Tuesday 9/17/13

Learning about the Spartan experience MSU doc looks at experience of Chinese student on campus

statenews.com | 9/17/13 | @thesnews

Coming back to the banks of the Red Cedar

Men’s soccer deserves national spotlight

Sorority chapter looking to return to MSU this year

Reporter Zach basketball SmithHead argues coach Tom Izzo holds up the WWE thechampionship team belt deserves more Khoa Nguyen/The State News respect

features, page 5

Sports, page 6

campus+city, page 3

Sophomore midfielder Jay Chapman Georgina De Moya / The State News

Michigan State University’s independent voice

Student government moving ahead ASMSU setting new goals, examining initiatives after policy, finance changes

By Nolly Dakroury ndakroury@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS

A nn

SMSU, which has just begun its 50th session, has gone from an independent student government to a university department complying with MSU policies.

The undergraduate student government was sent a memorandum on Feb. 26 from Vice President for Finances and Treasurer Mark Haas and Vice President for Student Affairs and Ser vices Denise Maybank saying ASMSU needed to realign with MSU's policies.

The memorandum gave the organization a deadline of April 5 to move all its funds to on-campus accounts or risk the loss of its tax dollars. The student tax is $18 per undergraduate student per semester.

A similar scenario took place March 14, 2011, when Maybank froze the student government's accounts. University officials said that ASMSU had violated its own constitution when the

student government held a special election to merge the two previously separate assemblies into one. Soon afterward, on March 31, 2011, the accounts were unfrozen after a series of meetings between MSU and ASMSU officials.

In the February 2013 memorandum, Maybank and Haas stressed the fact that the realignment still would allow ASMSU to have "continued responsibility for and autonomy in managing those tax dollars through universit y accounts."

ASMSU President Evan Martinak described the transition as a way of stripping the student government of its independence, adding that he is concerned that the university could revoke any bill passed

by ASMSU if they do not agree with it.

"We haven't had any bill that was that pressing or that large (so far)," said Michael Mozina, ASMSU vice president for finance and operations, adding that it’s still too early to tell whether the university could or would revoke any bills pro-

environment

lansing bwl to introduce wind-based technology

By Celeste Bott cbott@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Georgina De Moya / The State News

Teresa Bitner and Michael Mozina, both administration officials with ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government, listen during a meeting on Sept. 12, 2013.

posed by ASMSU in the coming months.

In a previous inter view, Maybank said, "the popular view is that student governments are part of the university," explaining that the MSU administration saw it necessary for ASMSU to align to the

Tug of war: ASMSU and MSU

university Manual of Business Procedures.

Martinak said ASMSU has been the voice of students, meaning in case the universit y, for example, decides to increase tuition, ASMSU potentially might not be able to argue with MSU now that

funds are on campus.

Early service changes On Feb. 11, MSU Deputy General Counsel Kristine Zayko sent Mar tinak a memorandum saySee ASMSU on page 2 u

The undergraduate student government has had a back-and-forth relationship with the university

March 14, 2011

Feb. 26, 2013

April 23, 2013

April 24, 2013

ASMSU accounts are frozen because of "failure to operate within the guidelines of its approved governing documents."

ASMSU receives a memorandum from university officials, including Maybank, stating the student government needs to align with university policies and move all funds to on-campus accounts.

ASMSU receives another memorandum with a notice that the student government no longer will receive its tax dollars until transfers are completed.

Evan Martinak elected ASMSU president for his second term.

March 31, 2011

April 5, 2013

April 18, 2013

June 26, 2013

ASMSU accounts are unfrozen after a meeting between ASMSU and the MSU administration.

ASMSU's deadline to move all funds to an on-campus account.

During a general assembly, ASMSU representatives decline to pass a bill to move funds to an on-campus account.

In an emergency general assembly meeting, ASMSU decided to move all its funds to an on-campus account.

To view an interactive timeline of ASMSU’s recent history with administration officials, visit statenews.com.

sentencing

The Lansing Board of Water & Light, or BWL, will begin producing wind energy-generated electricity for customers in the Lansing area by fall 2014.

BWL Director of Communications Stephen Serkaian said the transition to wind energy-generated electricity is a step forward for renewable energy, and it won't cost residents, including some MSU students, more than they already pay.

"It involves all BWL electric customers in Lansing, East Lansing and in surrounding areas," Serkaian said. "But it has no impact on electric bills whatsoever. It's just an addition to the BWL's renewable energy portfolio."

BWL has explored other renewable energy resources, such as solar and hydroelectric power, but it will be BWL's first time using wind energy.

The technology will not impact pricing or electric bills for customers in the area, officials said A new partnership with Exelon Wind eventually will enable BWL to generate electricity from eight wind turbines in Gratiot County, which is about 40 miles north of Lansing.

Agriculture, food and resource economics professor Eric Wittenberg said the wind turbines are useful because they use natural wind power as a source to generate energy.

The wind pushes air flow in a turbine, Wittenberg said, and pressure changes cause the turbine's "wings" to rotate. That rota-

See TURBINES on page 2 u

campus

Cornerback Robinson to face fines, classes Preliminary enrollment stats

show record numbers at MSU

Redshirt freshman cornerback Ezra Robinson, right, exits the courtroom with defense attorney James Heos, left, after sentencing Monday at the 54-B District Court. Robinson was arrested in July for an operating under the influence (OUI) offense.

By Justine McGuire jmcguire@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Danyelle Morrow/The State News

By Katie Abdilla kabdilla@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Redsh i r t f resh ma n cornerback Ezra Robinson, who pleaded g u i lt y to u nderage drink ing and driv ing last month, now faces courtordered classes and fines.

