Monday, May 19, 2014

Two shootings, two responses

statenews.com | 5/19/14 | @thesnews Michigan State University’s independent voice

MSU officials address inconsistent MSU alerts, campus lockdown

Alma, Mich., resident Jaime Albers smiles during the “Bashaversary” Mitten Mavens bout on Saturday.

Roller Derby brings team harmony

New law could spell bad news for farmers

campus+city, pG. 3

Sports+FEATURES, PAGE 6

sports+FEATURES, PAGE 6

Corey Damocles/The State News

Danyelle Morrow/The State News

East Lansing resident and alumna Jackie Cosner places eggs into a basket Saturday.

photos by Corey Damocles/The State News

TOP: Santa Fe, N.M., resident and artist Tana Acton speaks with festival goers during the East Lansing Art Festival on Sunday in downtown East Lansing.

LEFT: East Lansing resident Gloria Miller looks at artwork crafted by Lowell, Mich., resident Nick Santoro during the East Lansing Art Festival on Sunday in downtown East Lansing.

CENTER: Williamston, Mich., resident Joy Pike examines art crafted by Chicago, Ill., artist Melissa Banks during the East Lansing Art Festival on Sunday in downtown East Lansing.

artistic array East Lansing Art Festival showcases art, eats, community

By Derek Gartee

dgartee@statenews.com The State News

E

nn

ast Lansing’s city streets were packed this weekend, not by the usual traffic of cars and buses, but by citizens, vendors and a lot of art.

From May 17 through May 18, East Lansing hosted its annual art festi-

val, where 180 professional artists from around the country gathered to show and sell their art.

The festival showcased a wide spectrum of art — from paintings, sculpture and photography to clothing, homemade musical instruments to even bonsai trees.

An annual tradition While the festivities only lasted two See ARTS on page 2 u

Minimum wage could increase through 2017

By Michael Kransz mkransz@statenews.com The State News nn

On Thursday, the Senate moved forward on legislation that would increase Michigan’s minimum wage but also would circumvent a potential decision from voters.

The legislation would increase Michigan’s minimum wage from $7.40 to $9.20 an hour for regular employees and from $2.65 to $3.50 an hour for tipped employees.

If enacted, the legislation will effectively kill a ballot initiative that would allow voters source: ta xpolicycenter.org Gr aphic by florian cherdron | sn

See WAGE on page 2 u

2 | T he State N e ws | m on day, m ay 1 9, 2 01 4 | statene ws.com f e s t i va l

ARTS

East Lansing Art Festival brings life to city, businesses during sleepy summer weekend from page one

days, the planning and preparation went on for months.

“It is a continual, year-long process,” City Manager George Lahanas said.

Festival planners have their own office, staff and full time director. Lahanas said the preparation for the next festival happens immediately after the current one is over.

“Picking the layout of the site, working with downtown merchants, booking equipment and financials all have to be planned out,” Lahanas said.

Setup for the venue took days, with crews shutting down city roads before May 17 to prepare.

In addition to planning the logistics, the city must also decide which artists will attend.

A big part of the planning process involves selecting artists to showcase. The festival is a “juried art show” which means every vendor has been hand-picked by a panel from the East Lansing Art Festival.

The artists must fill out an application form with credentials, as well as sample art pieces they have made. Those applications are then reviewed by a board where they are ultimately chosen. "(Having the juried show) allows residents to be around professional art. We feature high quality art from true artists,” Lahanas said.

This distinction separates the art festival from others where anyone can purchase a vendors pass if they have the money.

T he board also chooses “emerging artists” that can

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Monday Mostly Sunny High: 71° Low: 53°

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Wednesday Partly Cloudy High: 76° Low: 50°

attend and sell their art. The emerging artists are given the opportunity to show their art in an exhibit for the first time.

“It has been a really great learning experience for me ...

I have sold some small pieces as well, so that is nice,” Lansing artist Matthew Holben said. For Holben, the show allowed him to get a public opinion on his art — allowing him to fine-tune his craft for potential customers.

“I would highly consider doing another festival after this. It was a lot of work, but I think the payoff will be definitely worth it,” Holben said.

Community unison For the college town of East Lansing, summer is usually associated with emptiness.

With college students back at home, the life in downtown East Lansing is weakened.

However, during the art festival the city is revived by a rush of local citizens as well as visitors.

“The demographics change and the local people come to the city,” Trisha Riley, owner of the local restaurant Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub, said. Riley says the festival is a big time for business.

“It’s kind of a lull right now, but today is always a good day for us. It’s always busy,” Riley said. The restaurant featured specials on “local favorites” specifically for festival goers.

One East Lansing resident said that for her the art festival has become a personal tradition.

“I’ve been to maybe 10 or 15 art festivals,” East Lansing resident Debra Macarty said.

Macarty said the variety of art in the festival keeps her coming back year after year.

