased their recycling rate from 34 percent last year to about 36 percent this year. This was the only category MSU didn’t place first in the Big Ten. While the event concluded a few weeks ago, Smith said MSU will make its fourth appearance in the competition next year. MSU already is working on what it can do to improve upon this year’s efforts.

“One of the things we really want to focus on next year is recycling things that people are unaware of that they can recycle on campus, such as paper cups,” he said. “Another thing is waste reduction — we can boost that recycling rate by reducing the materials that we are throwing away.”

Please recycle this newspaper

Level: 1

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4/16/13

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 H E A LT H

SN

STUDY SPARKS DEBATE ON SAFETY OF NO-HELMET LAW

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

Although helmets often are a symbol of safety, materials science and engineering sophomore Kegan McKinnon said if his cousin had been wearing a helmet during his motorcycle crash in Arizona, he wouldn’t be alive today.

McKinnon said his cousin is part of a small percentage of riders who benefitted from not wearing a helmet — the chin strap on a helmet could have decapitated his cousin during the accident, he said.

“He’s just lucky to be alive — period,” McKinnon said.

Still, a new university study estimating dozens of Michigan resident deaths could have been avoided last year if all motorcycle riders wore helmets has sparked conversation regarding Michigan’s controversial motorcycle helmet law.

After Gov. Rick Snyder voided laws requiring helmets, Michigan motorcycle deaths increased by 18 percent Last April, Gov. Rick Snyder approved a bill voiding the almost 50-year safety law requiring all Michigan residents to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle.

Under the new law, riders more than 21 years old who have two years of motorcycle experience and carry at least $20,000 in health insurance can ride without a helmet.

Using crash data from the Office of Highway Planning and Safety, the University of Michigan study estimates 26 deaths and 49 critical injuries would not have occurred in 2011 if Michigan residents still were required by law to wear helmets while riding a motorcycle.

Michigan motorcyclist deaths increased by 18 percent in 2012, according to the Office of Highway Planning and Safety. The office reported deaths increased from 109 in 2011 to 129 in 2012.

The study shows 74 percent of motorcyclists who crashed last year wore helmets, while 98 percent of riders wore helmets when the previous three years.

Repor ted motorc yc le deaths without helmets have decreased by about 38 percent between 2007-11, according to the office’s 2012 report.

Helmeted deaths remained stagnant during this time period and totaled about 96 deaths in 2011.

“While many motorcyclists will continue to wear helmets, those who choose not to deserve the latitude to make their own informed judgments as long as they meet the requirements of this new law,” Snyder said in an April 2012 statement after signing the law.

McKinnon, a member of the MSU Motorcycle Club who has been riding motorcycles for six years, said there are certain advantages to not wearing a helmet.

He said his field of vision is wider without a helmet blocking some peripheral vision, he can hear more of what’s happening around him and it’s convenient for short trips from home to class.

“In the city, it’s a lot easier to ride without a helmet, such as around East Lansing,” McKinnon said.

Mechanical engineering junior Adam Lyman said the part that puzzles him about the helmet law is someone riding a motorcycle at 40 miles per hour has to wear a helmet, while someone riding a moped going the same speed doesn’t.

Despite his confusion, Lyman said he wears a helmet because his motorcycle doesn’t have a windshield.

The helmet protects him from the wind, bugs, small pebbles and head damage should he get into an accident.

Michigan’s former governor, Jennifer Granholm, vetoed similar legislation voiding the required helmet law twice.

STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, A PRIL 16 , 2013 |

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

Dedication to the goal

PHOTOS BY JUSTIN WAN/THE STATE NEWS

Athletic training intern Salina Halliday works on a stretching exercise with Piotr Pasik on March 29 at Jenison Field House.

R

ehabilitation counseling graduate student Piotr Pasik is a dedicated soccer player.

“It took me three or four seasons to get my first goal,” said Pasik, who plays forward by the opposing goal as an extra player. “I’d tell you, ‘You’re crazy,’ if

ABOVE: MSU athletic training professional intern Courtney Shegos does manual resistance training with Pasik on April 5 at Jenison Field House. LEFT: MSU men’s soccer senior Nick Wilson, left, passes to Pasik on March 24 at Demonstration Hall. Pasik uses his walker as support while he kicks the ball.

you told me that would happen almost 400 times.”

Pasik grew up with cerebral palsy, a disorder that affects his muscles and balance and limits his mobility. Originally from Poland, his family moved to Michigan in the 1990s, seeking a more accepting society and better treatment options

for their son.

Staying active has been a major part of his life. He trains for track and is preparing for a half-marathon this summer.

“It was never easy at first,” he said. “But I think just with anything in life, whether you have a disability or not, once you’ve started achieving a little bit of

Crossword

OUTREACH

success at something that you put time into, you’re willing to put more time into it and you gain confidence.”