The Sarasota, Fla., resident was sentenced Monday morning before 54-B District Court Judge Richard Ball. Robinson has 90 days to attend an alcohol highway safety class and also must participate in a victims impact panel. He is

required to pay $758 in fines before Nov. 15, or he will face jail time.

Robinson was cited on a traffic stop in July and was arrested when he took a breath test and blew a blood-alcohol level of .06. He was charged under Michigan's "zero tolerance" law, which places restrictive limits on alcohol levels of minors while driving.

The 19-year-old apologized in court for his actions, saying he "made a mistake."

"It was a dumb decision, and I think differently now of things I could do to avoid this

whole situation happening," Robinson said.

James Heos, Robinson's defense attorney, said Robinson got behind the wheel because his friend, who was driving at the time, was too intoxicated to continue. " T he ot her person was excessively intoxicated, and as a result, Mr. Robinson, with his slight intake of an alcoholic beverage, was asked to drive back," Heos said. "He knows it was a bad mistake, and knows the alternative is to call someSee COURTS on page 2 u

A record number of students at MSU has put a strain on the university, but the plan is to reduce the total in the future.

The preliminary enrollment total for the fall semester is about 49,300 students compared to about 48,906 in 2012. This year’s freshmen class has about 7,890 students, down by about 300 from 2012. There are about 1,515 transfer students. The figures were presented to the MSU Board of Trustees at its Friday meeting.

The total enrollment number is expected to be off by plus or minus 100 students, said Dave Byelich, assistant vice president and director of the Office of Planning and Budgets. The final numbers will be available in October.

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said the number of students at the university this year is stretching the ability to give everyone a good experience and is crowding entry-level classes.

“We’ll probably settle in

“Enrollment is very encouraging. It’s great to see there are so many that want to be Spartans.”

Brian Mosallam, MSU trustee

By the numbers 49,300

Total enrollment (RECORD)

31,480 the 48,000 range (in the next few years), so we’ll still be very big, but right now, we’re just a little too large,” Simon said.

There was a record number of applicants of 31,480 for the 2013-14 academic year, which is up about a thousand from this past year. About 69 percent of applicants were admitted and about 36 percent accepted the university’s offer.

“Enrollment is very encouraging,” Trustee Brian Mosallam said during Friday's meeting. “It’s great to see there are so many that want to be Spartans.”

He added there should be a new model for predicting who will come once accepted and who won’t.

Other officials were similarly pleased with MSU’s incoming class.

“It appears that students in Michigan and around the world are interested in being part of the

Applications (RECORD)

7,890

Freshman class

1,515

Transfer students

3.6

Entering class average GPA

25.5

Entering class average ACT

1,505

Entering class students of color SOURCE: Michigan State University

Spartan family,” Acting Provost June Youatt said.

About 71 percent of the enterSee ADMISSIONS on page 2 u

2 | T he State N e ws | tu esday, se pt e mbe r 1 7, 2 01 3 | stat e n e ws.com

Police brief Man pronounced dead Monday A man found unresponsive at East Lansing’s Patriarche Park earlier this week has been pronounced dead, East Lansing police confirmed Monday evening.

The man was found in the park, located at 1100 Alton St., early Sunday afternoon and has since died, police said.

It’s unclear if the man had any university connections at this time. No additional information was immediately available.

Autopsy results on the man’s body are pending.

KATIE ABDILLA

Three-day forecast

Tuesday Partly Cloudy High: 68° Low: 36°

Wednesday Partly Cloudy High: 75° Low: 63°

asmsu

Upcoming changes could include shift to office business manager position from page one

ing that Jeffries & Newton law firm, who had been managing ASMSU's legal services, "cannot practice law on behalf of the university or any unit of the university."

Free legal services have been offered by ASMSU to taxpaying undergraduate students for more than 30 years, according to the student government's website.

Martinak is concerned the legal services the student government provides could be affected, since ASMSU now is a unit of the university. A constitutional revision also is a potential change that the student government could be facing soon. "(We are) still figuring out what those changes may entail," Matt Franks, ASMSU director of public relations, said in a statement.

In the first memorandum ASMSU received on Feb. 26, Haas and Maybank said student government documents would have to be revised as a result of aligning the practices of ASMSU with university policies.

ASMSU was given a deadline of Nov. 30 to implement these changes.

The ASMSU business office manager position also has been going through controversy lately. Martinak was notified at the

end of August that the business office manager position is being changed into a union position, meaning that Maryalice Chester, who has been working for ASMSU as an independent contractor for three years, could be risking losing her job to a higher-ranked union employee.

After Maybank assured the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, that she is working on safeguarding the business office manager's position for COGS, Chester said she was hopeful that she still could work for ASMSU. "This (job) is my livelihood, the way I pay my bills," Chester said. "I just love working for these students."

iClicker rentals and free bluebooks, still are being offered.

No-preference sophomore Hannah Hwozdik, said the reason she knows about ASMSU is because of the free iClicker rental service they provide, which she took advantage of this semester and last spring.

While the student organization has experienced many changes recently, Mozina believes the undergraduate student government still has one goal in mind.

"At the core, there will be no changes," Mozina said. "We will be providing students with the services they need, giving them a voice, a vehicle to change things at the university."

Services to keep an eye on ASMSU is looking to move past the summer drama with new plans to work on over the school year, continuing to provide useful services to students.