Embracing the local community is a big part of the Art Festival, but it also gives the city a chance to host outsiders.

“I think there are a lot of people who are coming here from outside of the town. I have overheard people here saying they are from Ohio and even Indiana,” Macarty said.

With the merging of city, business, locals and visitors — the East Lansing Art Festival gives the city an opportunity to work together and create a memorable weekend of not only art, but life.

“The festival is very energizing for the downtown. I’ve lived here my whole life and I can tell you that the festival rejuvenates East Lansing.

If they could have a festival every weekend I would love it,” Riley said.

VOL . 104 | NO. 242

Index Campus+city 3+5 Opinion 4 Sports+features 6 Classifieds 5

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Corrections If you notice an error, please contact Managing Editor Simon Schuster at (517) 432-3070 or by email at feedback@statenews.com. nn

editorial staff (517) 432-3070 Editor in chief Omari Sankofa II managing editor Simon Schuster Co-Design editors Haley Kluge Florian Cherdron PHOTO EDITOR Danyelle Morrow Opinion editor Emily Jenks Copy Chief Celeste Bott n n

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Continued SpartyPark will allow freshmen to park off-campus next year MSU junior finds solution for freshmen to have cars on campus

By Casey Holland cholland@statenewscom The State News nn

When Ben Myers first came to MSU as a freshman, not having his car on campus with him was a struggle.

He especially hated the commute his mother had to make to bring him home for a weekend — she would spend four hours driving to campus and four hours taking him back home.

Now an economics junior, Myers has found a solution for freshmen who want to have their cars with them during their first year of college.

He leased a parking lot near campus, deeming it SpartyPark, where freshmen can park their cars throughout the 20142015 school year.

The lot is located at 3165 E. Michigan Ave. and sits about a quarter mile away from the Brody Neighborhood dorms.

Incoming freshmen can register at the SpartyPark website. After paying $399, students receive a permit to park in the lot from August 1, 2014 to May 15, 2015.

S e n at e

Wage

New minimum wage bill would increase minimum wage yearly after 2017 to match inflation from page one

to decide on raising Michigan’s minimum wage to $10.10 for all employees, tipped or not.

The ballot initiative, spearheaded by interest g roup Raise Michigan, has garnered more than the 250,000 signatures needed from registered voters who want the measure either approved by the legislature or placed on the November ballot.

But if the legislation is enacted, the initiative would be rendered void because it refers to Michigan’s current minimum wage law.

Danielle Atkinson, a member of Raise Michigan, said the Senate passed the bill with the intention of curbing further minimum wage hikes brought about by voters.

“We don’t believe this bill was about minimum wage, we believe it was about killing our initiative,” Atkinson said.

The bill, introduced May 8 by Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, initial-

“As a freshman, not having a car inspired the idea,” he said. “But also as an entrepreneur, you’re always thinking about what you can do to make society better. I saw this problem and wanted to make things better.”

Myers said the idea came to him around eight months ago. He then approached Paul Jaques, the director of student and community engagement at Spartan Innovations.

Jaques brought him the motivation he needed, and Myers then put his efforts into calling various lots and finding a suitable property close to campus.

“I helped in the beginning with him asking how to set everything up, how to take in money, just the basics of business,” Jaques said. “When he first brought the idea to me, I thought it sounded great. Having space off campus to park is a really great idea.”

Media a nd i n for mat ion

“As an entrepreneur, you’re always looking for ways to make society better. ” Ben Meyers, Economics

ly proposed to increase wages by $0.75 an hour for regular employees and $0.28 an hour for tipped employees.

But after compromises made among Democrats and Republicans, a substitute bill passed with minimum wage rates that would gradually rise every year until 2017, when it reaches $9.20.

The ballot initiative would similarly increase wages steadily until 2017, but at a higher rate to result in a $10.10 hourly wage.

Each year after, the wage would rise to match inflation.

In the Senate bill, after 2017 Michigan’s minimum wage would continue to rise once per year at a rate tied to the changes in prices of goods and services, with a wage increase cap of four percent.

Don Grimes, senior research specialist in economics at the University of Michigan, said he is skeptical that raising Michigan’s minimum wage is anything more than a political stunt to reign in votes for the 2014 elections.

Grimes said the beneficial aspect of the proposed legislation is that tying future minimum wage increases to the changes in price will take the wage debate out of the political realm.

Bob McCann, spokesman for Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing, said although the bill is not per-

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fect, it is in the best interest of workers.

“In its original form, SB 934 provided a minimal, one-time increase to the state’s minimum wage that was more about pandering and political maneuvering than lifting full-time workers out of poverty,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Michigan’s minimum wage workers deserve solutions from their elected officials, not political games, and

MSU graduate accepted into presidential fellows program A veteran of the Iraq War and recent MSU Honors College graduate was accepted into the Presidential Fellows Program. Kent Dell hails f rom Fowler, Mich. and became MSU’s 8th Presidential Fellows Program winner.