— Justin Wan, The State News

More online …

For more photos and an interview with Pasik, visit statenews.com/multimedia.

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

Science festival takes over campus

By Isabella Shaya shayaisa@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

Campus was swarming with children last weekend as they learned about science, from water bugs swimming in small tanks to germinating seeds they could bring home to plant.

After months of planning, the MSU Science Festival came together this weekend and will continue this week.

The first MSU Science Festival began last Friday and goes through next Sunday and includes more than 150 science-related activities, lectures and tours that are free and open to the public.

During the week, students are welcome to visit various presentations, seminars, discussion panels and tours going on across campus. Some events include a discussion on the scientific evidence for the role of nutrition in promoting performance health and a behindthe-scenes tour of the MSU Museum’s vertebrate collections.

Last weekend, students and community members went to the Lansing State Journal Expo Tent for hands-on activities, including designing their own fish and viewing a display of the motions of various joints and organs in the human body.

At about 1 p.m. Saturday, volunteer Taylor Deleeuw, a human resource management freshman, counted more than 630 people who came in the tent.

Anyone who missed the activities last weekend can go to the tent this weekend on campus, with the addition of some new activities, including a shark dissection Saturday in the MSU Museum auditorium.

Alumna Erica Velasquez brought her 9-year-old son Xavier to the tent Saturday and plans

K ATIE STIEFEL/THE STATE NEWS

Haslett, Mich., resident Ederick Plantegenest, 9, looks at a water tornado at the MSU Science Festival on Saturday in the Lansing State Journal Expo Tent between Agriculture Hall and North Kedzie Hall. The festival runs until April 21.

to bring him back for the shark dissection.

“I liked science as a kid, so it’s important that my son gets involved in it, too,” Velasquez said. “I hope he likes it just as much as I did.”

For information and times of upcoming Science Festival events, visit sciencefestival.msu. edu/schedule.

MSU Science Festival coordinator Renee Leone came up with the idea after attending a different science festival.

“We have such a curious community here in Michigan,” Leone said. “We felt that it would be a wonderful match.”

Richard Kobe, professor of forest ecology and chairperson of the Department of Forestry, talked

to visitors Saturday about MSU research done on wet tropical forests in Costa Rica. Kobe said MSU has a plot of land about the size of a football field for research with more tree species than there are in the entire state of Michigan.

“I think it’s really important to connect with the community and (let) a lot of people know what type of research is going on at MSU,” Kobe said.

Graduate student Jenna Smith said she attended the events on Saturday because she enjoys science festivals, and she is helping with a nuclear physics exhibit this coming weekend.

“I like to see science that I don’t normally see on a day-today basis,” Smith said. “It presents science as fun and interactive, which is something you don’t always hear in class.”

More online …

To see a video of the MSU Science Festival, visit statenews.com/multimedia.

ACROSS 1 Soccer officials 5 “You __ dead!”: “I’m telling mom!”

10 Location 14 Berry in healthy smoothies 15 “No way!”

16 Jazz classic “Take __ Train” 17 Lost color in one’s cheeks 19 Greasy spoon grub 20 Hit hard 21 Like blue hair 22 “Faust” dramatist 24 Fred’s dancing sister 26 Bartender’s twist 28 Beer to drink on Cinco de Mayo 30 Four quarters 31 Tax agcy.

32 Archaic “once” 33 Talk show pioneer Jack 36 Residential bldg. units 38 Stack of unsolicited manuscripts 41 Bush secretary of labor Elaine 43 Madeline of “Blazing Saddles” 44 Emails the wrong person, say 48 U.S./Canada’s __ Canals 49 Sunrise direction, in Köln

51 Buyer’s “beware” 53 Tribal carving 57 Go 58 City on the Rio Grande 59 Feed the kitty 61 “Cool” monetary amt.

62 Even-handed 63 It may be filled with a garden hose 66 Helsinki resident 67 Actress Burstyn 68 Hip-swiveling dance 69 Vexes 70 Extremely poor 71 Ruin Bond’s martini

DOWN 1 Daily grind 2 Besides Chile, the only South American country that doesn’t border Brazil 3 __ market 4 Break a Commandment 5 “Toy Story” boy 6 Fend off 7 Dance around 8 Somme salt 9 Where Nike headquarters is 10 Considerable, as discounts 11 Terse critical appraisal 12 Ties to a post, as a horse 13 Art gallery props 18 Delightful spot

23 “Paper Moon” Oscar winner Tatum 25 Many, informally 27 Change from vampire to bat, say 29 Kwik-E-Mart owner on “The Simpsons” 34 Extend an invitation for 35 “I knew it!”

