Thursday 7/30/15

State News The

Woody’s is downtown E.L.’s latest closure The popular bar announced earlier this week that it would be closing for good.

To see photo and video of the final day of business, visit statenews.com

Ensuring diversity Since the 2006 state ban on public universities taking race, ethnicity and gender into account during the admissions process, MSU has used other ways of keeping campus diverse. SEE PAGE 6

Students hold sleep-out to guard Sandra Bland Memorial “We gathered around and signed our names to the Rock in loving memory of her name. Our fight as African Americans, as humans, is by far not over. Stories such as Sandra Bland’s must continue to be told, we must continue to say her name because her story has become our story, has become apart of our written history.”

SEE PAGE 5 T HU R S DAY, JULY 30, 2 015

@THESNEWS

STAT ENEWS .COM

Opinion

BY DEON HOWARD C A R TO O N

O P I N I O N P O LL W E D N E S DAY ’ S R E S U LT S

Will you read Harper Lee’s new novel, “Go Set a Watchman?”

34%—Yes, I loved “To Kill a Mockingbird so I have to read it!

66%—No, I will not read it because I love the story line of “To Kill a Mockingbird and I don’t want anything to alter my opinion.

TOTAL VOTES: 83 AS OF 12 P.M. WEDNESDAY

TOP CASH

FOR YOUR BOOKS EVERYDAY!

Fall Books Now Available!

Hours

Mon-Fri 9-6 | Sat 10-5 | Sun 12-5

We Accept Spartan Cash

Your Used Books Headquarters 421 E. Grand River, East Lansing

2

THE STATE N E WS

Rachel Fradette Opinion editor opinion@statenews.com @thesnewsopinion

COLUMN: The ignored immigrant story Not surprisingly, the contentious issue of immigration has already found its way into the stump speeches for presidential campaigns. A few weeks ago, Republican candidate Donald Trump made headlines with his remarks on immigration that seemed to hit a national nerve and spark quite a controversy. As usual though, one perspective I have yet to hear in the ongoing immigration debate is my own. My family’s own immigration story, which I know applies to a plethora of others, is conspicuously absent from the immigration equation.

Both my parents are originally from India and have presided in the States for many years as registered, legal immigrants. My sister and I were born here.

I never really discussed much about my Indian heritage with my friends or community, though I was well aware that many assumed my parents left India to forge a better life for themselves. Assumptions only furthered by images and notions of what India was like from media such as “Slumdog Millionaire” no doubt; that my family must have been “slumming” it in India. I’ve had to deal with this wrong assumption for many years now.

While yes, my dad came over for higher education, he did so because he wanted to carve his own path and become successful in his own right. He did not want to stay in India and ride the coattails of family connections or the glitz our family name held there. My dad ended up being saddled with student loans, and once they were paid off, was already settled in the States and had started his career, which is why he didn’t return.

An important point in our family’s narrative, however, is that my dad came to the U.S. because he wanted to carve his own path and find success through his own right and work, not just from family connections. These are values and concepts he and my mom have instilled in both me and my sister. On my dad’s side we’re businessmen and textile factory owners. My grandfather on my mom’s side was the Secretary of the Fertilizer Corporation of India, as well as a member of the National Industrial Management Pool of India (positions which allowed my mom to visit India’s equivalent of the White House, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, while my grandfather conducted business). My grandmother on my mom’s side was a master’s-level journalist and author. She was an editor at the National Book Trust of India. I list these because I have had conversations with other MSU students who have told me that my grandmother must not have had running water or a flushable toilet since she lived in India. Not only does my family over there have the miracles of modern technology, they also had careers.

My mom conveyed to me the time she applied for a Visitor Visa after graduating high school in India. In normal situations, the Indian government would be hesitant to grant a Visitor Visa to a person her age and at her position in life for fear that the individual would settle in the United States and not return to India. My mom was visiting two uncles who resided in the States (one of whom was a nuclear physicist). Her father was well known at the consulate, and they granted my moth-

er a Visitor Visa very quickly, humorously saying she would be back quickly given the lifestyle and family she was leaving.

As a whole, our country almost exclusively applies the term “immigrant” to the narratives of individuals who immigrate due to dire circumstances or religious plight to build a better live for themselves.

While I absolutely do not believe there is anything wrong or negative about those motivations, this is not always the case.

Thus was the case with my parents. My dad came to further his education, going on to pursue a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and an master’s degree in business administration.

My parents work very hard, and after many years only recently received their citizenship (a delay due to both raising and carting around my sister and I from various lessons to extracurricular endeavors for the past twenty-plus years). My parents did not come here looking for handouts. They came with degrees, ect.

I know this particular narrative is not only that of my family. Many others in my parents’ generation, especially from India, came to the U.S. for similar reasons, mainly higher education. People assume just because I have brown skin that my parents must have fled to the U.S. and made sacrifices, thus anything I accomplish should make them brim with pride.

While yes, my parents are proud of me, my family has a robust and rich heritage back in India.

Vikram Mandelia is an MSU senior and frequent columnist for The State News

EDITORIAL: Recycling changes a step forward for E.L. East Lansing, home to the Spartans who bleed green, but what has lacked over the years is in fact an appreciation of the green.

Walk into any apartment on Saturday night — beer cans, boxes and numerous recyclables flood the area. Fast forward to Sunday morning, The MSU Recycling Center is packed with students. Lines are long and the wait is congested.

The City of East Lansing has finally included boxboard and corrugated cardboard for curbside pick up, beginning in October 2015, after several years without The change is essential for the city’s environmental consciousness growth.

Boxboard and corrugated cardboard are what most types of beers are held in. A lot of beer is consumed in East Lan-

THURSDAY, JULY 3 0, 2 01 5

sing so why then is it just now available for curbside pick-up?

What stands out amongst the triumph is why it took so long to begin with for the city to make it easier on students — the easier it is the more likely students will recycle.

T he cur rent generation cares about the environment and their impact especially during college where environmental consciousness is taught in several university required classes.

Apartment complexes are where a large amount of students reside throughout the year, but East Lansing does not mandate recycling services for them. In order for students to actively participate in environmental change, they must first be given the opportunity.

Through adding boxboard

and corrugated cardboard curbside pickup, East Lansing has made an important step, however it took way too long for it to happen. The environment should not be placed on a back burner only to be brought up every few years, the conversation must continue.