The program focuses on promoting leadership and preserving the president’s historic memory.

The year-long chance to study the U.S. presidency is offered to a maximum of 75 students in undergraduate and graduate programs within the nation’s leading universities.

Dell served as a research assistant MSU Honors College Dean Cynthia JacksonElmoore. His work with the dean allowed him to spend time on a project which examined how policy making decisions are made when the influence of institutions and demographics on legislator’s use of information sources are factored in.

After graduating with a degree in public policy in May, Dell is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy through the Department of Political Science within the College of Social Science.

I’m pleased we were able to deliver that to them today. This bill is substantially better than the bill introduced and provides a meaningful raise to countless workers that will continue into the future, and I am proud of that.”

McCann said he is optimistic the substitute bill will pass the House without any changes and go onto Gov. Rick Snyder for issuance.

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junior David Park designed the SpartyPark webpage and acts as the company’s branding consultant. He said he was surprised the idea had never been done before and believes it gives freshmen the opportunity to choose their freedom.

If all goes well, Myers hopes to keep SpartyPark around even after he graduates. Right now, he simply hopes to get the word out and let others know his business is out there.

“I put my life savings into this company, so it’s really risky, but I’m really passionate about helping these freshmen,” Myers said. “I know the transition from high school to college can be hard. ... I’m doing this for them. I know what it’s like to be cooped up in the dorms, and I want to give them the freedom to do what they need.”

E d itor ’s Note: Me d i a and information junior David Park was originally and erroneously named in the article as Dav id Hall. The address was of the business was also changed to reflect junior the correct location on Michigan Avenue.

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managing Editor Simon Schuster, sschuster@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075

East Lansing Art Festival a platform for local artists

By Meagan Beck

painting is just a hobby or a new career.

Holben decided to particiThe State News pate in the festival after hearWith more than 180 artists ing about it from the artist he in attendance, the East Lansing shares a studio with, who took Art Festival helps many artists part in the festival in 2010.

Before showcasing in the get their name and craft out to festival, artists are required to the public.

And that’s the specific goal submit four pieces to be judged.

The East Lansing Art Festifor the “New and Emerging” artists tent, where seven art- val Board of Directors chooses ists show off their craft and an experienced panel of judges based on their knowledge of promote their name.

East Lansing resident Mason art, and then the judges evaluate each applicant Taylor, who’s work based on their area of was featured, said expertise. he was unprepared Holben said art was on the first day, but one of his hobbies in received good feedhigh school, but he’s back from festival picked it up again in attendees.

Being the past few years.

“I got a lot of leads; around all In the beginning of there’s a few people these great May, he said he began that want to put me prepa r i ng for t he in their gallery,” Tay- artists is inspiring.” show by pricing his lor said. paintings and gatherFor MSU alumnus ing the supplies necMat t hew Holben, Mason essary to help display his success at the Taylor, festival might help East Lansing the art.

Holben described him decide whether artist mbeck@statenews.com nn

“

Hayden Fennoy/The State News

Lansing resident Matthew Holben shares his art with a customer on Sunday, on Albert St., in front of Hopcat. This festival allowed artists to display art in many different mediums, along with other wares.

his art as abstract and said his work is color-based, drawing inspiration from the work of abstract painter Gerhard Richter.

Holben said the festival helped him learn what people like and which price points are effective.

“A lot of small children seem to like bright colors, so I get a lot of kids and parents in here and I can sometimes talk parents into buying stuff, which is nice,” Holben said.

Holben’s brother Ethan, a Brooklyn, N.Y., resident, said he and his brother grew up artis-

tically inclined.

“Matt has been making artwork as long as I can remember through all sorts of mediums,” Ethan Holben said. “I think seeing him here, he’s really crystallized what he’s doing as far as discovering oil and creating this texture and pattern based

artwork.”

Taylor said being a part of the festival as an emerging artist helped him gain exposure in the community and motivated him to continue honing his craft.

“Being around all these great artists is inspiring,” Taylor said.

police

After shootings, Spotty Campus alert system prompts questions

By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com The State News nn

Two shootings on May 12 left MSU students looking to Twitter and other social media websites for updates and safety information when the MSU Alert system did not reach all students.

MSU Spokesman Jason Cody said the discrepancy was caused by the alert system purging old student information and replacing it with current student information.

The alert sysNolff tem replaces past student information every semester on the first day of class.

Cody said the university is working on a way to make the update process smoother.

“We are working on ways to close that gap because we are not happy with the current transition,” Cody said. “It is always important to remember, though, no alert system is perfect due to the constraints of technology. The goal of our alerts is to ensure as many people as possible know about a situation and make sure their fellow Spartans know as well.”