"ASMSU looks forward to continuing to work with university officials on initiatives like Safe Ride, medical amnesty and the sportsmanship initiative to provide beneficial services while protecting the interests of the undergraduate students of Michigan State University," Franks said in a statement.

ASMSU also will be looking to develop a new mobile application providing students with updates on Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, bus route schedules. Mozina said the project still is in its infancy, adding that the student government will keep working on developing it this fall.

Other services, like free

Little notice A spring and summer of struggle on parts of ASMSU still did not manage to gain enough student attention. Very few students know what their student government has been going through, let alone that there is a student government.

When asked “What do you know about ASMSU?” journalism junior Danielle St. Marie offered a one-word response.

“Nothing,” she said, explaining that she had never heard of ASMSU up until The State News talked to her.

“There’s not much broadcasting about it,” said St. Marie, who happened to be sitting right across from an ASMSU Readership Program newspaper bin in Wells Hall.

“There should be a bigger sign above (the newspaper bin) saying ‘ASMSU.’ I’m apt to look at the Starbucks sign instead.”

VOL. 104 | NO. 113

Index Campus+city 3 Opinion 4 Sports 6 Features 5 Classified 5 nn

Corrections

editorial staff (517) 432-3070 Editor in chief Ian Kullgren managing editor Beau Hayhoe DIGITAL managing editor Darcie Moran Design editor Becca Guajardo PHOTO EDITOR Julia Nagy ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR Danyelle Morrow Opinion editor Michael Kransz campus EDITOR Robert Bondy City Editor Lauren Gibbons sports editor Matt Sheehan Features editor Isabella Shaya Copy chief Summer Ballentine

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

General Manager Marty Sturgeon, (517) 432-3000 Editorial adviser Omar Sofradzija, (517) 432-3070

Large portion of entering class comes from within Michigan, officials said; class reflects diversity from page one

ing class are in-state students.

According to Simon, the number is high for the Big 10, which has an average of about 65 percent in-state students, and could present a problem for the university as Michigan’s high school graduate pool is expected to decline in the next few years.

Youatt said with the decline

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday through Friday during fall, spring and select days during summer semesters. A special Welcome Week edition is published in August.

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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.

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Professional staff

turbines

University starting to examine idea of wind turbine technology on campus from page one

tion turns a gear box in a generator, which generates power.

Although it sounds simple, Wittenberg said before now, there were a number of challenges in Lansing that might have prevented the generation of wind energy.

"You can't put a turbine anywhere," Wittenberg said.

"There might not be enough wind in a given place. The community might not want it near their homes, or on land — there are zoning issues.

There's even migrational issues with birds. If a turbine isn't placed strategically, it can end up killing a lot of birds."

While there are some speed bumps with adding turbines to an area, Wittenberg said the environmental benefits are numerous.

courts

Coach says charges hurt performance initially, but Robinson has since recovered from page one

admissions Thursday Rain High: 82° Low: 66°

Continued

to contact the state news

Level: 1

2

in Michigan high school graduates, MSU will challenge itself to recruit nationally and internationally.

While the number of 2013 Michigan high school graduates declined slightly, MSU got about the same number of instate applicants, said Jim Cotter, director of the Office of Admissions.

Although the university wants to decrease total enrollment in the next few years, Cotter said he does not anticipate admittance to be significantly more difficult in the future.

“We’re interested in solid performers that can come here and be successful and make a difference in the world," Cotter said.

one who is not drinking."

Ball said he t y pically remains lenient on such charges, especially since it was Robinson's first offense.

"I never put anyone on

"With a nuclear power or coal fire plant, it might be cheaper, but we don't always analyze the true costs of nuclear energy and coal," Wittenberg said. "Turbines are renewable. With other forms of energy, you're polluting the air with carbon dioxide emissions and (will have to) clean mercury out of lakes."

While BWL doesn't power the university, MSU officials are exploring the possibilities for wind energy on campus, Director of Campus Sustainability Jennifer Battle said.

"Right now, we're working on a wind study measuring wind speeds," Battle said. "Back in 2002, we commissioned a similar study that proved there wasn't enough wind in the area to have an economically viable wind turbine."

But with technology changes in recent years, Battle said MSU is starting to revisit the idea.

"There's a meteorological tower that measures the speed of wind, so we'll see," Battle said. "We can't conclude anything at the moment, but it could be a potential opportunity for campus."

probation for this offense," Ball said. "It's an overall waste of time."

In a previous interview with The State News, defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett said Robinson's charges initially reflected in his performance.

“Early on (it hurt him), but after a while now, everything’s moved on," Barnett said. "We’ve moved on. He’s earned his way back to where he needs to be and continues to work hard and (is) getting better.”

Check out The State News online:

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Crossword

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

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CREATIVE adviser Travis Ricks, (517) 432-3004

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SOLUTION TO MONDAY’S PUZZLE

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

www.sudoku.org.uk © 2013 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

1 Terrible grade 4 Don of radio 8 Got smart with 14 Not feel well 15 “Brave New World” drug 16 Developed a liking for 17 “American Idiot” punk band 19 James of “Gunsmoke” 20 Most insignificant 21 Hopefully helpful track info 23 Once, formerly 24 Performer who is heard but not seen 28 Thames school 30 QB’s successes 31 “__ were you ...”

32 Meat-and-potatoes bowlful 36 Mil. school 37 1996 Hillary Clinton best-seller, and what might be said about the start of 17-, 24-, 48- or 59-Across 41 “High Hopes” lyricist Sammy 42 One printing defamatory text, in England 43 Prefix with gram 44 Bars to scan, briefly 47 Boy of la casa 48 Table scraps, to the dog 51 Zero-calorie protest

55 War hero played by George C. Scott 56 Sitcom sergeant 57 Like citrus juices 59 Boob tube 62 TV’s “__ & Greg” 63 Remove from power 64 Sch. in the smallest state 65 Patronize, as a restaurant 66 Source of some psychiatry grants: Abbr.