The progress is beneficial, but more work needs to be done in order to make environmentally friendly aspects of city and campus life more applicable.

Today’s youth are mindful of the struggles the Earth has environmentally, a collaborative effort between students and the city will make East Lansing a cleaner, greener place to live.

East Lansing has fallen short of what major university’s partner cities need to be for them to call themselves a

green, environmentally friendly university.

Word of mouth will be what can set East Lansing apart, the students and East Lansing need to keep talking to one another about this issue. Communication back and forth about environmental woes and the lack of accessibility will eventually make East Lansing a beacon of green morale.

It’s time for the Spartans and East Lansing to really consider how much they love green.

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AJ Moser OPINION EDITOR Rachel Fradette STAFF REPRESENTATIVE Jessica Steeley

Contents

FREE SPARTAN

INSIDE

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to video chat with MSU supporters

Community reactions to the changing downtown of East Lansing

Catching up with MSU soccer coach Damon Rensing

PAGE 4

PAGE 9

PAGE 12

T-SHIRT ®

A construction worker scrapes away caulk from pedestal on top of the Capitol building on July 28.

From the ground to the rip of the dome is 267 feet, meaning that this worker is standing over 100 feet off of the ground. To see video of the restoration, see statenews.com.

PHOTO: CATHERINE FERLAND

“God has a plan for us all, and I put myself in a tough situation. I dug myself a hole, took the punishment and now it’s time to get back on track.”

W E E K LY N U M B E R

8

Public address towers have been installed on campus by MSU police.

See Statenews.com

VOL . 105 | NO. 154 CONTACT THE STATE NEWS (517) 432-3000 NEWSROOM/CORRECTIONS (517) 432-3070 feedback@statenews.com GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon (517) 432-3000 ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(517) 432-3010 ADVERTISING MANAGER Griffin Engel COLOPHON The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

MSU students who open a new MSUFCU account by August 31, 2015, will receive a free Spartan t-shirt.

Junior running back Delton Willilams on rejoining the football team following criminal charges. SEE PAGE 10.

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, weekly on Thursdays during the summer.

Subscription rates: $5 per semester on campus; $125 a year, $75 for one fall or spring semester, $60 for summer semester by mail anywhere in the continental United States. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community.

Additional copies $0.75 at the business office only.

State News Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation. Its current 990 tax form is available for review upon request at 435 E. Grand River Ave. during business hours.

THUR SDAY, JULY 30, 2015

EDITORIAL STAFF (517) 432-3070

Join today and save!

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AJ Moser

www.msufcu.org • 517-333-2424

CONTENT EDITOR Michael Kransz OPINION EDITOR Rachel Fradette COPY CHIEF Amber Parsell DESIGN EDITOR Margeaux Phillips

Federally insured

by NCUA

Campus Branch Locations MSU Union, 49 Abbot Rd., Rm. #108 523 E. Grand River Ave. 4825 E. Mt. Hope Rd. 3777 West Rd.

Copyright © 2015 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.

THE STAT E NE WS

3

New student t-shirt available while supplies last. First come, first served. MSU student must open a new account in order to receive free student t-shirt. Offer not valid for existing MSUFCU members. T-shirt will be mailed within 5-7 business days when new student account is opened online or over the phone.

News

Michael Kransz Content editor mkransz@statenews.com @thesnews

Woody’s Oasis Bar and Grill shuts down business

BY RYAN SQUANDA RSQUANDA@STATENEWS.COM

Add Woody’s Oasis Bar and Grill to the list of downtown East Lansing restaurants closing this summer.

Woody’s Oasis manager James Hodge confirmed Monday the restaurant at 211 E Grand River Ave. will be closing due to a leasing issue.

However, the Woody’s Oasis locations on Trowbridge Road and in MSU’s International Center will remain in operation, Hodge said.

Hodge said the restaurant’s last day in the Grand River Avenue location will be Thursday, when Woody’s Oasis will host a going away party.

Replacing Woody’s Oasis place will be a Lou & Harry’s, co-owner Scott Rolen said at Saturday’s Taste of Downtown event in Downtown Lansing. Lou & Harry’s previously held a location in Downtown East Lansing at 245 Ann St., but closed its doors and moved in 2010 to a larger venue. Today, the restaurant has two other locations in Lansing and East Lansing.

East Lansing resident Erica Ervin is a frequent visitor to Woody’s Oasis as a former MSU student.

“It’s the only place that feels comfortable and home-like,” she said. “It’s a great mix of everybody.”

Server Courtney Fecteau takes an order from a customer at Woody’s Oasis on East Grand River Ave. She declined to comment on the closing because “It’s still kind of a touchy subject.”

PHOTOS: CATHERINE FERLAND

Woody’s Oasis, a Mediterranean restaurant and bar on East Grand River Ave. in East Lansing is scheduled to close this coming Thursday.

Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders video chats directly with MSU supporters An official campaign event for Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ political campaign hit East Lansing on July 29, at the New Community Co-op, 425 Ann St. ‘The Bernie Sanders Organizing Kickoff: Our Political Movement Begins’ event is hosted by recent MSU grad Seth Zundel.

“Bernie’s presidential campaign is being called the most serious threat to establishment politics and economics in a generation — and all it took were a few big events and 400,000 individual contributions,” it says on the event website.

Zundel said Sanders’ team reached out to him after he had signed up to volunteer with the campaign and ask him about the possibility of hosting this type of event.

Zundel said he decided to volunteer with the Sanders campaign because after he did

the proper research to learn about Sanders he was blown away by how genuine and moral Sanders was, and he could tell that Sanders had not sold himself out.

Zundel said he thinks Sanders’ team targeted East Lansing in part because it is such a large college town, and its residents are young and energetic.

“I think they know we’re really energetic up here if we have a cause for it,” Zundel said. “I guess State students in general, we have drive to us, and we really hate the way the state has been going the past couple of years.”

Zundel said he thinks younger voters have responded so well to Sanders because he acts like a normal person and is not afraid of the tough issues.

“I think he speaks our language, unlike any other candidate. Every other candidate speaks politically, they avoid tough issues, taking stands, even on something as obvious as racism or the income inequality, all the other pol-

4

THURSDAY, JULY 3 0, 2 01 5

BY JOSH THALL JTHALL@STATENEWS.COM

THE STATE N E WS

iticians almost refuse to directly address these kinds of things,” Zundel said.

“He is quite literally the anti-politician. His looks, his rhetoric, what he says,” Zundel said.