Before the alleged shooter was apprehended by police, many buildings on campus halted activities. Brody Square employees corralled students and other faculty members into a storage facility closet after one of them had received the alert.

Other departments took to Twitter to alert students about which buildings were shut down.

“On Monday, some MSU departments incorrectly put out information regarding what was going on,” Cody said. “However, those departments were simply trying to do what they thought was best in the interests of safety. While we do not direct units or departments to cease operations, if those units feel that is a safe call, they may do so.”

Although Cody said the alert was sent out at approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 12, many students did not get an alert at all.

Graduate student Charles Loelius lives a few blocks away from Coolidge Road, where the second shooting and a standoff

with police took place.

Loelius said he heard ambulance sirens around 11 a.m., but never received any information from MSU, despite being an enrolled student signed up for the alerts and being on MSU payroll.

He said he was scared and saddened once he found out what happened and was a little angry he didn’t receive an alert for that day’s shootings, even though he received alerts for other shooter scares that happened earlier this year.

“I think they’re spending too much time explaining why their system isn’t perfect,” Leolius said. “I think they should be spending more time making steps to ensure their alert system is working properly.”

Although MSU advised oncampus buildings to secure in place or evacuate if they felt it necessary to do so on May 12, every off-campus shooter situation is treated differently.

During the shooting on the night of Friday, January 31 that resulted in the death of MSU student Dominique Nolff, MSU did not advise buildings to secure in place or evacuate.

Even though the shooting occurred on the 200 block of Cedar Street and was considerably closer to campus residence halls than the May 12 shootings, MSU police did not send out an alert until nearly two hours and 20 minutes after the shooting was reported.

At the time, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said police had waited until they had all the correct information to send out an alert.

“Had there been an active shooter on campus, we would have alerted students since that would be an immediate threat,” McGlothian-Taylor said in a previous interview with The State News.

McGlothian-Taylor was out of the office throughout much of last week and could not be reached for further comment.

Capt. Penny Fischer, an emergency manager for the MSU Police Department who oversees the MSU Alert system, was also out of her office last week and did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Cody said when an off-campus shooting does occur, MSU police generally rely on what police department is handling

the situation for updates and threat information.

“In the Cedar Village incident, MSU police were notified

by East Lansing police as that situation was developing that there was not a threat to cam-

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pus. Thus, only a notification was sent and not an alert,” Cody said. “This incident was seen as a good example of how we worked on messaging together.”

Staff reporter Derek Gartee contributed to this article.

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Crossword

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

TASTY SUBS

SPEEDY DELIVERY! Across

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1 Omega’s opposite 6 Hundred Acre Wood bear 10 “And another thing ...”

14 Fable conclusion 15 With 16-Across, money to buy a car 16 See 15-Across 17 Oust 18 Glasgow native 19 Checkers or chess, e.g.

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Opinion

Featured blog

o p i n i o n c o lu m n

Expensive new pill makes bounds in HIV prevention

body image issues come from media, industry

“If it is possible slow or stop the increase of the infected population, there’s no doubt that efforts should be made to do everything possible to bring that goal to fruition.

The downside? Expense.”

S

— Sierra Beauty is confidence in yourself, not disdain ple wearing them won’t even eat a for others.

No, models used by the mass media don’t bowl of Froot Loops accurately represent the rest of the population. for fear of gaining Only five percent of American women natural- weight. What do they care? After ly have bodies presented as “ideal” Opinion editor all, to them, by the media. The average Amerimodels are just can woman is 5’4” and 140 lbs; the glorified, dolled-up average American model is 5’11 and clothes hangers. weighs 117 lbs. Obviously, those Even worse, for some women are a far cry from the norm. bizarre reason, some tall and But they’re still women. Real, livbeautiful women still aren’t good ing women. Adriana Lima, Gisele enough. Robyn Lawley is a 6’2” Bündchen, Miranda Kerr and Kate plus-sized model from Australia.

Moss probably wake up every mornEmily jenks The weird part? She’s a size 12 — ing with crust in their eyes and ejenks@statenews.com perfectly normal for someone her drool on their pillows. They probheight. Agencies turned her down, ably pick their noses. They likely apply mascara with their mouths wide open calling her healthy figure too fat. If Lawley, a stunning and successful woman is considered like every girl does.

They deal with the same insecurities as the plus-sized at size 12, what are other women suprest of us — arguably even to a greater degree, posed to think of themselves? It is ridiculous.

Many images we see of “perfect” women are since their livelihood depends entirely on how they look. Models often starve themselves on photoshopped. The women pictured on maga diet of coffee and cigarettes to look skinny azines and the Internet don’t actually look like that. What we’re shown is the product of enough for their next gig.

No one should have to feel like they need to hours of prepping with makeup, specific camdo that to themselves to be accepted. It isn’t era angles, and meticulous image editing.