67 Whitney or Washington: Abbr.

Down

1 Apollo 11 moon lander 2 Pink-slip issuer 3 Bugs with bounce 4 Fails to be 5 Stylish, ‘60s-style 6 Hollywood’s Thurman 7 Greet someone casually 8 Uttered 9 Major heart vessels 10 Former Seattle NBAer 11 Doubtful 12 UFO pilots, in theory 13 Hair styles 18 Grammy winner Gloria 22 Halloween mo.

24 Cast a ballot 25 Dollar bills 26 Old enough 27 Bill attachment

29 Sound of disdain 32 __ tendonitis: arm muscle ailment 33 Daylong military march 34 Addis Ababa native 35 Mart opening 36 The whole thing 38 Ristorante carafe contents 39 Footnoter’s “ditto,” briefly 40 Deighton of spy-fi 44 Final syllable 45 Scratcher on a post 46 Corp. money manager 49 Father of la casa 50 Hamburger topper 52 Wedding memento 53 Hybrid tennis garment 54 Wasp venom, for one 56 “The other one, too” 57 Throw in 58 Cubs’ home: Abbr.

60 MADD concern 61 Doctrinal word ending

Get the solutions at

statenews.com/puzzles

Campus+city diversity

3

stat e ne ws.co m | T he Stat e N ews | t u es day, s ep temb er 17, 2013 |

campus Editor Robert Bondy, campus@statenews.com CITY EDITOR Lauren Gibbons, city@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075

r e c r e at i o n

MSU professors’ documentary E.L. could formalize contract with pump house shows Chinese student’s life

By Ariel Ellis

East Lansing residents Paul Stokstad and his daughter Sonja, 4, look through available books in the public book exchange Monday, at Orchard Street Pump House.

aellis@statenews.com

By April Jones ajones@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

crime

POLICE: STUDENT ATTACKED BY MAN Campus police are investigating an assault that occurred at 1 a.m.

Sept. 14 near Lot 29 at the intersection of Shaw Lane and Akers Road.

The victim, an 18-yearold female student, told police she was returning to her residence hall when an

Jeff Li, finance junior

the face of the documentary — Li was one of the few to reply.

The filming process started in summer 2011 during the international academic orientation and wrapped up this past summer.

During the span of two years, Li was able to share his experience as a student, demonstrating how relationships were nurtured and shaped across cultural boundaries.

"I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone,” Li said.

"There were so many things to get adjusted to. My heart beat … trying to get my words together instead of chaos, and at that time, my English was not that well."

After a few filming sessions, Li said the process became easier and he quickly became comfortable.

Li said he would wake up and Hale and Zeldes would ask if they could ask questions on camera. He always agreed.

Hale said he takes pride that he and Zeldes were able to capture this trend before it became a big part of MSU’s.

He said it was something that was just starting to gain attention, and now they are able to tell the story.

“The thing that I like about the film, we saw what was going very early and having covered it for two years, now, it’s becoming more mainstream news about all the students internationally coming into the US from China,“ Hale said.

unidentified man attacked her from behind, according to a statement from MSU police.

The suspect jumped out of the bushes near Lot 29 as she crossed from North Shaw Lane to South Shaw Lane and placed his hands over her mouth.

She used pepper spray on her key chain to deter the assault, causing the man to release her, and she ran away.

Police could not confirm

nn

After several decades of existence, the neighborhoodrun Orchard Street Pump House community center could soon acquire an official contract with the city of East Lansing.

Positioned in the heart of the Bailey Neighborhood, the pump house serves as a center for community events, including exercise classes, ice cream socials, concerts, celebrations and several other neighborhood activities.

East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas said the pump house has grown dramatically throughout the years. Expanded use of the building made it necessary for the city to consider creating a contract with the Orchard Street Pump House Association, he said.

"The staff and council wanted to come up with a method that would allow them to continue to use the building the way that they've been doing," Lahanas said. "The contract provides for the Pump House Association to continue using it, it explains what their obligations are and solves issues of liability."

Bailey Neighborhood Association Chair Konrad Hittner, who organizes events for the pump house, said the contract is a necessary change.

"If somebody other than a city official is going to be in charge of the building, the legislative body really needs to delegate that authority," Hittner said. "It just makes official something that has been around for decades."

The pump house was built in 1934 and was used to store chemicals such as fluoride that were added to the water system to make it safe for con-

the suspect’s identity or whether he is a student.

The victim could not provide description of the suspect because she only could see his arm, police said.

She did not sustain any injuries during the attack.

The MSU Police Department encourages anyone who was in the area at the time and might have witnessed the crime to call 517-355-2222.

Katie Abdilla

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Margaux Forster/ The State News

sumption. In 1972 when the building was no longer being used to store these chemicals in 1972, officials wanted to tear it down and leave a concrete block structure to cover the pump to keep using the water well for the city's water system.

Former Bailey neighborhood resident and Orchard Street Pump House Association founder Jerry Mattson said he and other neighborhood residents were able to secure $27,000 in grant funding to turn the building into a community center.

Since then, Mattson said the pump house has continued to succeed as a func-

tioning and beneficial part pump house Location of the neighborhood.

"The current board has Pump House maintained the uses I that I've (put into place) and added some primary and new EAST events that happen at the LANSING pump house," Mattson said.