37 Thorn in one’s side 39 Appears strikingly on the horizon 40 Co. letterhead abbr.

41 Welcome summer forecast 42 Noticeable lipstick color 45 Come down hard on 46 Filled pasta 47 Top-notch 48 Golden Slam winner Graf 50 Said 52 Away from the wind 54 Takes home 55 Punch bowl spoon 56 Over and done 60 Hard to see 64 French landmass 65 Acidity nos.

Get the solutions at

statenews.com/puzzles

4 | THE STAT E N E WS | T U ES DAY, AP RI L 1 6, 2 01 3 | STATE N E WS.COM

Opinion

Featured blog A novel idea “It might seem a little ridiculous for me to be so excited about something as simple as reading for fun, but when you have a schedule that’s so busy you don’t even have time to enjoy the apartment you pay loads of money to live in, you learn to appreciate the time you spend at home.”

OU R VOICE | E DITORIAL

2014 BUDGET PROPOSAL HELPFUL, INSUBSTANTIAL

— RuAnne Walworth, State News reporter Read the rest online at statenews.com/blog.

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

W

hen it comes to finding financial support to cover the brunt of education costs, college students will take all the help they

can get.

MSU students are no strangers to the mountain of costs that have become common with pursuing an education.

As if finding a job after college wasn’t a daunting enough challenge, students constantly are met with

and limiting an increase on loan interest rates.

The president’s attention to college students is an encouraging sign, no doubt, but this news is not something to rejoice about just yet.

For MSU students who qualify for Pell Grants, the maximum amount they can expect to receive in the 2014 fiscal year will be about $5,785 — about a $140 increase. This money can be used to help pay for tuition, living expenses and the necessary materials needed to excel in their courses.

Although this slight increase is a step in the right direction, when compared to the increased expenses that soon will be imposed on students, it makes you wonder how helpful this aid will be.

Unfortunately for MSU students, the 2013 academic year will include some unforeseen adjustments.

On Friday, the MSU Board of Trustees approved a 3.9 percent room and board rate increase — raising costs by $330 to $8,806 a year.

Coupled with the fact the percent of interest on

the difficult choice of figuring out how to cover the external amenities that go along with school.

To cover four — or more — years of tuition, housing, food and course materials, many students are forced to take out loans — which sometimes can add up to thousands of dollars in debt.

This accumulated financial burden makes balancing a budget on a new graduate’s salary a despondent undertaking, but some relief to this problem might be appearing on the horizon.

In his proposed budget for fiscal year 2014, President Barack Obama has placed emphasis on improving the economic well-being of college students.

In his proposed budget, universities and aid services would undergo moderate changes tailored around lightening the financial burden attached to receiving an education.

Of these changes, the ones most likely to have an immediate impact include increasing the maximum amount of aid students who qualify for Pell Grants can receive, doubling the number of students eligible for the Federal Work-Study Program

student loans also is expected to double — from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent — by next year, it doesn’t take long to realize the small increase in aid some students might receive will disappear fast.

And regardless of what Obama’s intentions might be, his budget still has to be approved by Congress — which has seldom proven to advance education in this country. But that doesn’t mean this time won’t be different.

Creating a world where students don’t incur insurmountable debt to improve their futures is going to be uphill battle.

But it is something that can be achieved if steps — such as the ones specified in this budget — are carried through.

OPINION COLUMN

EDITORIAL CARTOONIST

Dealing with SAD

F

or many, the transi- es, work, homework and getting tion from dreary win- enough sleep, time in the sun can be limited. ter days to the sunUnfortunately for studious and ny months of spring hardworking Spartans, indoor brings lower levels of stress and lighting doesn’t adequately suppress melatonin and serotonin. consistently happier moods. The This would be obvious, if it were change in mood experienced by not for the human eye’s dirty habmany is caused by more than it of tricking the mind into thinkseeing life in a new light — it ing indoor lighting is comparable to outdoor sunlight. is caused by the change in light The human eye adjusts to an itself. astonishing range of lighting.

To understand a human mood’s Lux is a measure of illumination. connection to light exposure, it is One lux is equivalent to the illuuseful to examine the history and mination from a candle’s flame exploration of Seasonal Affective from one meter away. IlluminaDisorder (seasonal onset depres- tion decreases exponentially with sion, usually occurring in the win- distance. ter months).

For scale, a dark room with Seasonal Affective Disorder, just a TV on measures about 1 or SAD , first was named and lux . Indoor lighting illuminates described by Norman E. Rosen- the average living room to an illuthal of the National Institute of mination of 40 to 100 lux.

Mental Health in 1984 after he In contrast, on a bright summer moved from South Africa to New day when the sun is overhead, the brightness of looking York and noticed a GUEST COLUMNIST toward the horizon predictable, seasonranges from about al change in mood 10,000 to 15,000 lux. and energy levels.