The industry is all sorts of screwed up, and their fault that moguls in the fashion industry believe clothes only look good when the peo- there’s not much we can do about it. Despite

hort. Tall. Fat. Skinny. Young. Old. White. Black.

These are just eight words of thousands that are supposed to define who we are.

Across the world, young girls look at photoshopped images of models all with the same long, thin figures and ask themselves why their bodies don’t look like that. After all, that’s how women are “supposed” to look.

Coming from a tall girl who gets asked if I model just about every time I go out in public, that expectation is wrong. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t model conventionally because I would be considered plus-sized by most designers. No one should feel like they have to look a certain way because that’s how the girl on the cover of Vogue looks.

In an attempt to retaliate against the fashion industry’s canonization of tall, skinny women, there have been dozens of campaigns that call those models unnatural because real women aren’t tall and skinny. Real women are supposed to have curves, not be rail-thin, they say.

And that’s wrong too.

The saying that “real women” should be displayed on magazine covers or on runways succeeds only in objectifying the women who are already there.

Lay, State News reporter Read the rest online at statenews.com/blog.

magazines like Verily, which doesn’t photoshop any of its models and encourages women to be confident in themselves, there are plenty of companies launching body image campaigns not to promote self-confidence, but to make money and get good press for being a progressive company.

All women are flawed, in one way or another, even with Photoshop. And that’s what makes us unique. Perfection isn’t real, but beauty is, and there’s something beautiful about everyone.

We are so much more than tall or short, fat or skinny, young or old, white or black. As soon as we all recognize that, girls across the world can stop starving themselves to fit an unrealistic ideal and women of all shapes and sizes can feel confident with their bodies.

Emily Jenks is the Opinion Editor at The State News. Reach her at ejenks@statenews.com.

Comments from readers nn

“Alleged killer has MSU and East Lansing ties” Editorial cartoonist

We can all agree that this was a horrible thing. There is another possibility to consider though.

If he was battling inner demons and wasn’t mentally ill, could he have taken something that caused him to act on irrational thoughts? Drugs/alcohol can cause a person’s demeanor to change. Lot’s of questions and no real answers right now. Just throwing that out there.

Lexi, May 16

Brandon Hankins bhankins@statenews.com

With Michigan’s radical laws that allow anyone to have a gun and take it anywhere it’s no surprise that poor people like Ricard are becoming involved in gun violance. We need to make a stand to get guns out of our communities!

Marcia, in response to Gold586, May 16

To share your thoughts on this story or any other stories, visit statenews.com.

Just so you know JUST SO YOU KNOW monday’s poll results

o p i n i o n c o lu m n

No 30% None 74% 40%

One 23%

Are you taking online classes this summer?

33% 26% 0

5

10

15

20 25 30 PERCENT

35

40

Yes No I don’t take any classes at MSU Total votes: 57 as of 5 p.m. Sunday

Today’s state news poll Did you go to the East Lansing Art Festival?

To vote, visit 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 Emily Jenks 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

Listen to, don’t just hear, others

W

hen f inals we e k e n d ed, I attended MSU ’s LeaderShape program with 49 other MSU students. During the week-long retreat, we got to learn about the fundamentals of working with people and making a difference.

Whether it was shaping our visions or discovering our preferred approach to obstacles, we all came back knowing something we could do to improve ourselves. At one of the lectures, the program went over something simple that, for a long time now, I had been unknowingly struggling with — listening.

Now, I know when people hear the word “listening,” they must think I’m talking about hearing someone else in a conversation, but “hearing” and “listening” are two fundamentally different things. When you hear someone, you’re just taking in the ideas people are conveying while busily thinking of a response.

While actively listening, the time normally spent thinking of a response is instead used in a much more considerate manner — actually listening to and processing what the person is saying. Even though it’s incredibly easy for people to make assumptions during a conversation and jump to a conclusion with their response, it’s

guest columnist

henry pan panhenry@msu.edu

better to take the time to practice active listening and try to fully understand another person’s viewpoint. For me, I have always run into that trap of making assumptions.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve almost gotten used to the notion that I know what’s going on during a conversation and having an idea of whatever situation is being discussed. However, once I began practicing active listening, I began to realize that this wasn’t the case. The very reason I had been thinking this way is because I was unintentionally perpetuating conversations to lead that way.

Instead of taking the time to understand what the person was saying and let them finish their thought, I was too busy thinking about my next response in the conversation. As a result, I directed the flow of the conversation, rather than keeping it open and allowing people to fully express what they were talking about. It was this realization that made me mark “active listening” on the top of my list of things to improve about myself. Even though I still have a long way to go,

I’m glad I caught this problem before it really got out of hand.

I’m sure many people can relate to those experiences when they talked to older people as a kid and those older people didn’t really listen to what they had to say.

For many of us, those people were our parents. You’d have a good idea or a great suggestion but t he adult was too busy undermining you because of your age or inexperience.