Ann Street One of the newer events the pump house offers are monthly concerts and an annual concert series called Albert Avenue the Pumpstock American Roots Music Festival that Hittner said the community loves.

Gran "It just serves as a neighd Ri ver borhood community center Ave nue for whatever purposes the MSU campus neighborhood and city are looking for," Hittner said.

Paige Grennan | SN 0.3 Miles

For some, America is known for big cities, flashy celebrities and well-known universities and for many international college students, MSU opens a new way of life.

But the change in culture takes time to get used to, so journalism associate professor Geri Zeldes and telecommunications, information studies and media instructor Troy Hale made it their mission to get the transitional experience in a documented film.

“I thought to myself that it'd be interesting if we did a film about how Chinese international students were navigating their life on MSU’s campus so that it could mirror what America looks like through the eyes of Chinese students," Zeldes said.

On Monday, the documentary “Imported From China," debuted its first showing. Students of various ethnic backgrounds packed into three Communications Arts and Sciences rooms to view finance junior Jeff Li's experience as he made the transition to a new and different American lifestyle.

Zeldes opened the event by giving the audience background information on the increase of the Chinese student population.

In 2006, there were 96 international Chinese incoming freshmen. Today, the number has increased to more than 4,000.

Zeldes said the mission of the film was to get a snapshot of a Chinese international student to show just how easy or hard it is to adjust to the MSU community. Before filming began, Zeldes and Hale sent a mass email to more than 1,000 incoming Chinese international students to find a someone willing to be

THE STATE NEWS

“My purpose was that I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone. There were so many...”

4 | Th e Stat e N e ws | t ue sday, se p te m be r 1 7, 2 01 3 | state n e ws.com

Opinion

Featured blog Miss… America?

Opinion column

students wealthy through education

T

he phrase is quite possibly one of the greatest oxymorons uttered by our generation.

So easily, it slips off our tongues. You check your latest bank statement: $19.83. Looks like you won’t be going out to P.F. Chang’s anytime soon. “I’m a poor college student.” But $600 for textbooks? That’s nothing at all. Don’t forget about your iClicker, notebooks and futon for the dorm. Oh, and did I mention the $42,652 out-ofstate tuition, room and board on top of everything?

“I’m a poor college student.”

Look, I’m not a fan of paying for supplies either.

And I agree that we — students — often are overcharged for our necessities.

But “poor” and the label of “college student” hold a strong juxtaposition. Education is a narrow gate that the majority of our friends around the world do not get to experience. How can you be poor when you are learning how to develop your talents and express your passions?

You already have trouble understanding your Asian teaching assistant. And now, a Korean — one who doesn’t drive a Lamborghini — is trying to speak to you about education? What the heck, right? Contrary to stereotypes, it wasn’t only my Asian culture that taught me to be grateful for my education; it was a friend I met in Africa.

Allow me to introduce you to my Zambian friend, Nixon. He and I met during the last day of my mission trip to the southern African nation. Nixon

“However, the enthusiastic posts on my newsfeed quickly turned into fierce anger in response to numerous tweets and posts about how Davuluri didn’t deserve to be Miss America. The reason? The color of her skin.”

— Anya Rath, State News staff reporter

Read the rest online at statenews.com/blog. desires to be a businessman when he grows up. more. An estimated He enjoys mathematics and soccer, and wants to 27 million in bondage. start a family one day. He lives in a hut with his Half of the 600,000 to parents, two brothers and sister. His mom and dad 800,000 people trafficked spend their week selling fruits and vegetables so across international borders every year are children. Fiftythey can afford to send Nixon to school.

Thus, Nixon had not seen his parents in weeks. five percent of the world’s population lives on less than Not to mention he already walks five $2 a day. So if you live on $105 miles every morning just to get to his Guest a day ($38,325 annually), then you are school. The perseverance and sacrifice columnist among the world’s richest 2.1 percent. of Nixon’s parents is a testament to the And here’s the one that grieves me the sending orphans to school or being a voice for the value of education. To them, school is most. About 43 percent of the world’s voiceless. Through their talents and passions, they more than a matter of going to class people groups, about 7,272, have lit- will lessen these statistics that plague our world. and writing theses, it is the groundtle to no access to the Gospel of Jesus work upon which their son will build As we enter the grind of the fall semester, let Christ, according to the Joshua Proj- us remember the blessing of our education. We his future. ect. Unreached and unengaged from the attend one of the nation’s top public universities.

You might complain about your 8 a.m. message that will satisfy their souls. The A college degree opens up opportunities that are class today. Nixon won’t. prevalence of material suffering is bur- seldom available to those without one. ConnecThrough Nixon’s story, I learned that Derek kim education is a sensible investment, one dkim@statenews.com dened by spiritual suffering. tions made during your undergraduate years set Another’s misfortune is not a pedestal you up for future success. Above all, education that many across the globe do not have for personal thankfulness. That’s narcis- bolsters us onto our full potential by unleashing the privilege of participating in. This fortuity is not solely for my benefit, but the bene- sism at its worst. Uncle Ben was right: with great the power of the mind. power comes great responsibility. Education is a fit of others. The need is phenomenal.

