City of the arts? E.L. proposes $20,000 “artistic” bike racks, enlists local artists for design proposals
DARQUEZE DENNARD DRAFTED IN FIRST ROUND Then-senior cornerback Darqueze Dennard State News file photowww
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TITLE IX SETS NEW ASSAULT GUIDELINES By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com The State News nn
On April 29, the federal government released new guidelines clarifying how universities should respond to complaints of sexual harassment. The U.S Department of Education released an extensive question-and-answer document two weeks ago regarding the protections students are afforded under Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs or activities
that receive federal funding. The document specifically included LGBT students as protected under Title IX for the first time, as well as undocumented students. “For far too long, the incentives to prevent and respond to sexual violence have gone in the wrong direction at schools and on college campuses,” U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in a statement. “As interpreted and enforced by the department, Title IX and other federal laws are changing these incentives to put an end to rape-per-
missive cultures and campus cultures that tolerate sexual assault.” The new guidance and the public release of all U.S. universities under investigation is a part of a widespread effort to minimize sexual harassment and assault on college campuses. An Uncertain Change Although the document titled “Questions and Answers on Title IX and Sexual Violence” was released at the end of last month, many university officials are still uncertain what the new clarifications on sexual harassment
enforcement will mean. MSU Title IX Coordinator Paulette Granberry Russell , who is tasked with ensuring MSU complies with the federal law mandating university investigations, said she’s not yet sure how the new clarifications will affect MSU — mostly because she has yet to do a “careful reading” of the document as of Thursday, May 8. MSU Spokesman Jason Cody said since the new guidance elaborates further on the “Dear Colleague” letter released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2011, careful comparison will be need-
“For far too long, the incentives to prevent and respond to sexual violence have gone in the wrong direction at schools and on college campuses.” Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education
ed to ensure MSU is following all guidelines. “MSU is reviewing the details of the FAQ as well as the recent White House Task Force report that provides additional recommendations,” Cody said in an email. “The university has consistently worked with its governance system and the Department of Education to ensure that its process for responding to sexual violence is consistent with ... guidance to institutions of higher education. We are not in a See ASSAULT on page 2 u
Summer construction slams east lansing Spartan Stadium, West Circle among construction sites By Melanie Brender mbrender@statenews.com The State News nn
A s t he old adage goes, the state of Michigan has two seasons — winter and construction. With beds of orange barrels sprouting in the streets and the sounds of bulldozers in the air, construction season has officially begun on MSU’s campus. MSU Infrastructure Plan-
ning and Facilities, or IPF, representative Will Whelton said two of the biggest campus projects this summer are the Spartan Stadium and West Circle Neighborhood renovations. According to the IPF website, t he t wo -level, 55,000-square-foot addition to the north side of Spartan Stadium will be completed in August. Due to the construction, the river trail is closed on the Red Cedar River’s south side
between the Sparty statue and Wells Hall. The construction was originally scheduled during Fall 2013 but was delayed. “The Spartan Stadium work will be most visible (of all the construction projects) come fall,” Whelton said. There will be 16 significant construction projects on campus this summer, according to See CONSTRUCTION on page 2 u
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1. Butterfield Hall | estimated completion: May 2. West Circle Housing & West Circle Drive | estimated completion: August 3. Spartan Stadium | estimated completion: August 4. Facility for Rare Isotope Beams | estimated completion: March 5. Bio Engineering Facility | estimated completion: August
baseball
Corey Damocles/The State News
Charlotte, Mich., resident Mike Cousino welds chilled water lines Friday while doing construction near Landon Hall. Summer construction began May 5, and many of the projects are set to be completed by the beginning of the 2014 school year.
Eng i n e e r i ng
spartans fall to nebraska at home on senior day, 4-1 Sophomore left fielder Cam Gibson high fives teammates while running onto the field before the game against Nebraska on Sunday. The Cornhuskers defeated the Spartans, 4-1. Danyelle Morrow/The State News
See Baseball on page 6
Former MSU students design Swaddle-mi-Bili, a jaundice treatment product for infants By Casey Holland cholland@statenews.com The State News
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hat started as a project for a capstone engineering course earned three MSU alumni a fourth place title in an international competition early this month. Their biotech start-up company and product, called Swaddle-mi-Bili, is designed as a treatment for infant jaundice, or the yellowing of the baby’s skin. The design, which swaddles the baby, allows mothers
to hold their children during blue light phototherapy treatment. Most forms of blue light phototherapy keep the baby in the crib, making it harder for mothers to bond with their babies. After winning the undergraduate division of the Greenlight Business Model Competition in March, the Swaddle-miBili team was invited to move on to the International Business Model Competition. From May 1 to 3, A lexa Jones, Ol iver Bloom a nd Vu Hoang, then biosystems engineering seniors, went to Brigham Young University in
Provo, Utah to pitch the model for Swaddle-mi-Bili in the competition. Hoang said infant jaundice is caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the infant’s blood due to liver problems. He added that too much buildup of bilirubin can become toxic and cause mental retardation and even death. After talking with nurses to get a better understanding of current treatments, most of which using blue light phototherapy to break down the bilSee JAUNDICE on page 2 u