T hey had already been down that road after all, so what more could you have to offer? I had always wondered why older people treated younger people with ignorance even if it seemed like t he y ou n ge r ge ne r at ion was on the edge of a breakthrough. After all, a lot of technology and social media today wouldn’t be possible if nobody listened to the fresh ideas of a younger generation.

After LeaderShape, I began to realize that this phenomenon was due to a lack of active listening.

So, while everyone is out enjoy ing t he sum mer by the poolside, take the time to check your active listening skills. For me, that was something that I thought I was practicing but actually wasn’t. Maybe if people took the time to simply “listen” to others rather than “hear” them, there would be a lot more understanding and less confusion in the world.

Henr y Pan is a chemical engineering sophomore. Reach him at panhenry@msu.edu.

Campus+city

stat e ne ws.co m | T he Stat e N ews | mo n day, M ay 19, 2014 |

5

Community Music School hosts spring finale

By Sierra Lay slay@statenews.com The State News nn

Eight-year-old Cece Harison skipped to the front of the MSU Community Music School’s performance hall and readied her cello to play her chosen piece, “The Happy Farmer” by Robert Schumann. She sat, bow poised above the strings of an instrument more than half her size and waited for her accompaniment to begin.

The MSU Community Music School hosted their final AllSchool Recital of the spring semester Saturday. The recitalists spanned generations with performers as young as six years old sharing the bill with adults.

The recital featured performers demonstrating their skills on the piano, flute, trombone, violin and cello.

Debra Hobert, an accompanying pianist and piano instructor at the school, said she has taught students from ages five through 93.

Hobert played accompaniments for several of the performers at the recital. She said she works to help students garner a love of music-making that they will have their entire lives. "(The goal) is not to win competitions — it’s not to get their name out there and be well known,” Hobert said. “I’d rather have them learn to play the piano for their own enjoyment ... to use in the community themselves.”

Bassoon instructor and host of the event Cindy Duda said the school offers music for every age, and presents programs such as music therapy for peo-

F e s t i va l

MSU Arts and Crafts Show lauds 50 years

By Colleen Otte cotte@statenews.com The State News nn

Last weekend, an MSU tradition celebrated its birthday.

The MSU Arts and Crafts Show, sponsored by the University Activities Board, turned 50 last weekend.

ple in any situation.

“We want everyone involved in music in some way,” the MSU alumna said. “Even some moms come before their children are even born to expose their children to music.”

Recitals involving the entire school provide students with a c hance to hear inst r uments that are not familiar to them in one place during one performance.

The MSU Community Music School frequently partners with MSU’s College of Music to create a mix of East Lansing community members and MSU students.

“It’s an opportunity for other students to hear other instruments (and) other voices,” Duda said. “It gives us an opportunity to bring the community together in a different way.”

Some MSU students become teachers at the school to pass their knowledge on to the school’s variety of students.

MSU alumnus and trombone instructor Steven Kandow began teaching private lessons at the MSU Community Music School three years ago. One of his students performed at the recital, a trombone player he instructed this past semester as a senior at MSU. Kandow said he chose to recycle his knowledge back into the communities of East Lansing and MSU because he felt obligated to do his part to keep the arts alive.

“I think one of the best things you can do with knowledge is transmit and transfer it,” Kandow said. “It’s always impressive to see what other teachers here are doing with their students.”

This year it featured returning favorites and new exhibitors selling an eclectic array of jewelry, paintings, clothing and more.

UAB graduate assistant Lauren Koppel said this year’s show boasted 368 booth spaces housing 336 vendors. Adapting to recent changes on campus has allowed volunteers to expand the show.

“With Morrill Hall no longer being there, we were able to add more booth spaces, so we’ve increased our vendor amount,” Koppel said.

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Howell, Mich., resident Maddy Niblock, 13, performs with St. Johns, Mich., resident Tess Miller during “An All-School Recital” on Saturday in the Performance Hall of the MSU Community Music School.

The recital featured various instruments and age ranges.

East Lansing resident Cece Harrison, 8, performs “The Happy Farmer” on the cello during “An All-School Recital” on Saturday, in the Performance Hall of the MSU Community Music School.

Harrion was the only cellist to perform during the recital.

More online …

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

Koppel said vendors come from all across the country.

To accommodate them, UAB meets with Infrastructure Planning and Facilities at the very beginning of the year, Koppel said. She said IPF predicts where they will be able to put booths, and then UAB members measure out booths to fit ten-foot by ten-foot frames.

Koppel said they typically have a running wait list, and vendors choose their booth space upon acceptance. Beginning at 6:30 on Friday, roads were closed and traffic was

being redirected for the vendors’ loading process.

“We’re really happy with the turnout,” Koppel said. “Especially because it’s the 50th annual — I think that has brought in a lot of community members. Also, having the East Lansing Art Show across the street ... makes for a really good cross-publicity and brings in a good crowd.”

