Spartans get taste of rigors, life as ROTC cadet at campus event campus+city, page 3 Criminal justice senior Daniel Ramos helps Williamston, Mich. resident Seth Stone, 12.
statenews.com | 9/12/13 | @thesnews
Danyelle Morrow/The State News
Michigan State University’s independent voice
Creative writing assistant professor Rae Paris
Nursing assistant professor Catherine Lein
Journalism graphics editor in residence Karl Gude
photos by Julia Nagy
Learning inside and outside class New study shows teaching experiences in critical courses, not pay, can make or break students’ choice of major By April Jones ajones@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
I
t has been three weeks since the start of semester, and it's about the time students are finally getting settled into new courses and getting to know their professors. From small intimate classes to large lecture halls, professors are doing their best to sell students vital information about the real world. But MSU instructors said succeeding is not as simple as getting up in front of class. At times, it can be difficult to grab the attention of students in entry-level courses. A recent study from a portion of Harvard University Press' "How College Works" examines why students pick certain
majors, and most of it comes down to professors. "Faculty determine students' taste for academic fields by acting as gatekeepers, either by welcoming them into an area of knowledge, encouraging and inspiring them to explore it, or by raising the costs of entry so high so as to effectively prohibit continuing in it," the study reported. The better the professor in the eyes of students, the greater chance someone will stay in that course — something that several MSU students noted was a determining factor in keeping or changing their major. According to the study, pay also was less influential in a student’s major choice than classroom learning experiences. Three MSU instructors in different fields also agreed that grabbing the attention of students early in courses is critical to positive learning experiences, but noted there are challenges to being at the front of the room. Getting the process started During assistant professor Kate Lein's entry-lev-
el nursing course, she said students often don't know what's going on in nursing, so she tries to give examples from the real world and reasons to connect with nursing to help people — not to earn a large paycheck. Nursing senior Katie Viazanko said she remembers taking Lein's course and how the class changed her motives into something more then her premeditated goals coming into the program. "She's very giving and very patient and has taught me to be a more well-rounded person," Viazanko said. "I was already in the (College of Nursing), but she guided me into becoming more hands-on and patient centered. It's not about the pay, it's something I want to do." But before the teaching can begin, behind-the-scenes work helps select just who will be leading courses. When new professors begin the employment process, they are required to go through a series of interviews by the
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To take an interactive look at professors’ & students’ thoughts on successful learning, visit statenews.com.
housing
nightlife
City official: Fireworks sparked blaze at Phoenix Commission tables proposal to cap patrons at downtown bars
By Katie Abdilla
kabdilla@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS
By Meg Dedyne
nn
Careless use of fireworks caused last week's fire at Phoenix cooperative house, East Lansing Fire Inspector Don Carter confirmed Wednesday. Carter said residents were releasing fireworks from the roof of the cooperative, 239 Oakhill Ave., into the early hours of the morning Sept. 4. The fire began around 3 a.m., destroyed four rooms and temporarily displaced all 29 residents of Phoenix. He said remnants of fireworks later were found on t he proper t y, wh ic h confirmed reports the department received from several neighborhood complaints. “There's a flat deck on the southern end, and apparently they were hanging out up there,” Carter said. “There were complaints in the area about fireworks, but we were unable to say where they were coming from. Had we known, we could have put a stop to this whole thing.” Rumors spread like wildfire last week as to the possible cause of the blaze, which led to investigation by city fire officials and further specula-
mdedyne@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
A c it y proposa l t hat would effectively prevent the development of future bars downtown is on the backburner for the time being. At its Wednesday night meeting, the East Lansing Planning Commission vot-
ed unanimously to defer consideration of the proposal, a city-staff approved measure that would cap the number of patrons at establishments serving alcohol past midnight to 3,300. Because t he cur rent approved occupancy allowed at such businesses already is 3,892, the proposal would effectively prevent any future bars in East Lansing from
opening unless another closed. The report indicates the proposed seating cap would not affect bars and restaurants already in place. However, the seats would be on a first come, first serve basis. If passed, the proposal also would revise the 50/50 rule substantially, which designates businesses prove only 50 perSee MEETING on page 2 u
Julia Nagy/The State News
MSU alumnus Zack Slizewski cuts down metal framing hanging from the ceiling in a room damaged by an early morning fire at Phoenix cooperative, 239 Oakhill Ave, on Sept. 4, 2013.
“There were complaints in the area about fireworks, but we were unable to say where they were coming from. ” Don Carter, E. Lansing fire inspector
tion as to the cause. MSU Student Housing Cooperative public relations consultant Cambria Sobolewski said the organization had not yet been notified by the fire department of the official cause.
Sobolewski said 17 of the cooperative's 29 residents are moved back in, and noted the remaining displaced members likely will be able to move back into the cooperative by the end
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campus
penn’s case raises questions on prof. tenure By Justine McGuire jmcguire@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Earning tenure takes a long time — so does losing it. English professor William Penn, who has tenure, went on what some are calling an anti-Republican rant during class Aug. 29. He has been relieved of his teaching duties, but remains a
f ull-time employee of t he university. Officials were hesitant to speculate whether he will be fired. A tenured professor can be fired. But it takes several months to get through the process of notifications, committees and hearings, said Theodore Curry, associate provost and assistant vice president for academic human resources. He added that it’s very rare
to fire a tenured faculty member at MSU, and more often someone under threat of being fired would resign before the process starts — or sometimes in the middle of the process. “If an employer is doing a good job of getting out there and hiring good people, providing a good work environment that encourages a productive workforce, they don’t
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