Zundel said he is very confident in Sanders’ chances in the 2016 presidential election, but worries that people might vote him in and then go back to not really caring about the other elections that take place.

“I definitely believe that he can and will win the election — ­ but he can’t do what he promises unless we keep turning out and voting after this. This is a commitment for young America to be involved. When we elect Bernie in, we still have to support him and elect the right people in the Congress so that he can actually do this stuff,” Zundel said.

Zundel said he urges everyone to do the proper research and make their own decision as to what they think about Sanders, but more importantly he urges them to not just complain about things they are upset about, but to actu-

ally work within the system to make changes to better the country.

“I think young people are very serious about these issues, there’s just been an apathy drilled into us to not vote, or what’s the difference,” Zundel said. “I think young people like me need to not look at being a citizen and voting as a chore, but as that privilege that older people say.”

ONLINE

At the time of writing, Zundel said attendance was expected to be between 50 and 60 people total.

For coverage of the campaign event and footage from the online stream, visit statenews.com

News

Student activists guard Sandra Bland memorial at the Rock

BY RYAN KRYSKA RKRYSKA@STATENEWS.COM

Nearly 50 students and representatives from campus organizations camped out from midnight to 8 a.m. on July 27 at the Rock on Farm Lane to protect a tribute to Sandra Bland after the first was painted over within less than a day.

brance of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was questionably arrested by a white police officer on July 10 in Texas. Bland suffered injuries during the arrest, according to The Atlantic, and three days later, was found dead in her holding cell.

According to The Atlantic, authorities ruled the death a suicide, while her family argues

This message was one of many left by students honoring Sandra Bland, a woman who died while in police custody after being arrested at a traffic stop in Texas.

PHOTO: CATHERINE FERLAND

The event, “Sleep Out For Sandra,” organized by the National Pan-Hellenic Council of MSU, was held in remem-

Bland had no suicidal inclinations, raising questions about what happened during her jail stay.

THUR SDAY, JULY 30, 2015

“Sandra Bland is someone’s family, someone we all could have known,” Mianna Webber, MSU neuroscience senior and executive programming director of the Black Student Alliance, said.

Webber said a group of students originally painted the Rock in Bland’s honor on Friday, but less than 24 hours later someone painted “Erin + Chris #SpartanDawgs 7.25.15” over top of it.

“The audacity to do that was really disrespectful,” Webber said. “It was emotional that someone would do that. It hit all of our hearts.”

“This time we are going to camp out and protect it.”

Webber said around 50 people attended the sleep out and wrote individual messages on the Rock.

“We did it for unity, everyone coming together to spread awareness,” Webber said.

The BSA released a picture on Friday of the original painting of the Rock, along with a telling caption, which Myya Jones, the BSA president, allowed for publication.

“Yesterday evening, Black Student Alliance participated in the vigil in honor of #SandraBland. We gathered around and signed our names to the Rock in loving memory of her name.

Our fight as African Americans, as humans, is by far not over.

Stories such as Sandra Bland’s must continue to be told, we must continue to say her name because her story has become our story, has become apart of our written history. The morning 7.25.15, unfortunately, the work we all put into honoring her memory was painted over and our words crossed out. In light of this, though, it has only given us the fire we need to continue the fight, the motivation we need to keep her name alive and the strength to keep enlightening people about all of our unfortunate stories.

Keep spreading the facts, keep reminding people of the truth, justice will eventually prevail. #SayHerName #BlackLivesMatter #BlackWOMENmatter #SayTHEIRnames ... In loving memory, R.I.H. Sandra Bland, your work will not be forgotten, your story will continue through us.”

THE STAT E NE WS

5

RELIGIOUS GUIDE Look for this directory in the paper every Thursday and online at: www.statenews.com/religious Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Rd., E. Lansing Between Hagadorn & Park Lake Rds. (517) 337-9703 Sunday Worship: 10am Sunday School: 9am Adult Bible Study: 9am ascensioneastlansing.org Faith Fellowship Baptist Church 1001 Dakin St. Lansing, MI 48912 517-853-9897 Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 10am Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study: 6:30pm Van service available to church Campus Bible Study: Thursday at 7:30pm in Chemistry Bldg. www.ffbc.us First Baptist Church of Okemos 4684 Marsh Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 (517) 349-2830 www.fbcokemos.org/worship Sunday worship: 10:45am Zelos Wednesday: 7pm night worship for summer

Little Flock Christian Fellowship A Non-DenominationalEvagelical Church MSU Alumni Chapel (Basement Hall) Sunday Worship Service: 10am-12 Noon.

Fellowship Lunch after the service Weekly Bibly Studies & Students’ Meetings. littleflock.msu@gmail.com littleflock@hotmail.com www.littleflock.org Martin Luther Chapel 444 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-0778 martinlutherchapel.org Sunday: 9:30am & 7:00pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) Okemos Community Church 4734 Okemos Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 (517) 349-4220 www.okemoscommunitychurch.org Sunday Worship: 10am Sunday School: 10am-11:15am Adult Studies: 9am & 11am

One Community-Lutheran (ELCA)/ Episcopal (TEC) Campus Ministry Greater Lansing 1020 South Harrison Rd. Church of Christ East Lansing, MI 48823 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. (517) 332-2559 East Lansing, MI 48823 www.facebook.com/on(517) 898-3600 ecommunitymsu Sunday Worship: 8:45am Sundays: 9:30am (at Sunday Bible Study: 10:15am University Lutheran Sunday Evening: Small Group Church) Sundays: 8am, Wednesday Bible Study: 10am (at All Saints 7:00pm Episcopal Church) www.greaterlansingcoc.org Peoples Church Hillel Jewish Student Center 200 W. Grand River Ave. 360 Charles St., E. Lansing East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-1916 (517) 332-6074 www.peoples-evolution.org Friday Night Sunday Worship: 8:30am, Services: 6pm, Dinner: 7pm 9:30am September - April Tuesday: Love Life: 7-9pm Wednesday: Dinner at Islamic Center of East 5:30pm, Journey at 6:30 Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd., East Red Cedar Friends Lansing, MI 48823 Meeting (517) 351-4309 1400 Turner St. www.Lansingislam.com Lansing, MI 48906 info@Lansingislam.com (517) 371-1047 1st Friday Prayer: 12:15 pm redcedarfriends.org 2nd Friday Prayer: 1:45 pm Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 10:30am