She said while the East Lansing Art Festival and MSU Crafts Show do not coordinate logistics together, they are concurrently planned so that they can be mutually publicized.

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AVAIL AUG ‘14 Studio + 1 bdrm apartments.

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Aries (march 21-April 19) Today is a 6 — Today and tomorrow make a fun party phase. You have everything you need. Play with your friends. Schedule meetings. Delay fantasies, and take on simple, practical objectives. Get involved in a group project. Share resources as you amplify each other’s efforts.

Celebrate! taurus (April 20-may 20) Today is a 7 — Compete for new opportunities today and tomorrow.

Stay attentive, especially when the spotlight’s shining. Provide great service with respect. There’s more money coming in, so add to savings. Travel looks good. Plan alternate routes. What you know in your heart is accurate. gemini (may 21-June 20) Today is a 7 — Today and tomorrow become an expansion phase. Review big picture plans, and get everyone up to speed. An educational or romantic adventure calls. Craft a fun itinerary. Things fall into place.

An older dream seems more attainable. Look for opportunities to collaborate and share expenses.

Libra (sept. 23-oct. 22) Today is a 7 — Things seem easier, as you enter a romantic phase today and tomorrow. Someone special encourages you to take on a new creative challenge. Replenish supplies and reserves first. Consult an expert for practical advice. Playful games with family and loved ones lighten your heart. scorpio (oct. 23-nov. 21) Today is a 7 — Get into practical domesticity today and tomorrow. Home comforts sing to you. Use what you have to achieve a dream. Play an active role in a group, to get farther. Revamp your household infrastructure to support your latest passion. Prepare the place for a party. sagittarius (nov. 22-dec. 21) Today is an 8 — A solution to an old problem is becoming obvious. Ask a person who owes you a favor to help. Your powers of concentration seem extra keen today and tomorrow. You retain information exceptionally well. Study and explore. A new educational phase begins.

cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is an 8 — Make plans and commitments with a person you greatly admire. Discuss shared finances.

Put away provisions for the future.

Tackle detailed chores today and tomorrow, especially with paperwork, insurance, taxes and banking. Study options and work out a compromise. Get farther together.

capricorn (dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is an 8 — These next two days could get quite profitable. You could also be tempted to a spending spree. Beauty need not be the most expensive choice. Use your imagination to find simple substitutes for costly supplies. Stick to the budget, and pour on the steam at work.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is an 8 — Celebrate with someone you love. Your partner is a big help today and tomorrow, and your collaboration amplifies individual power. You can borrow what you need. Streamline your routine.

Relax, and get into conversation about what it will take, and who will do what.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8 — Backstage scheming finds a way to save the show. Today and tomorrow serve up a confident phase of innovation and increased authority. Explore the neighborhood and discover new resources.

Take time just for yourself. Soak up information. Prepare to launch your latest big thing.

Virgo (Aug. 23-sept. 22) Today is an 8 — The workload seems more intense today and tomorrow. Creativity bubbles, and the ideas keep coming. Concentrate to tackle items one by one. It can get quite profitable. A new project competes with older ones for your attention. Keep to your schedule, and get support if necessary.

pisces (feb. 19-march 20) Today is an 8 — You’re under pressure regarding deadlines for the next couple of days. Allow time for private meditation, as much as possible. Contemplate your next move. There’s money coming in, and ideas flowing back and forth.

Apply logic. Get a few new tools.

Take notes.

6 Sports+Features | Th e State Ne ws | m onday, May 19, 2014 | state n e ws.com

St. Johns, Mich., resident Bethany Tucker sits on the bench with her teammates during the bout against the Flint City Derby Girls on Saturday at Court One Training Center, 7868 Old M-78, in East Lansing. Anyone 18 and older can join the team. photos by corey damocles/the state news

Okemos resident Kim Cedilla assists her teammates in blocking the Flint City Derby Girls during the bout Saturday, at Court One Training Center in East Lansing. The Flint City Derby Girls defeated the Mitten Mavens, 189-181.

roller derby fosters camaraderie between teams and teammates

By Casey Holland cholland@statenews.com The State News

M

nn

SU alumna Robyn Parrott, known to her teammates as “Isahella Spawn,” said it was the movie “Whip It” that encouraged her to try roller derby.

After searching for teams in Lansing, she took her mom’s skates out of her closet and went to the team’s first open recruitment of the season.

“I had an whole new family all of a sudden,” she said. “The camaraderie and the people you meet are my favorite part, and not even just on the Lansing team. It’s a really big community, and everyone takes care of each other.”

Her team, the Lansing Mitten Mavens, is part of the Lansing Capital Roller Derby League. They faced off against the Flint City Derby Girls for the “Bashaversary” bout at the Court One Training Center in Haslett on Saturday in celebration of the league’s fourth anniversary.