You walk around a 5,200-acre campus, carrying Numbers don’t lie, unlike words, which often great responsibility, and with it, we have the even hundreds of dollars worth of material in your $80 do. There are more slaves now than all other greater privilege of blessing others. backpack. You have your future ahead of you and Some will use their MSU degree for the ordinary: the opportunity to invest into it. You have nothtimes in history combined, according to an analysis by End It, an organization dedicated to reduc- paying off loans, buying a house, a 401k — which ing to envy, Spartan. You are rich — filthy rich. ing slavery. This includes forced labor, the mul- all are good. But there are a few who will choose Derek Kim is a journalism senior. Reach him at tibillion dollar sex industry, child trafficking and the extraordinary, whether by feeding the hungry, dkim@statenews.com.

Editorial cartoonist

opinion column

Fitness facilities discourage health

F

or those living on camAt $85 a semester pass, or $160 pus and for those who a year-long membership, you gain are new to MSU, the access to the weight rooms at any intramural and various of the four IM sports fitness centers other workout facilities might on campus. Not to bring up our little sister, but the workout facilities disappoint.

I love my school, and, with located next to the Big House are the university grounds spread free of charge with a student ID as across almost 5,200 acres, there long as you’re enrolled in classes is a new part of it I have yet to for the current semester. Are we explore every day; but there are getting snubbed?

One of the amenities offered by portions of our now-roughly $430 per credit-hour tuition that could MSU at IM Sports facilities is the go to improving our facilities for group exercise classes. Salsa dancstudents, athletes, future alumni ing your way to the perfect bod and faculty members alike. Our seems like a great idea to get rid Big Ten university has to be able of the extra couple cookies (and to stack up comparatively in every pounds) you’ve been sneaking since your initiation to the unlimitaspect.

If we put half as much of the ed buffet-style dining halls includeffort that went into constructing ed in your meal plan. Unfortunateour mecca of a dining hall, Brody ly, these exercises also come at a Square, into our workout facilities, price — about $70 per semester.

Aside from working out at the our IM Sports buildings would be more likely to convince our pro- IM Sports buildings, there always spective student-athletes and ama- is the option to exercise outdoors.

The exception, of course, comes teur couch sloths to stick around.

Let’s take IM Sports-East for during a large portion of the school example. Sure, it’s only a hop, year when MSU is frozen stiff from the sheets of ice immoskip and a jump away from East Neighbor- guest columnist bilizing our campus, taking no mercy — in hood, but it contains which case, there is a weight room equivaalways the basement lent to that of a hotel. of select residence halls.

It’s always packed with Deep, dark, decrepit tank top-wearing bodybasements. Yay. builders who make the A stingy, outdated rest of us couch sloths room filled with mirembarrassed to step rors and dirt from our foot in there. For the Cayden Royce ag r ic u lt u r a l a nce s15,000-some MSU stucroyce@statenews.com tor houses a used and dents living on campus, abused stair stepper, a gym this small just along with two treadmills, that doesn’t make sense.

The two-story weight room in function sometimes if you kick IM Sports-West claims the territo- them on the side simultaneously ry nearest to South Neighborhood with one leg still walking on the

by Spartan Stadium (for which the belt. No weights allowed. A fan or twenty-minute walk from East two radiate asthma-inducing dust Neighborhood could be an exer- and musty sweat particles to fill your oxygen-deprived lungs. But cise in itself).

But that’s the problem — IM hey, it’s “free,” right?

To avoid confusion, no, I didn’t Spor t s-West is so far away that just describe the dungeon in “The w it h t he w i n- Silence of the Lambs.” I’m talking ter months fast- about the “exercise room” in the approaching, I’m basement of Akers Hall.

Our gyms and dust bunny-filled not sure I’d be dedicated enough fitness areas could use some spructo pry myself out ing up. For what students and Our gyms of my toa st y- alumni pay, and however tuition warm residence gets divided, I’d say that our fitness and dust hall to exercise and training centers only compare bunnyin a humdrum fit- to the recently demolished Morrill Hall. ness facility. filled Additionally, the desirabiliIM Sports-West fitness provides access to ty our Big Ten institution would areas tennis and volley- have on incoming freshmen, proball courts — that fessors and scholars would greatcould if you’re will- ly increase from facility improveuse some is, ing to step foot ments. Each of the 500-plus buildsprucing inside the pen- ings on campus should reflect what we all know to be true: MSU is a itentiary-lookup.” ing exterior. For a classy, fully capable, competitive place that is sup- university that guides its student posed to make you body to success.

Renovations and upkeep of our feel better about yourself, it sure could cause some confusion for fitness centers would only add to the modern day onlooker. It stands the grandeur of our home here in in the midst of campus composed East Lansing.

Cayden Royce is a State News of shabby orange bricks and “IM Sports-West” in minuscule white staff reporter. Reach her at croyce@ lettering on a side of the building. statenews.com.

“

Brandon hankins bhankins @statenews.com

Monday’s poll results Today’s state news poll Besides basketball, what types of events would you like to see at the Breslin?

Concerts 88% Variety shows 5%

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

nn

“Free speech issues to be addressed by faculty” Of course some faculty disagree with the decision to remove the guy. Those that disagree want to continue to use their position to do exactly what this “English” professor did. This has nothing to do with free speech.

The guy crossed the line and it was wrong. (comment continued at statenews.com)

The faculty is going to look into this? The faculty that has had their named tarnished because of the things this man said? Somehow I don’t believe we’re going to get a fair report.

John, Sept. 16

B.T., Sept. 16

We want to hear your thoughts.

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Features

Features editor Isabella Shaya, features@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075

tunnels Students give blood for red cross month h e a lt h

hard hats and

By Meg Dedyne mdedyne@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Students and community members are celebrating National Preparedness Month with the American Red Cross through blood drives on and near campus in preparat ion for emergencies.