St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C. Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 337-9778 stjohnmsu.org Sunday: 8am, 10am, Noon, 7pm Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 12:15pm Trinity Church 3355 Dunckel Rd. Lansing, MI 48911 (517) 272-3820 Saturday: 6pm Sunday: 9:15am, 11am trinitywired.com Unity Spiritual Renaissance 230 S. Holmes St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 484-2360 or (517) 505-1261 Sunday: 10:30am Wednesday: 6:30pm meditation Office: Monday-Thursday 9:30-12:00 University Baptist Church 4608 South Hagadorn Rd East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4144 www.ubcel.org 10 AM Worship service 11:15 Coffee Hour 11:30 Sunday School University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-5193 universitychristianwired.com Sunday: 11:15 am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15 am University United Methodist Church MSU Wesley 1120 S. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-7030 universitychurchhome.org msuwesley.org Sunday: 10:30am 9:00am Garden Service in the summer TGIT: 8:00pm Thursdays Sept. - April WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbott Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 580-3744 www.msu.edu/~weisluth 6:00pm Saturday

Religious Organizations: Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory!

Call 517-432-3010 today to speak with an Account Executive

Spotlight MSU’s struggle with retention, affirmative action ban Although the number of minority students entering MSU has been on an upswing since 2004, graduation rates for some of these students have largely stagnated

BY CAMERON MACKO CMACKO@STATENEWS.COM

One way universities have tried to help the underprivileged is through what is commonly called affirmative action, which in higher education means allowing an applicant’s race or ethnicity to be taken into account during the admissions process to offset structural disadvantages that might come from attendance at lower-performing high schools.

This was ended in Michigan in 2006 and could be ended across the rest of the nation should the U.S. Supreme Court make that ruling this fall, allowing for some creative workaround by the admissions office to ensure a campus that is racially and economically diverse.

However, retention of students who were helped with the admissions process is significantly lower, prompting the university to take steps to ensure it helps students through their entire college career and not just at the starting gate.

MICHIGAN’S BAN Prohibition of any kind of affirmative action in Michigan public universities’ admissions process was put in place by Proposal 2, a constitutional amendment passed in 2006 by a voting majority.

“The University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Wayne State University, and any

other public college or university, community college, or school district shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting,” the amendment reads.

This makes Michigan one of eight states to outright prohibit taking race into account during the college admissions process.

Currently, MSU officials conduct a “holistic review” of each application, director of the Office of Admissions Jim Cotter said, although the review, by law, excludes race, ethnicity or gender from the deliberations.

“In terms of the holistic review process for Michigan State and at the (public) institutions in the state of Michigan ... those three factors cannot be considered when reviewing one’s admissions credentials and making an admissions decision,” Cotter said.

Black Student Alliance president My ya Jones said, although affirmative action should never have been in place if it was a perfect world, it was necessary due to past racial discrimination.

“It was a good thing that should never have been in place, but just knowing our history in the U.S. ... paths should be put in place to increase the admissions of minorities on campus,” Jones said.

ENSURING DIVERSITY When admissions officers review an application, race, ethnicity and gender are hidden from the officer, although Cotter said sometimes the name can give away certain details.

This does not mean MSU has no way of ensuring a diverse applicant pool.

Although Cotter said he didn’t consider it a workaround, admissions can target areas with high schools who use a less rigorous curriculum, or first generation college students, in order to ensure a diverse campus. This means admissions looks at more than just a student’s grade point average or ACT scores when determining acceptance.

Admissions can also actively recruit persons of color to apply or target regions where high school graduates wouldn’t think they’d be able to attend MSU, either due to their grades or their financial situation.

The admissions report for 2015 has not yet been published, but the data for 2014 shows admissions is successful in that regard as 24.1 percent of the entering class were persons of color — or 1,613 of an entering class of 7,842.

Retaining those students and ensuring high graduation rates is the challenge the university now faces.

Dorinda Andrews, a professor in the African American and African Studies department, said she was part of a committee to

look into why students of color are underperforming at MSU. “What the removal of affirmative action has done is not just decrease the number of students of color that come to MSU,” Andrews said. “But once they are here there are not the necessary programs in place to ensure their academic retention.”

RETENTION RATES The campus-wide graduation rate is 79 percent over six years. White students have the highest graduation rate on campus, with 83 percent of white students graduating in six years, the standard benchmark, in 2014. Graduation rates for students of color generally sit lower, sometimes significantly so.

Black students have the lowest, with a 58 percent graduation rate. Other ethnicities include American Indians with 64 percent, Hispanics with 66 percent and Asians with a 78 percent graduation rate.

Another important distinction includes whether or not those rates have been increas-

6

THE STATE N E WS

After Proposal 2 was found unconstitutional by a lower court in 2011, the Supreme Court upheld Michigan's ban in "Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action"

APRIL 20, 2014

NOV 7, 2006

Proposal 2 voted yes by 58 percent of Michigan Voters

Michigan Constitution officially changed in regard to vote

DEC. 22 2006

HISTORY OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BAN IN MICHIGAN

THURSDAY, JULY 3 0, 2 01 5

Michael Kransz Content editor mkransz@statenews.com @thesnews

ing over the last 15 years.

Although graduation rates for the university as a whole have increased from 64 percent in 1999, the black graduation rate has more or less stagnated. The rate increased steadily from 1999 to 2005, beginning at 41 percent and then stagnated in the mid-to-high

graduate education and dean of undergraduate studies, said although comparing students of color graduation rates isn’t the standard by which MSU judges itself, the rate is better at MSU than at other universities. According to collegemeasures.org, the only institution surpassing MSU in Michigan is the Universi-

50s over the last decade, reaching as high as 60 percent in 2012.

Cotter said many students of color face a wholly different set of challenges when attending a university and it cannot simply be reduced to one problem or another.

Doug Estry, the associate provost for under-

ty of Michigan.

“Our graduation rates are not where we would like them to be for underrepresented students, although when you compare us ... to other institutions we do very well, but that isn’t to say we’re not trying to be better,” Estry said.