Each match, East Lansing resident Lauren Kusler shoves her way

through masses of limbs and skates that form walls on the rink in front of her. Known as “Clawed Monet” to her roller derby teammates, the star on her helmet signifies it’s her job to break through.

Kusler’s job as a jammer is to skate past the opposing team’s four blockers to score points. While the blockers form walls to hold Kusler back, she must swiftly skate around them to avoid being knocked to the ground or pushed out of bounds.

“The camaraderie and the people you meet are my favorite part, and not even just on the Lansing team.”

Robyn Parrott, Lansing Michigan Mavens Player

The sport is fast-paced and doesn’t stop — except for the few seconds when team members switch positions during jams.

Five members of each team are on the court, one jammer and four

blockers. The jammer, known by the star on their helmet, is locked in a race with the opposing team’s jammer to pass as many blockers as possible. The more blockers they pass during the jam period, the more points they score for their team.

While the Lansing Mitten Mavens held the lead for the first half of the hour-long bout, the Flint City Derby Girls made a comeback during the second half. At the end of the bout, the Flint City Derby Girls won, 189-181.

But there was no resentment when the final scores were announced — team members high-fived and hugged each member of the team that MSU alumna and team captain Ali Jahr said is their “best friend team.”

“Roller derby is a big family,” Kusler said. “It’s a bunch of girls who may or may not have played sports in high school. They have a lot of camaraderie and love to skate together and have fun.”

The Bashaversary celebrated the Lansing Mitten Mavens’s fourth year as a roller derby team. Anyone 18 and older can join the team, and their season is set to continue until October.

East Lansing resident and alumna Jackie Cosner retrieves eggs from her chicken coop Saturday, in the backyard of her home. In addition to the four chickens, the family also grows potatoes, hops, and various herbs. danyelle morrow/the state news

Bath, Mich., resident Julie Cottonreed laps the Flint City Derby Girls during the bout Saturday, at Court One Training Center, 7868 Old M-78, in East Lansing. The Mavens were celebrating their fourth year as a roller derby team.

Changes to farm act could affect backyard farmers Small-scale farmers are no longer protected from local ordinances

dy Zeilinger argues stripping residential-area farmers of the protections will subject them to inflexible local ordinances.

“It’s a fundamental right to have a choice in how you provide for your family and for your friends and your neighBy Michael Kransz bors,” Zeilinger said. “We’re trying to correct these food mkransz@statenews.com deserts that we see in large The State News urban cities and even in the Farmers and agriculture suburbs your only source of officials testified before the food is the local grocery store Michigan Senate Agriculture that may or may not carry the Committee on Thursday about best products.”

The Right to Farm Act was recent changes to Michigan’s Right to Farm Act, which pre- drafted in 1981 to protect rural viously protected urban farm- farmers from lawsuits stemming ers’ livestock from being con- from nuisance complaints from urban residents moving into the sidered nuisances. country. Farmers are proThe changes, adopttected under the act ed earlier this year if they follow a b y t he M ic h i series of guideg a n D e p a r tlines k now n ment of Agrias the Generculture and ally Accepted Rural DevelAgriculturopment, or al ManageMDARD, ment Practiccategorizes es, which the those living MDARD Chief deputy director recent changes w it h i n one affect. eighth of a mile MDARD Chief from 13 or more Deput y Direc tor houses as hav ing Gordon Wenk said many property unsuitable for municipalities were confused maintaining livestock.

Before the changes, those about whether local government living in residential areas were trumped Right to Farm protecloosely protected by Right to tions for those maintaining liveFarm and could often main- stock in residential areas.

Wenk said these changes are tain livestock regardless of a meant to give local governcity’s ordinance.

M ic h iga n Sm a l l Fa r m s ments clarity and allow them Council Vice President Ran- to tailor their own livestock nn

“

Let’s allow the local communities make those decisions. ”

—Gordon Wenk,

ordinances to their unique situations.

“Let’s allow the local communities to make those decisions around what makes sense for their local communities and what the neighbors want,” Wenk said.

In East Lansing, residents can maintain up to four laying hens in their backyard, so long as they obtain a permit.

East Lansing residents Jackie Cosner and Ener Almanza keep four laying hens in their backyard, along with gardens in the front and back to provide food for family and friends and to sell to the community.

Almanza said urban farming not only cuts down on grocery bills but it also provides their household with a buffer from turbulence in the food market.

“In 2009 and 2010, we had drastic increases in food prices across the world and we didn’t really feel any of that, because we were growing our own food during the season and canning,” he said.

As droughts, such as the one in California, and other acts of nature potentially limit the food supply and increase food prices, Almanza said many will turn to their backyards for food.

“I think we’re going to have to go away from what the conventional thought is, that we have places and destinations for growing food,” he said.

“We’re going to have to go back to farming our backyard.”

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