Despite t he eye Rosent ha l t heo possessing comparized, “The hormone rable v ision in an melatonin, which is indoor-lighted envisecreted at night, ron ment a nd outcan be suppressed side on a cloudless, by light.

TYLER GROSS sunny day, predomiStudies also have grosstyl@msu.edu nantly outdoor daily show n t h at l ig ht routines expose the i n f luences sero tonin and epinephrine path- body to 100 to 375 times more ways in the brain, the same neu- light exposure than predominantrotransmitter systems known to ly indoor daily routines.

As a result, exposure to light be affected in people with genervaries greatly with how much al depression.”

Melatonin plays a key role in time a person spends outside in regulation of circadian rhythm, sunlight. Ambulatory Monitoring, including wake-sleep cycles. Sero- Inc., a research apparatus productonin helps in the nervous sys- tion company often employed tem to regulate mood, sleep and by NASA and the Department of Defense, developed a device appetite.

Since Rosenthal’s first recogni- named the Actillume to measure tion of the possible link between the average daily light exposure a person’s exposure to light and of the wearer.

In 1996, William Gruen, foundmood, considerable research has validated his hypotheses. The er of Ambulatory Monitoring, modern theory with overwhelm- administered the devices to 318 ing research and support is that San Diego adult volunteers .

Gruen summarized the study, SAD is caused by a lack of sero“We were quite astonished to tonin and/or melatonin.

In 2007, Hari Manev of the Uni- learn that different people expeversity of Chicago Department of rience a thousand-fold range of Psychiatry proved that mice inca- lighting... The volunteers who pable of turning serotonin into received the brightest illuminaN-acetylserotonin express depres- tion (spending bright days outdoors) were experiencing about sion-like behavior.

Additionally, the link between 1,000 times the light exposure of pineal gland and retina activity is those who received the dimmest well-established. Melatonin pro- average lighting (spending time duction is known to be produced mostly indoors).”

Incorporating exposure to sunby the pineal gland in periods of light into a daily routine can allelow levels of light.

The lower the levels of light viate nagging lethargy and anxexposure in a person’s daily rou- iety while regulating a healthy tine, the less serotonin and mela- appetite and sleep cycle.

Something as simple as sleeping tonin his or her body produces. Symptoms and cases of SAD with a bedside window open to become more prevalent in cli- allow dawn’s light to be a natural alarm clock can greatly improve a mates with longer winters.

For MSU students in the fall and diverse spectrum of psychological winter, conditions are a danger- and physiological concerns.

Regularly going outside during ous cocktail for the overproduction of melatonin and serotonin. hours of sunlight is an often-forBetween consistently overcast gotten, crucial dimension of perskies, daily schedules of class- sonal health.

ANDY CURTIS curtisa7@msu.edu

Just so you know

Comments from readers

■■

■■

“Availability of Plan B shouldn’t be restricted”

MONDAY’S POLL RESULTS

No 30%

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None 74%

Yes, making contraceptives available One is 23% to everyone a logical choice 62%

No, an age limit should be set 38% 0

10

20

30 40 50 PERCENT

60

70

The Editorial Board is entitled to their opinion and frankly, I agree with it. However, I have to disagree with their attempt to slide in the jab at Snyder and his “antiabortion bill.” This board has commented on this bill before and they apparently intend to continue. For that reason, I suggest they read the bill, as I have out of curiosity what this “anti-abortion bill” includes. In many ways, it makes abortions easier and safer (no doctor with a felony may perform an abortion) and the one way they may slow it down is by, like the EB wrote, “screen for coercion.” (comment continued at statenews.com) Pro-choice, literate, logical, April 15 via statenews.com

Total votes: 49 as of 5 p.m. Monday

TODAY’S STATE NEWS POLL What did you think of Obama’s response to the Boston Marathon bombings?

To vote, visit statenews.com.

If anything, the morning after pill may prevent abortions.

The two are not the same thing. Mistakes happen, and it should be available to those who can use it responsibly.

However, I would have concerns about adverse side effects if I had a pre-teen or teen daughter. Why not make it available at the ‘age of consent,’ which I believe is 17 in Michigan.

There will be younger kids who have their friends get it for them, but a certain age group should have their parents involved in this decision. It might even trigger a very useful discussion about responsible behavior and STDs. Lexi, April 15 via statenews.com

We want to hear your thoughts.

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.

How to reach us 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

STAT E NE WS.CO M | T HE STAT E N EWS | T U ESDAY, A PRIL 16 , 2013 |

Features

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

POETRY

SPORTS

French senior Daphney Weatherup writes a poem titled “Rough Honey” with chalk, along the Red Cedar River Tuesday behind Shaw Hall.

Teen builds MMA career in East Lansing nordgren@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

From a young age, Alyse Anderson wanted to fight — with or without her parents’ approval.