ENTERING CLASS 2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

WHITE 81.0% PEOPLE OF COLOR 17.9% UNKNOWN/UNREPORTED 1.1%

79.6% 19.5% 0.9%

79.4% 19.2% 1.3%

80.2% 17.8% 2.0%

80.0% 17.8% 2.2%

78.3% 19.6% 2.2%

2011

2012

2013

2014

78.6% 20.4% 1.1%

79.2% 19.5% 1.3%

76.3% 22.8% 0.9%

75.3% 24.1% 0.6%

2010 SOURCE: FALL, 2014 ENROLLMENT REPORT; OFFICE OF PLANNING AND BUDGETS

WHITE 78.8% PEOPLE OF COLOR 20.1% UNKNOWN/UNREPORTED 1.0%

MORE CAN BE DONE MSU tries to engage students both before and during their time at MSU by recruiting students of color and making sure their college transition is smooth, although many programs focus on the student body as a whole and not any particular minority group.

“There are a lot of resources being focused on helping students, particularly freshmen and sophomores, really get their

feet on the ground and become successful here,” Estry said.

Jones said many advisers have difficulty connecting with students of color and, as a former resident adviser, she saw racism and racial slurs directed at black students by other students.

To a large degree they don’t feel welcome on campus, she said, causing many to fail to complete their degree on time or at all.

She said although the university isn’t doing anything wrong in tackling this problem on campus, they could definitely be

putting in a lot more effort. Increasing the number of intercultural aides could benefit students, since currently not every floor has one., she said.

“In recent times, based on what I heard before I got here, Michigan State has been doing a better job,” she said. “But they can always do better and it’s never just settled with, ‘Oh, are we getting minorities in here,’ but are we retaining them, because (MSU is) not retaining them.”

6-YEAR GRADUATION RATE PERCENTAGE

WHITE BLACK AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE HISPANIC ASIAN ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER

WHITE BLACK AMERICAN INDIAN/ALASKA NATIVE HISPANIC ASIAN ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

67% 41% 45% 52%

69% 47% 28% 58%

71% 52% 49% 53%

72% 54% 53% 57%

72% 55% 41% 52%

75% 54% 45% 49%

78% 56% 37% 55%

78% 54% 54% 58%

60%

67%

64%

65%

70%

65%

72%

73%

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

78% 59% 43% 55%

79% 55% 63% 58%

81% 59% 53% 55%

80% 59% 65% 64%

81% 56% 67% 62% 77%

83% 60% 53% 55% 80%

82% 57% 71% 66% 77%

83% 58% 64% 66% 78%

73%

75%

73%

80%

SOURCE: OFFICE OF PLANNING AND BUDGETS

T H U RS DAY, J U LY 30, 2 01 5

TH E STATE N E WS

7

Crossword

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

Features

Michael Kransz Content editor mkransz@statenews.com @thesnews

HUMANS OF EAST LANSING

BY CATHERINE FERLAND

ACROSS

1 Each 5 Subtly cruel 10 Stock items: Abbr.

14 Couch potato’s aid 15 Bizarre 16 Severely damaged sea 17 “Think you can manage?”

19 Beatle George’s Indian friend 20 Defiant challenge 22 Dishevel 23 Matzo’s lack 25 Approach to a landing?

28 Grass plot around a sundial, in “Jabberwocky” 31 __ chi 32 Would-be immigrant’s concern 35 Believer’s suffix 36 Binding oath 37 “__, With Love” 38 Comprehend 39 Scand. country that borders Russia 40 Nashville VIP 43 Commercial suffix with wheat 44 Antlered deer 45 Hops driers 46 Aqua __: corrosive acid 48 X-rated stuff

50 Romance novel staple, another word for which is aptly hidden in 20-, 32- and 40-Across 56 Part of RNA 57 Watergate figure 59 Barbara of “Mission: mpossible” 60 Bottled-up sort?

61 On a break, say 62 Rustic accommodations 63 Old Norse texts 64 Con’s confines

DOWN

1 Org. regulating explosives 2 Painter Mondrian 3 Concluded 4 Nylon, for one 5 Egyptian Christians 6 Road runners 7 Trans Am roof option 8 Road __ 9 “Snowman” in a fur coat 10 Homer’s beloved 11 Ones earning play money?

12 Helps by arriving early, with “for” 13 Priest who mentored Samuel 18 Unreasonable interest

21 Scientific Bill et al.

24 Ski race equipment 25 “The Bucket List” director 26 Bali citizen 27 Container seen above seats 28 “The Weavers: __ That a Time!”: folk documentary 29 Quarreling 30 Third U.S. VP 33 Ancient portico 34 Band commitment 40 Sear 41 “__, I do adore thee”: Shakespeare 42 Swiftian 47 Screen array 48 Old photo tone 49 Deals (out) 51 A Möbius strip has just one 52 Upset, with “off” 53 Fix 54 Joint 55 Chutzpah 56 Box score stat 58 Business card no.

Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1

2

3

4

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 SOLUTION TO WEDNESDAY’S PUZZLE

Get the solutions at statenews.com/ puzzles

7/30/15

8

© 2015 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

THE STATE N E WS

THURSDAY, JULY 3 0, 2 01 5

Lisa Hagerman East Lansing Department of Public Works: maintenance, garbage collection, weeding and gardening, snow plowing “What is the most gratifying part of your job?”

“The people. There’s a nice (community) tie. You see the kids come and go, but then you get to see the older people who stick around and grow older here. It’s so nice when they come to say hello and say, ‘I remember you. You used to do the gardens and hang the Christmas banner.’”

Features

Michael Kransz Content editor mkransz@statenews.com @thesnews

Downtown E.L. continues to change

BY JORDAN HOLLEY JHOLLEY@STATENEWS.COM

Downtown East Lansing has been a revolving door of businesses and this summer alone has seen its fair share of change. With Moe’s Southwest Grill closed, and Woody’s Oasis also set to close soon, the new replacement businesses already lined up for both restaurants are a bulletin board for the evolving face of East Lansing.

Students and residents see how the downtown area is shifting and have their own opinions about what they would like to see there.

“What I would like to see on Grand River is some kind of market or grocery store that would be a convenient and cheap way for students to get

groceries,” MSU alumna Mallory Londeck said.

While some residents prefer change, others champion the idea of things staying the way they are.

“Personally, I’m kind of a habitual person, so I wouldn’t like to see it change at all. I know the coffee shop went out of business that everyone really liked and I’ve personally spent a lot of time at Woody’s with friends ... it’s a great place,” political science and history senior Chris Romano said.

“I kind of like to see it all stay the same.”

The Grand River area will continue to change with businesses going out and new businesses coming in to replace them. The plans the city has for Grand River Avenue have been focused on cleaning up some of the buildings not cur-

rently in use.