The Red Cross is encouraging residents of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties to donate blood through Oct. 16 at various drives, including some on MSU’s campus.

High school and college students make up about 20 percent of all blood donations, said Todd Kulman, communications program manager for the Great Lakes Blood Services Region.

“We hold blood drives on the campus of MSU because college students are an important demographic for maintaining the blood donations,” Kulman said. “We are glad that school is back in session in order to get the students back into their routine of giving blood.”

I n honor of Nat ional Preparedness Month, the American Red Cross recommends three simple actions to prepare for weather-related disasters — get a kit, make a plan and be informed.

E a st L a n si ng hosted blood drives Monday at Snyder-Phillips halls and Mar-

Williamston, Mich., resident Kameron Best looks up from the inside of the electric tunnels on Monday by the Plant and Soil Science Building.

Georgina De Moya /The State News

Greek

Returning sorority expected in spring

By Anya Rath arath@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Alpha Xi Delta will be like every other sorority at MSU — they just don’t have the women yet.

The Panhellenic Council, the student-led governing body of most MSU sororities, is in the process of adding a 14th sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, to its roster.

If all goes according to plan, the Beta Theta chapter of Alpha Xi Delta will be reinstalled Feb. 22, 2014, said Allison Davies, an educational leadership consultant for the sorority.

Alpha Xi Delta is no stranger to the Spartans, Davies said.

The sorority was here from 1934 to 2001 and closed because there was a decline in the number of women going through the sorority, Davies said.

Panhellenic Council extended an invitation last year for Alpha Xi Delta, one of the oldest women's fraternal organizations in the U.S., to return to MSU. "We noticed that we had room for expansion, especially with the number of girls going through recruitment and the number of girls who weren't ending up with houses," said Caroline Voisine, vice president of programming for Panhellenic Council. "These girls who weren't finding houses could find a place in a new sorority."

Because Alpha Xi Delta is starting from the bottom at MSU once more, recruitment will be a little different this year, said Davies, who is in charge of starting the sorority back up with another consultant.

Their philanthropic events fund Autism Speaks, a science and advocacy organization.

Lindsay Parker, the MSU chapter president of Alpha Phi sorority, was an active part of helping Davies begin the recruitment process in the MSU greek system.

"They have a very strong focus on leadership and service, they can bring a strong presence of involvement," Parker said, adding there is much excitement and anticipation surrounding the addition of a 14th sorority to Panhellenic Council. "Greeks support greeks. We are all one big community, (and) we all have the same general goals."

Alpha Xi Delta will be participating in the first day of formal sorority recruitment on Sept.

21 and will be recruiting out of the Psi Upsilon fraternity house, Davies said.

“We're no different (from other sororities) — we just don't have women yet," Davies said.

After the first day, Alpha Xi Delta will drop out of formal recruitment and kick off their own on Oct. 1 in the Union Ballroom, Davies said. The first class of women will be hand-picked by staff members from the sorority's headquarters by Oct. 13.

Davies said she expects between 80 and 115 women in the first class.

The women then will go through a new member period for eight to 10 weeks, during which they will learn about the history of Alpha Xi Delta.

Alpha Xi Delta currently does not have its own house. They have the resources, but are waiting to build or renovate a house next year or later, Davies said.

"For the time being, we'll function out of campus classrooms and buildings," Davies said.

Because of the unique situation, Alpha Xi Delta offers the opportunity for juniors and seniors to join who might previously have missed their chance to go greek, she said.

"We're looking for people who are interested in holding leadership roles, (and) who are excited in taking part of building something new at MSU," Davies said.

Alpha Xi Delta was founded on the principles of sisterhood, leadership, knowledge and service, Davies said.

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“College students are an important demographic for maintaining the blood donations.”

Todd Kulman, Great Lakes Blood Services Region’s communications program manager

tin Luther Chapel, 444 Abbot Road.

The blood drives on campus are co-hosted by the American Red Cross Club at MSU and the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, said Shannon Smith, American Red Cross donor recruitment representative.

"The blood drives on campus are so unique because they are run by the student body," Smith said.

Great Lakes Blood Services Region serves 65 counties and needs to collect about 650 pints of blood a day to meet patient

needs in hospitals, according to American Red Cross.

All blood types are needed, but Type O-negative, as the universal blood type, frequently is in high demand.

K inesiolog y senior Ma x Golec participated in the event at Snyder-Phillips halls and is a frequent donor to blood drives on campus.

“Giv ing blood is something that I’ve been doing for a while now because it’s just a good thing to do,” Golec said. “The blood drives being right on campus makes it very convenient.”

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9/20 FRIDAY, 8:00 P.M. WHARTON CENTER

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Enjoy fabulous non-stop music, featuring the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, jazz and choral groups, soloists and quartets.

TICKETS: $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $10 for students Wharton Center Ticket Office: 1-800-WHARTON, whartoncenter.com, or at the door.

For more on MSU Music: music.msu.edu, 517-353-5340

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Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7 — Clarify your direction with friends. An idealist needs to be held to facts. That path is a dead end. Your words inspire others to take action. Phone home.

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Do the homework. Provide motivation. A book reveals brilliant insight. Play, but remember your budget. Glamour disguises a few flaws.

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Edit later. Set lofty goals. It takes patience. Keep a secret and gain respect.

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Set long range goals, including fun and travel. Your savings are growing. Take only carefully cal-

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Figure the costs. Discuss shared finances. Listen carefully. Write down what a wealthy elder told you.

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Spend on supplies. Clear up confusion before proceeding. It’s a good time to get your message across. Ask probing questions.