The Mason High School senior grew up around martial arts, as her father, John Anderson, ran a karate school when she was younger. The man who eventually would become her trainer at East Lansing Underground Martial Arts, Matt Torres, was a trainer at the school. Today, 18-yearold Alyse Anderson, trainer Torres and manager John Anderson are 1-0 as a team in mixed martial arts, or MMA, after she made her debut on March 30.

As a child, Alyse Anderson couldn’t stay away from the classes at her father’s gym.

John Anderson said she routinely would sneak into the classes to watch. When she was about 8 years old, she started doing low-level karate, but that wasn’t enough for her.

“That wasn’t like contact stuff,” she said. “That was more like forms and stuff, and I wanted to get into something where I could punch people, so I started MMA.” Six years after starting karate, she reunited with Torres, by then at East Lansing Underground, and started training in MMA. Torres said his only thought when Alyse Anderson approached him was that she “had a lot to work on.”

She spent the next three years or so training off and on with Torres, but she got really serious after turning 18 in January.

“My parents never let me (fight) because it’s not very safe,” she said. “So, they only said I could train, but never fight. But right when I turned 18, I told them that I wanted to fight and they were very supportive.”

In the three months leading up to her first fight, Alyse Anderson poured her entire focus into training. She was in the gym every day of the week, usually for four hours at a time, she said. In fact, Torres accused her of overtraining on at least one occasion.

“I trained so hard for it,” she said with a smile. “Matt even had to kick me out of the gym a few times. (MMA is) glorified on television, but it’s a full-time job.”

John Anderson said there’s no taking the easy route with MMA. “If you’re gonna do this, you’ve got to commit,” he said.

When Alyse Anderson finally arrived at Best Western Plus in Lansing, the site of Total Warrior

NATALIE KOLB/THE STATE NEWS

EVENT COMBATS ‘RAPE TRAIL’ STIGMA sankofao@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

The walkway along the Red Cedar River is a convenient path to class for many students. However, it suffers from an unfortunate nickname — the “rape trail.”

As a way of combating the nickname, the Residential College of Arts and Humanities Center of Poetry and the MSU Department of English hosted a poetry chalking event Monday. Students were encouraged to grab a piece of chalk — wrapped inside of a poem — and copy the poem onto the sidewalk.

Students also were encouraged to copy their own poetry. History senior Brandi Bates copied a text that a friend sent for her.

“I was having one of my weirdly terrible days, and I said something to one of my friends, and this was his response to me in a text message,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he came up with it.”

The text read, “You are the best version of yourself you can be and no one should (ever) have to be anyone else.”

“I wanted to share something that someone actually said to me, because I think that makes it real,” she said.

Stephanie Glazier, assistant director for the RCAH Center for Poetry, believes the “rape trail” nickname is an old joke.

“It just feels like a real misnomer, and it feels like it’s disrespectful to the environment

“It just feels like a real misnomer, and it feels like it’s disrespectful to the environment that we share...”

Stephanie Glazier, RCAH

that we share and that we have everyday,” Glazier said.

“We wanted to call that into question and inhabit the space differently.”

Visiting assistant professor for English Kristen Renzi helped organize the event with Glazier. Once she arrived at MSU, Renzi was caught by surprise at how normal students referred to the “rape trail.” “(I) was surprised, baffled, when my students told me that this space is colloquially referred to as the rape trail, and I found it quite surprising that students said this without any sort of qualms,” she said.

“We want to re-articulate this communally as a space where a lot of other things can happen, which can be about healing or safety,” Renzi said.

Renzi added students typically respond well to the chalking event.

“Most people who stop by are quite excited and interested to participate,” she said.

“It’s pretty positive.”

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LEFT: Mason High School senior Alyse Anderson practices her swing with Matt Torres, her MMA trainer and owner of East Lansing Underground Martial Arts on Friday.

Anderson said she is training for her next fight, which will be at the Best Western Plus in Lansing.

By Caleb Nordgren

By Omari Sankofa II

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

BELOW: Mason High School senior Alyse Anderson lifts weights during her MMA training inside of East Lansing Underground Martial Arts.

PHOTOS BY NATALIE KOLB/ THE STATE NEWS

More online …

To watch a video on Alyse Anderson’s training, visit statenews.com.

Combat’s “Back in Black” fight night, she felt she was ready to go. She faced Summer Asbury, a comparatively older fighter, who also was making her MMA debut.

The fight ended in 46 seconds after Alyse Anderson beat Asbury into submission.

Trevor Corwin, who refereed the fight for Total Warrior Combat , called Alyse Anderson’s debut exceptional, especially as the youngest fighter on the card that night.

“She came out to finish (it),” Corwin said.

Alyse Anderson said she originally had promised her parents she would only fight once, but after experiencing one fight, she couldn’t just walk away.