“Five years out, I would hope to see some additional density in downtown. In particular, the redevelopment of the properties at Grand River and Abbot,” Tim Dempsey, director of the Planning, Building and Development Department in East Lansing, said. “I think that development — to clean up that troubled corner — is probably the number one priority, and would be a significant improvement to the west end of downtown.”

The closing of businesses on Grand River Avenue has upset residents, especially with the lack of warning many of the businesses are giving to their customers.

“The way the closures have been handled is the real shame,” Jonah Magar, coordinator of the

Espresso Book Machine, said. “These places made no announcement until about a week before closing their doors.”

The trend of closing seems to have targeted the smaller stores and restaurants, while franchises, so far, have avoided the trouble. But the balance of maintaining both types of business is ideal for the downtown area.

“I think for a successful downtown you really need to have a balance,” Dempsey said. “Some of the national (and) regional chains certainly have the advertising budget and the marketing power to draw people in from further distances, but on the flip side, smaller independent business(es) provide a uniqueness and a quality that you sometimes can’t find in a national or regional chain.”

We asked residents of East Lansing what kind of establishments they would like to see downtown:

Brian DeVries

Jacob Bard

Jonah Magar

Sebastian Gutierrez

Psychology senior

Packaging junior

Journalism alumnus, class of 2012

East Lansing Resident

“I think just more sort of independent restaurants would be nice, so probably like a really nice second hand store.”

“I want to see some more Mexican restaurants. I want more burrito places on Grand River (Avenue). I was upset when a lot of them closed recently.”

“Just anything new or different; something that hasn’t been here before.”

“Maybe more retail, I feel like the only places anyone ever goes to maybe are Urban Outfitters or American Apparel. Maybe more health-conscience food places, we have like Five Guys (Burgers and Fries) that have...some really unhealthy stuff.”

National Order of the Arrow Conference bringing 15,000 Boy Scouts to campus Students might be surprised by how busy MSU is this week, as more than 15,000 members from the Boy Scouts of America’s National Honor Society are expected to arrive on campus Monday for a week-long national conference, a scout official said.

The conference is known as the National Order of the Arrow Conference, or NOAC, and it will take place across campus from Aug. 3 through 8.

The Order of the Arrow was founded in 1915 by Dr. E. Urn-

er Goodman and Carroll A. Edson, making this year the centennial anniversary.

The NOAC is held every couple of years and the last conference in 2012 was also held at MSU, Chief Okemos District director Corey Curtiss said.

The NOAC has different training sessions for the scouts, primarily teaching them leadership skills along with a variety of events.

“During the week we have a number of training (events) — your leadership training,

camping training, how to work with people and there’s Native American dancing,” Curtiss said. “Every night there will be some sort of show at the Breslin Center and it’s a major production every night due to our staff and folks who host it.”

Residents and students will have very little access to the events for security reasons, Curtiss said.

Check Statenews.com for more.

—JORDAN HOLLEY

Boone, N.C. William Garwood speaks to the top ten Prairie Chicken dancers at the 2012 National Order of the Arrow Conference outside Demonstration Hall on Wednesday, August 1, 2012. More than 7,000 boy scouts came to MSU for the conference. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

T H U RS DAY, J U LY 30, 2 01 5

TH E STATE N E WS

9

Sports

Michael Kransz Content editor mkransz@statenews.com @thesnews

MSU’s baseball and softball fields upgrading to prepare for winter conditions

BY MATT ARGILLANDER MARGILLANDER@STATENEWS.COM

The MSU baseball and softball teams received good news recently in the form of stadium upgrades. The Drayton McLane Baseball Stadium at John H. Kobs Field and Secchia Softball Stadium will both be receiving new electric field heating systems, according to an announcement made July 28 by the MSU Athletics Department.

Sports Fields, Inc., began installing the new system, developed by The Slovakian-headquartered Heating Solutions International Inc., on July 22, according to a press release.

Upon completion of the project, the infields of the baseball and softball facilities will be heated, providing each program with extended playing time in the colder months.

This should help with the early-season slump most northern teams experience because it is still cold.

“This project will provide our baseball and sof tball prog ra ms outdoor access in the early spring, allowing for team preparation for their competitive seasons that

start in February,” MSU deputy athletic director Greg Ianni said. “Additionally, our grounds staff will be able to prepare the fields for game use in March, resulting in fewer early season cancellations.

This is cutting-edge technology that will tremendously benefit our student-athletes and coaches. The generosity of our donors and the diligence of the Spartan Fund staff continue to make a difference. We are very grateful for their support.”

According to the release, a few “loyal donors” with an interest in the baseball and softball programs have made the project possible.

“We are extremely excited about the project on Kobs Field and are honored to be the first collegiate facility nationally to incorporate this type of technology,” MSU baseball head coach Jake Boss said. “The great game of baseball was meant to be played on a natural surface and this project will ensure that we will be afforded that luxury in the early stages of our season. Following the 2014 Field of the Year Award by SportsTurf Magazine, Amy Fouty and her staff continue to take

Construction is underway at the McLane Baseball Stadium July 28. Heating coils will be placed underneath the playing surface to allow teams to use the field during the colder months. PHOTO: CATHERINE FERLAND

a great surface and make it even better.”

Spor ts Fields, Inc. w i l l install HSI’s “heating ribbon” technology, part of the company’s unique, patented electric operation module. The heating ribbons will be installed

3 to 9 inches below the playing surfaces of both fields and will operate via a control panel at each facility.

MSU will be the first university in the U.S. to install this field heating technology, according to the release.

“It’s a new challenge for us at Michigan State and we believe on being on the cutting edge of urban agriculture and providing the highest quality playing surface for our student-athletes,” MSU sports turf manager Amy Fouty said.

HSI has installed this technology on professional soccer pitches across Europe, according to the release, so one has to wonder if the DeMartin Soccer Stadium will be receiving an upgrade eventually as well.

Delton Williams reinstated to football team after gun incident

BY MATT ARGILLANDER MARGILLANDER@STATENEWS.COM

Then-sophomore running back Delton Williams runs down the field during the game against Wyoming on Sept. 27, 2014, at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Cowboys, 56-14.

STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO 10

THE STATE N E WS

MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio announced July 27 via a press release that junior running back Delton Williams, who violated university ordinance 18.01 by possessing a weapon on campus last March, will rejoin the football team in mid-August.