Try a new tactic. Divine intervention isn’t cheating.

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Imagine a new venture. Negotiate a partnership deal. Elicit a promise. Discuss, don’t argue.

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Keep the goal in mind. Also fix something at home to increase efficiency. Handle a household emergency. The more you learn, the farther you’ll go.

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Sports

state n e ws.com | The Stat e N ews | tu es day, sep t emb er 17, 2013 |

6

#snDailynumber

3

sports editor Matt Sheehan, sports@statenews.com Phone (517) 432-3070 Fax (517) 432-3075

Keeping last season behind them Bowling Green midfielder/ forward Kaitlyn Tobin fights for control of the ball against freshman forward Erica Goodenough during the game on Friday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. The Spartans defeated the Falcons, 3-1.

Men’s soccer

Zach smith zsmith@statenews.com

Men’s soccer needs more respect

Georgina De Moya /The State News

statenews.com The women’s soccer team is on a quest to avoid their Big Ten shortcomings from last season. To read about it, visit statenews.com.

Where’s the love?

On the heels of an impressive 2-0 win against a tough Marquette team Sunday evening in Wisconsin, it’s time for the MSU men’s soccer team to once again break into the rankings.

It’s only a number, and it doesn’t mean much more than pride, but those that are responsible for the various rankings out there need to realize there’s more to soccer than the past. After winning the Big Ten Tournament a season ago and having a team with a good mix of upperclassmen and newcomers to the starting rotation, MSU was slated to finish No. 2 in the Big Ten by the coaches. In the preseason polls, they were in the mid to low 20s.

Now, the Spartans (3-10) are being passed up by other Big Ten teams in five national polls, including the NCAA poll as voted on by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The likes of Wisconsin (4-0-1), Northwestern (4-1-0), Michigan (1-1-2) and defending National Champion Indiana (2-3-1) — the only team picked to finish ahead of MSU in the Big Ten — have all been ahead of the Spartans in the rankings this year.

Those programs have a history of winning, hence the high rank, but they don't stack up to the deep and talented Spartan squad this year.

The 2-0 win against Marquette by the Spartans coupled with a 1-0 loss by Michigan to the Golden Eagles last Friday has moved the Spartans ahead of the Wolverines in most polls, but what’s most impressive about the victory is how MSU did it — without Kevin Cope, arguably their best player.

If winning that way doesn’t turn some heads, I don’t know what will.

Still, the Spartans aren’t the only ones not getting any love in the polls.

Indiana, arguably the most formidable opponent in the Big Ten and defending National Champions, has gotten off to a horrid start this season

Shutouts, in four games, by sophomore goalkeeper Zach Bennett this season. and had dropped out of many rankings.

The Hoosiers (2-3-1) have won the second most national championships in the NCAA, and six Hermann Trophy winners — awarded to the top player in the nation — have donned the crimson and cream.

This year is a different story; the preseason No. 1 is flailing after three consecutive losses to UCLA, UAB and West Virginia.

It’s a good possibility the Nov. 1 showdown in Bloomington, Ind. could have a big impact on the regular season title.

Six of the remaining 13 regular season games left for MSU are against teams in the top 25 of most polls, including a trip to Omaha, Neb., to face current NCAA No. 1 Creighton and road match-ups against two of the past three national champions in Akron and Indiana.

If the Spartans aren’t getting any love in the rankings right now, there’s no doubt they’re going to stir things up despite what their record turns out to be.

Zach Smith is a State News sports reporter. Reach him at zsmith@statenews.com

Solid weekend gives Wicinski Big Ten volleyball honors

By Omari Sankofa osankofa@statenews.com The State News nn

With a tournament-winning performance, Big Ten honors and a major milestone approaching, it’s safe to say that senior outside hitter Lauren Wicinski is enjoying her week.

Fresh off of an MVP performance at the Butler Invitational, Wicinski has been named Big Ten

Player of the Week for the second time in her career.

Wicinski helped the No. 14 Spartans (8-1 overall) sweep IPFW, Illinois State and Butler last weekend. It was another strong weekend in what has been a good start to her senior year.

“It’s exciting,” Wicinski said of the honor. “Obviously we just had a really good weekend as a team, and I think I wouldn’t have been able to get that, or get those num-

bers, or get that recognition without them and without them opening me up for kills.”

She credits MSU’s offensive system as the source of her production. The Spartans didn’t lose a set during the weekend, a sign that the offense was adept at setting up plays.

“We were just doing a really good job dispersing the ball and I think our passing was really well,” Wicinski said. “That really, real-

ly helps us and that contributes a lot to our win. And everyone else did really well this weekend, so it was great.”

Wicinski totaled 45 kills during the tournament, and was a big factor in the game-three win against Butler on Saturday when she totaled 17 kills and four digs.

“She was on fire,” head coach Cathy George said. “Especially in the Butler match where she took over and really made an impact.”

Wicinski’s 45 kills placed her 10 kills away from reaching 2,000 career kills, an enormous accomplishment for a volleyball player.

Once she reaches this milestone, she will be one of only three athletes in MSU history and nine in the Big Ten that have reached the milestone.

“It’s early in the season so it’ll be interesting to see where she ends,” George said. “But she’s a great player and is very aggres-

sive and has hit the ground running as a freshman, and she just never stopped.”

The Spartans return home this weekend, and with Wicinski only being 10 kills away, it’s a good bet that she’ll reach the 2,000 kill marker at Jenison Field House.

“It’s just even more special because this is my family, my people,” Wicinski said. “It’s really exciting that ... I’m able to do this at Jenison.”

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