“I was like, ‘I have to do that again,’” she said. “After that I was like, ‘Oh, mom, I picked up another fight.’ It was crazy, the adrenaline … It was so awesome.”

Alyse Anderson credits her father for where she is now.

“I would never be where I am today without him because he

brought me into the sport,” she said.

Balancing training with school and soccer — she’ll head to Spring Arbor University in the fall on a soccer scholarship — comes down to excluding everything else, Alyse Anderson said.

“I have no social life, except for the guys at the gym,” she said. “Every day it’s school, soccer, training and I don’t get home until like 10 o’clock. It’s kind of

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Aries (Mar. 21-April 19) Today is an 8 — Stay close to home, and celebrate your friends and family. Others may come to you with problems. Simply listening can be a great help. Don’t tell everything you know.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 9 — What you learn now can help you immensely. Study intensely. Your partner has some constructive criticism; listen like each word is worth gold. Ponder the possibilities that arise.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an 8 — Natural beauty catches your eye. Provide detailed information, and listen for what others can provide. Keep careful notes.

Finish what’s already on your lists. Take time out to get lost in a sunset.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9 — Believing in yourself is part of the game. Go and accomplish the impossible. It’s worth trying.

Your intuition lines up with your actions. You’re especially charming, too. Keep practicing.

hard. But I just don’t have a social life. Weekends (are) all training.”

For now, she said she’s focused on her next fight, which will take place May 18. She said she doesn’t care about what people think or how much work it is, she just enjoys it.

“People think it’s crazy and weird and stuff, getting punched in the face, but it’s really fun,” she said.

or offer to pick up the bill. Do that after you nail your savings goal.

Horoscope By Linda C. Black

RATES

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.

5

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8 — Complete projects now.

Listen to advice from an authority figure. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn new tricks. Postpone a shopping trip. Finish up old business today and tomorrow.

Provide prizes.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is an 8 — Gather input from others. You’re learning quickly.

Don’t shop for a few days, or get sucked into distracting discussions. Stay focused. Consider all options. Your status is rising. Love grows.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 9 — Establish your message clearly, and maintain team communications. You’re entering a two-day responsibility phase. Use it to forge ahead. Work interferes with travel. Use your partner’s ideas. It’s okay to disrupt the routine.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8 — Write down long-range goals. Strategize to increase your reserves. Don’t talk about money,

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 — Manage finances.

A lack of funds threatens your plans. Be frugal, and keep quiet about money for now. Better cash flow lies ahead. Accept a gift.

Intuition prompts an action.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 — Today and tomorrow are especially good for compromise, which is useful when controversy arises. Keep accounts separate.

Don’t waste your words or money.

You’re building security. They’re saying nice things about you.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 9 — There’s too much work coming in. Gather support from partners, and make your workplace more comfortable.

Select what you want carefully.

Spend some now to save more over time.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9 — Your nerves will become less frazzled soon. Ignore a nasty tone. A goal gets achieved. Accept a loved one’s support and a compliment. You’re changing how you see yourself. Talk like you mean it.

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Applicants must be available during the summer. Send resume to webmaster@statenews.com

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6 | THE STAT E N E WS | T U E S DAY, AP RI L 1 6, 2 01 3 | STATE N E WS.COM

Sports

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

BASEBALL

B ROADCA STE R

Indiana weekend sweep spurs confidence for MSU Recent alum to replace MSU radio lengend

By Dillon Davis davisdi4@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

Jimmy Pickens couldn’t stop smiling.

With a line of eager autograph seekers waiting behind him, it’s tough to blame the sophomore outfielder who had the weekend of his life.

Pickens was the catalyst of two walk-off victories in a three-game weekend sweep of No. 12 Indiana at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field. The sweep signals the fi rst series sweep against a ranked opponent under MSU head coach Jake Boss Jr., and moves the Spartans (2111 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) closer to a chance at a Big Ten championship.

“It ’s great for the team, it’s great for the momentum going into Toledo this week with Comerica on Wednesday against Central and a big weekend in Minnesota,” Pickens said. “You’ve got to win an away series for a shot at a Big Ten title, and we got back in the race this weekend after a disappointing weekend last weekend.

“We’ve got a shot now.”

Taking three victories from the fi rst-place Hoosiers moves the Spartans into a tie for sixth in the Big Ten with Illinois (2210, 5-4). With 22 games remaining — including 15 against Big Ten opponents — the Spartans have a realistic shot at a conference crown if their play continues.

However, the task will be challenging with the loss of senior outfielder Jordan Keur from the lineup. During Friday’s game, Keur tore his left Achilles’ tendon while rounding fi rst base, effectively ending his MSU playing career as he isn’t expected to recover for at least six months.