Williams was suspended indefinitely from all team-related activities back in March, but when MSU begins preseason football practice on Aug. 8, Williams will be allowed to rejoin the team on Aug. 14, according to the release.

“Delton Williams has satisfied the university’s (student conduct system), court’s and football program’s expectations,” Dantonio said in the release.

“Delton comprehends the severity of the situation and understands that decisions have consequences. He also appreciates the fact that wearing the Michigan State uniform is a privilege and not his right.”

“Provided with various options, he chose to return to Michigan State under specific guidelines in order to complete his education and playing career. Delton

THURSDAY, JULY 3 0, 2 01 5

looks forward to turning the page to the next chapter in his life by rejoining his teammates and classmates.”

In the release, Williams apologized to everyone for making both himself and the university look bad and he also thanked Dantonio for a second chance.

“First, I want to apologize to the entire Spartan family. Obviously, I didn’t want this to happen and cast a negative light on the university and our football program like it has for the last four months,” Williams said in the release. “I appreciate the university and Coach Dantonio for providing me with the opportunity to return and finish what I started.

Being a student-athlete at Michigan State is truly an opportunity of a lifetime. It was a judgment call, but they all decided to provide me with a second chance.

I’m truly blessed and grateful for this opportunity.”

“I wasn’t looking for a fresh start or the easy way out by transferring to another school. It has been, and continues to be, a blessing to be a student-athlete here.

God has a plan for us all, and I put myself in a tough situation. I dug myself a hole, took the punishment and now it’s time

to get back on track.”

Williams also spoke of dreams to play in the NFL one day in the release, but he stated the NFL is not the primary goal.

“My return isn’t just about playing football because I know it isn’t forever,” Williams said. “God willing, I might get the opportunity to play in the NFL, but I already have 64 credits and I’m on pace to graduate. As some say, NFL means ‘not for long.’ My degree is my primary plan, not my back-up plan.”

“I never intended to put anyone in harm’s way, and I never believed the situation would get out of hand. I’ve learned from my mistake, and I won’t put myself in that type of situation again.

I see things much differently now and know that I must think before I act. As a result of my decision, manhood has been thrust upon me. I’ve grown up a lot over the last four months. That decision could have ruined all of my dreams.

This situation has certainly brought me closer to God.” The release ended with a quote from Williams stating he can’t wait to get back on the field with his teammates and that he is “blessed” to be a Spartan.

Quick Reads

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission aims to protect LGBT rights in the workplace

BY JESSICA STEELEY JSTEELEY@STATENEWS.COM

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently voted that discrimination against people of the LGBT community equates to sexual discrimination, which is forbidden under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. “The recent ruling clarifies that the EEOC will treat charges of discrimination based on sexual orientation as claims based on sex,” EEOC spokesperson Justine Lisser said over email, adding those who live in states without protection can file a charge with the EEOC. Associate professor of law Michael Sant’Ambrogio said this is an argument people have been making for decades, but the EEOC ruling is important because they’re the “federal agency responsible for judiciary standards in employment.”

Neuroscience sophomore Carter Griffin said the decision is a step forward for the LGBT community, one which will provide them greater peace of mind.

However, Sant’Ambrogio said this decision isn’t the end of the story.

“The question is, how successful will they be at convincing the federal courts?” Sant’Ambrogio said. The EEOC’s interpretation will be tested in court, but the cases won’t always go the same way.

Although this ruling allows some protection, 27 states still have no

Rev. Nicolette Siragusa officiates a marriage on the steps of the Ingham County Clerk’s office June 26 in Mason. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

legislation to protect LGBT people from employment discrimination.

Classified

“It’s a good thing for the time being that there is protection, but there

still needs to be legislation,” social relations and policy senior Sean

Wolski said.

Wolski said the EEOC extended the 1964 Civil Rights Act to cover gender orientation and gender identity in 2012, but many transgender people are still in poverty because of job discrimination.

Wolski said discrimination based on sexual orientation happens more often than people think, and Griffin agrees it’s a relevant threat.

Though an LGBT person can file a complaint with the EEOC if they are discriminated against, Lisser said the commission received 88,778 complaints in 2014, 1,093 of those claiming LGBT discrimination.

Neuroscience senior Zachary Ireland said his twin brother, who is part of the LGBT community, worked at a toy store where his boss, who assumed he was gay, made fun of him.

“His boss would say he was acting like a 12-year-old girl,” Ireland said.

This incident happened in Ireland’s home state of Texas, which, like Michigan, has no legislation to protect discrimination of an LGBT person in the workplace.

“There is still a benefit for the LGBT community if Michigan passes laws against sexual orientation discrimination,” Sant’Ambrogio said.

The EEOC’s decision covers employment, but Lisser said housing and other areas are not covered.

Although sexual orientation is a sexual issue, Griffin believes it should have its own category and legislation should happen at the federal level.

Your campus marketplace! statenews.com/classifieds

TO PLACE AN AD …

BY TELEPHONE (517) 432-3010 IN PERSON 435 E. Grand River Ave.

BY E-MAIL advertising@statenews.com ONLINE www.statenews.com/classifieds OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.

DEADLINES LINER ADS 2 p.m., 1 business day prior to publication (includes cancellations) CLASSIFIED DISPLAY 3 p.m., 3 class days prior to publication

NOTE TO READERS The State News screens ads for misleading or false claims but cannot guarantee any ad or claim. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

AD ACCEPTANCE All ads are subject to editing, alterations, approval, or rejection by The State News management.

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

REFUNDS No cash refunds will be issued for cancellations. Credit will be applied to subsequent ads for one year.

PAYMENT All ads must be prepaid unless credit has been established with The State News.

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.

Employment

Employment

Apts. For Rent

Houses/Rent

Houses/Rent

Houses/Rent

Animals

DUBLIN SQUARE is hiring for Security, Wait Staff, and Host Positions. Apply within between the hours of 2 PM and 4 PM. Exp. preferred but not necessary.

MARKETING REPS needed in East Lansing. Full/part time avail. Salary plus commission. Call for immediate interview. Looking for outgoing personality. Great summer job. Call now 1-800589-8507 ext 3.

1 BDRM, 1 bath, affordable luxury, downtown EL. Whirlpool, marble and granite. 517-204-7488

2 BDRMS, lic for 3, pets allowed, fenced yard, walk to campus 1572 Melrose Ave. a/c, laundry, quiet neighborhood

AUG ‘15. 4 bd house, $480 per month. 627 Evergreen E.L. 734-717-8513. August to August lease.

2 OR 4 bedroom house for rent. Orchard St. just off of Grand River. Call 517-2907400 for more details.

OKEMOS HOUSES country setting 3 brdm: $1185/ mo, 4 bdrm: $1240/mo, w/d, pets. 449-9009.

SPACIOUS HOUSE on Burcham, available Aug, 4 bed/1.75 bath, w/d, 2 car garage, enclosed porch and rooftop patio, hardwood floors and fireplace, perfect for students, only $1900/mo. Call 517-3497355 or visit rpm4rent.com for details.

HORSE STALL available Small private boarding barn.

Williamston. 12 x 15 indoor arena. heated tack room.

Bathroom. Trails. 517-2431793

MANDARIN CHINESE Translator wanted. We are looking for someone fluent in both Mandarin and English to act as a translator, along with other responsibilities. Work is P/T, but with lots of avail in August and September.

Contact Tom at Collegeville - 517-922-0013.

SALES REPS needed! Get valuable sales/advertising exp. Flexible student hours, competitive pay. No prior exp. needed. Local furniture store. Delivery positions also available.

Send resumes to lansingbeds@yahoo.com or call 5173334233

GREAT 1 & 2 occupant apt.

Grand River & MAC; FREE heat and water! mmarcinko@landmarkcres.com / www.unionplacemsu.com.

ROOMMATE NEEDED 2/1 apt. Berrytree off Hagadorn and Mt. Hope. Unfurnished room w/ large walk-in closet.

Must be OK with cat. Lease can start now $574/month 248-504-8841

2015-16 HOUSE(S).

Licensed for 3 or 6. Super Location & Condition! 517490-3082.

statenews.com statenews.com statenews.com

Rooms/Rent PROF TO share home with scholar. 2 miles from MSU. $450/mo. Full details: bit.ly/ ShareHouse or 884-3686.

T H U RS DAY, J U LY 30, 2 01 5

Find today’s paper and more on

statenews.com

TH E STATE N E WS

11

Sports

Michael Kransz Content editor mkransz@statenews.com @thesnews_sports

Head soccer coach sounds off on player achievement over summer

BY MATT ARGILLANDER MARGILLANDER@STATENEWS.COM

With summer winding down, the men’s soccer team is gearing up for another season after making a run to the Elite Eight in both 2013 and 2014.

The coaches are not allowed much contact with their play-

presents

Head coach Damon Rensing high fives members of the Red Cedar Rowdies after the game against Oregon State on Sept. 6, 2013, at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. The Spartans defeated the Beavers, 1-0. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO

Free Dessert!

(Cookie, Brownie, or Rice Crispy Bars)

with the purchase of any Salad, Sandwich or Mac n’ Cheez 547 E Grand River Ave | 517-325-0850

ers over the summer, but head coach Damon Rensing said they have been closely following the players who participated in various summer leagues.

“A lot of guys played (over the summer), a lot of guys were active, and we’re happy with where they were,” Rensing said.

“Our expectations don’t change a ton. Our goal every year is to put ourselves in position to challenge for a Big Ten Championship.”

Several players gained quality experience while keeping themselves in shape for the upcoming season as the Spartans attempt to get over the hump.

“I think Zach Carroll had a good summer with the Bucks. The Bucks were one of the better (Premier Development League) teams in the country and (he) had a very solid summer with them,” Rensing said. “Kyle Rutz and Ken Krolicki played on K-W United out of Toronto and they actually beat the Bucks to win their conference. I think those guys played well.”

“Our backup goalkeeper Quinn McAnaney, Jimmy Fiscus and Jason Stacy all played for Lansing United and I think those three all helped Lansing have a successful season,” he added.

While the current players are preparing for the upcoming season, a few former Spartans are performing at the professional level. Both Fatai Alashe and Jay Chapman are playing for Major League Soccer; Alashe for the San Jose Earthquakes and Chap-

Football meetand-greet scheduled for Aug 18 Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 5-8 p.m. in Spartan Stadium MSU fans will be able to meet head coach Mark Dantonio and their favorite Spartan football players. Dantonio and

12

THE STATE N EWS

THURSDAY, JULY 3 0, 2 01 5

the 2015 football team will be available for autographs on the concourse inside the stadium.

Admission is free as well as parking in Ramp 5; Lots 63W, 66A, 75, 79 and 62W and the stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Offensive players will be ava i lable for autog raph s f rom approximately 5:30 6:30 p.m.and defensive players from approximately 6:307:30 p.m. Dantonio will be available for autographs from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Due to time constraints,

man for Toronto FC. “That’s been really neat to see with both of those guys. Fatai is probably in the top three for Rookie of the Year in the MLS,” Rensing said.

Alashe has been making a name for himself as of late, scoring against one of the premiere soccer clubs in the world and competing internationally for the U.S. U-23 men’s national team in the Toulon Tournament in France.

“Fatai scored against Manchester United a week ago, so you’ve got a guy who was playing at Michigan State less than a year ago and he basically scored a goal against the biggest soccer club in the world,” Rensing said. “I think that is a testament to our program, we try to develop players ... to move on and play.”

With summer drawing to a close, players will report to MSU on Aug. 11 for meetings and organization followed by a fitness test on Aug. 12.

The team will then prepare for its only preseason game of the year. MSU will travel to take on Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne at 6 p.m. on Aug. 21 in the Shindigz National Soccer Festival.

“I’m looking forward to the preseason, I think the guys are getting excited,” Rensing said. “It’s around the corner and we’re really looking forward to it.” fans are limited to one autographed item per person, and requests for photos with players and/or Coach Dantonio cannot be accommodated, according to a press release detailing the event.

The MSU Cheerleading and Dance Team will help distribute free schedule posters. Children also will have the opportunity to meet Sparty and pose for photos with the popular mascot.

According to the release, fans will also have the chance to visit the playing field; take photos wearing a Spartan hel-

met, shoulder pads and jersey; tour the press box; and describe a memorable moment as the play-by-play announcer for the Spartan Sports Network. The 2014 Rose Bowl Championship and 2015 Cotton Bowl Classic Championship trophies will be on display.

Fans a lso w ill have an opportunity to purchase $6 wristbands from concessions to sample “A Taste of Spartan Stadium.” The Spartan Ticket Office, located at Gate G, will be open for sales.

—MATT ARGILLANDER