At the time of the injury, Keur was MSU’s second-lead-

By Dillon Davis davisdi4@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

JULIA NAGY/THE STATE NEWS

The Spartans celebrate Friday after the first game of a three-game series against Indiana at McLane Baseball Stadium at Old College Field. The Spartans defeated the Hoosiers, 2-1, in the first game of the series.

ing hitter with a .337 average to go along with one home run, 20 RBIs and a .433 slugging percentage.

As Keur took in the remaining games of the series from the dugout with a pair of fresh crutches at his side, Boss said Keur will serve as an advisor on the bench and will be a critical source of energy if MSU is able to make a run.

“We got guys to play hard, and that’s fi rst and foremost,” Boss said.

“I think having a kid like Jordan Keur in the dugout really helps. He really can’t contribute on the field anymore, but I think there’s a little bit more of a focus and a belief that we

“You’ve got to win an away series for a shot at a Big Ten title, and we got back in the race this weekend after a disappointing weekend last weekend.”

Jimmy Pickens, sophomore outfielder

can get it done, especially for a guy like that.”

Before jumping back into Big Ten play against Minnesota this weekend, the Spartans host Toledo (12-21, 4-8 Mid-American Conference) at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday. From there, the team faces a quick turnaround playing a primetime matchup Wednesday with Central Michigan (15-19, 5-7) in the

SOFTBALL

FOOTBALL

Spartans to take on Notre Dame at home

By Stephen Brooks brook198@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS

DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD LOOKS TO STEP UP AFTER LOSING ADAMS

By Zach Smith

■■

T his week w ill prov ide opportunities for the MSU softball team to regain some traction with non-conference games today and tomorrow after a weekend sweep at the hands of Michigan knocked the Spartans from second place in the Big Ten. MSU (21-17 overall, 7-4 Big Ten) takes on Notre Dame (29-10, 10-1 Big East) at 5 p.m. today at Secchia Stadium at Old College Field before another home match at 4 p.m. Wednesday against Toledo (11-25, 4-8 MAC).

Heading into last weekend, MSU and the Wolverines held the top two spots in the conference, but after the Spartans went 0-3 against Michigan, they tumbled to fourth place.

The Fighting Irish are one of the Big East’s best clubs, ranking in the top-three in the conference in team batting, fielding and pitching.

“Notre Dame is gonna be a real quality opponent,” MSU head coach Jacquie Joseph said. “They have a lot of history and tradition in softball.

We’ve gotta work very hard to put this game and this week-

Clash at Comerica at Comerica in Detroit (6:35 p.m., Spartan Sports Network).

Following the series, a reflective Boss said the Spartans might be too young to realize the gravity of what was done in a weekend against one of the nation’s toughest teams. But given the results, Boss said perhaps their youthful ignorance might serve as an advantage

going forward.

That mindset was never clearer than from the remarks made by Sunday’s hero, sophomore fi rst baseman Ryan Krill.

Tr y i ng to c atc h h i s breath from his game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth to earn the 6-5 win, Krill smirked as he commented the series was just another step in a journey to win the Big Ten championship. “ T h ree more ga me s, three more games on track and three more games that we’ve won,” K rill said.

“We’re just looking for a Big Ten title.”

smithza9@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■

K ATIE STIEFEL/THE STATE NEWS

Sophomore shortstop and outfielder Alyssa McBride hits a ball into foul territory during the game against Michigan on Sunday at Secchia Stadium at Old College Field.

end behind us so we can look forward to what we have to get done with Notre Dame and Toledo on Wednesday.”

Notre Dame pitcher Laura Winter leads the conference in strikeouts with 193 to go along with an 18-8 individual record and 1.97 ERA . She likely will duel with MSU junior ace Kelly Smith, who has the third-most strikeouts in the Big Ten but suffered a pair of losses against the Wolverines.

It will be interesting to see how Joseph elects to pitch to Notre Dame’s Emilee Koerner,

one of the most prolific hitters in the Big East. Koerner is the single leader or co-leader in her conference in batting average (.504), doubles (17) and triples (3).

The Spartans tried to pitch around U-M’s most dangerous hitter, Sierra Romero , by intentionally walking her when they could last weekend, but she made them pay with a pair of grand slams.

“They’re always a really good team,” sophomore designated player Sarah Bowling said. “They’re always ver y well-coached, so I think that it’s going to be a good matchup, defi nitely. We’re just gonna play as hard as we can and see what we can do.”

Johnny Adams is headed to the NFL draft, and Darqueze Dennard has been out the entire spring.

The state of the MSU football team’s defensive backfield seems like it’s in shambles heading into the spring game Saturday.

Still, Dennard, a senior cornerback and leader of the Spartan defensive backs, said the situation on the defensive side of the ball isn’t as bad as it seems.

He said players on the second and third team, such as junior cornerback Mylan Hicks, redshirt freshman safety Mark Meyers and redshirt freshman Ezra Robinson have been stepping up in the absence of the starters.

“We’ve got some great players, and we got the two and the threes,” Dennard said. “The whole defensive backfield — they’re really good. We’re going to have a good secondary for years to come.”

In seven years at the helm of the secondary, coach Harlon Barnett runs a tight ship.

Dennard said the physical nature of the backfield is part of what Barnett is teaching them.

“I’m not scared of (anybody), and I don’t think none of our defensive backs is,” Dennard said. “Especially playing under coach Barnett, he don’t preach scarediness. With him being a player here and watching his

tape, we’re just trying to live up to him.”

The rough type of play has taken its toll on the Dry Branch, Ga., native, as he suffered a sports hernia and has yet to see any action this spring.

With just a couple practices left until the summer break, head coach Mark Dantonio said there’s nothing more Dennard can prove and he will hold the senior out of practices and the spring game.

“He could probably go next week, but we’ll just hold him out with only a couple practices,” Dantonio said. “He’s doing some sprints and that type of thing right now.”

With Dennard out for the rest of the spring, he has more time to be a coach and help the younger players excel.

Sophomore cornerback Trae Waynes, who saw limited action a season ago, but started the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, has been getting help from the senior.

“He’s helping me every way possible,” Waynes said, “He’ll watch me (sometimes) and critique my technique. Every time I come off the sidelines, he’ll let me know what I’m doing wrong and stuff like that to help me get better.”

The unit has formed a good amount of chemistry this spring, keeping up a tradition that Waynes said always has been at MSU. Losing Adams, who had three interceptions and 35 tackles a season ago, leaves a big pair of shoes to fill, but with the help of Dennard and the coaching staff, Waynes said he believes the Spartans can have one of the best secondaries in the nation. “(We’re) just trying to fill the void Johnny left by trying to help the defense become one of the top 10 defenses in the country,” he said.

A giant in the local media industry finally has hung up his microphone.

After being hired by WKAR in 1974 a nd ta k i ng over WKAR’s “Sportstalk/870” in 1985, it’s been the soft and Martin welcoming tone of Earle Robinson’s voice coming across the airwaves, always polite and eager to discuss the most pressing local sports news.

Few in the area are more universally respected and appreciated by media and officials alike than Robinson.

However, following a 39-year career that spanned the full spectrum of Michigan sports, Robinson officially retired from the position in January, announcing it once more at MSU’s Spartan Sports Journalism Classic event last week.

“I just really wasn’t feeling well, and I was taking some medication and things so I just figured it was time for me to go,” Robinson said, discussing his departure. “I wanted to retire healthy at least and move on to the next phase of my life. I wanted to be in fairly good health and I wasn’t at the time.”

WLNS Channel 6-TV reporter Al Martin will attempt to fill some of the largest shoes in local media.

A 2012 MSU graduate with a degree in journalism and a Detroit native, Martin will join the WKAR team April 29.

Martin’s first day on the air along with the logistics of the new show remain undetermined, but Martin said he will take over the “Sportstalk/870” show as well as contribute to WKAR’s television programming on a weekly basis.

Looking to bring more featuretype stories to the air, Martin said he would like it to feel like HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel,” but on the radio.

“I was just blessed to meet the right people to even be in this position at 22 years old, not even a year out of college,” Martin said of the move. “It’s a lot of pressure, but I’m humble beyond imagination and I’m going to approach this with an open mind and I want to be great at this.”

Obviously, Martin’s task is a daunting one in replacing one of the most well-respected radio personalities in the state.

Earlier in the year, MSU basketball head coach Tom Izzo concluded his weekly press conference by publicly thanking Robinson, who was in attendance, for his years of service, making a note that Robinson always will have a seat and a parking pass at MSU as long as both men are alive.

“I don’t care if it was a wrestling event or a hockey event or high school basketball,” Izzo said at the time. “Whatever he did, he went to them.

“I appreciate what you’ve given to Michigan State, what you’ve given to the community and maybe most of all, just the time you spent coming over in the summers and talking about things that you saw with your eyes instead of things you heard with your ears.”

As a new era dawns on sports radio at WKAR, Martin said he plans to continue talking to Robinson and others — including WLNS reporter Fred Heumann and Big Ten Network reporter Lisa Byington — as his new job approaches.

Ever grateful of the impact Robinson has had in the area, Martin said he’s thankful for the opportunity and is ready to get started at the end of the month.

“I could never, ever, ever fill the shoes of Earle Robinson,” Martin said. “Those shoes are the only shoes that only Earle can fill — those aren’t shoes, they’re boots.

All I can do is go in there, be me, be Al Martin and attack it with the mindset that ‘Hey, I want to be the best I can be at this.’ I’m going to try my hardest to do that.”