Friday 9/20/13

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weekend Michigan State University’s independent voice

statenews.com | 9/20/13 | @thesnews

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grad union to file case against msu for wages

Echoes of Glory

By Simon Schuster sschuster@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

MSU’s Graduate Employees Union, or GEU, will seek third party-mediated negotiations after the university denied a grievance claiming more than 300 teaching assistants have not been paid their full wages. Because of an overlap in the union’s collective bargaining agreement with MSU, which delineates the periods of employment for TA’s from semester to semester, the union and university are at odds over whether the overlap period constitutes pay equivalent to both positions. The 2013 spring semester period took place from Jan. 1 to May 15, and the summer semester period took place from May 13 to Aug. 19. Union members allege the university should have paid TA's for both appointments during the three-day overlap from May 13-15 when they were only paid for one. GEU President Dan Clark said TA's were, on average, paid about $200 less than many expected to receive. The discrepancy is a total of about $66,000 for the overlap period for all TA’s, the union claims. In GEU’s formal grievance disposition, MSU representatives said they disagree with the union’s assertion, which caused the union to seek mediated negotiations known as arbitration. "We were contracted to do two jobs during that time," Clark said. "The university has held fast to the position that they will only pay us for one of those jobs during that overlap period." According to the disposition, the university believes “teaching assistants were properly paid for performing the duties for which they were See SALARIES on page 2 u

state news file photos

Notre Dame and MSU line up at the line of scrimmage in 2006. The game was the 40th anniversary of the ‘Game of the Century’ and another chapter in a long-standing rivalry.

MSU-Notre Dame rivalry sparks historic moments, thrilling plays for both schools By Dillon Davis ddavis@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Sept. 22, 2007. That was the day it started for Nick Hill. On a visit to the campus of the University of Notre Dame, Hill took in a viewing of the 71st annual rivalry game between MSU and Notre Dame. After falling behind early, then-MSU junior quarterback Brian Hoyer erupted to have the game of his life, throwing for 135 yards and a career-best four touchdowns to lead MSU spartan football

Stephen Brooks sbrooks@statenews.com

With Cook in kitchen, MSU faces ND MSU believes it finally found the proper recipe on offense with a guy named Cook. The ingredients came together in the last of three appetizer match-

to a 31-14 victory. Maybe it was the first quarter stretch to the endzone by wide receiver Devin Thomas or the multiple touchdowns by tight end Kellen Davis. Maybe it was the fleet-footed running back tandem of Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick, who rushed for 227 yards on the afternoon. Or maybe it was the wry smile of first-year head coach Mark Dantonio. Maybe. Whatever the case, from that day, Hill was hooked. “My first game ever getting recruited was at Notre Dame when Michigan State beat them (in 2007),” said Hill, ups to start the season a week ago. Now in sole command of the kitchen, sophomore quarterback Connor Cook is challenged to serve up his first complete meal with No. 22 Notre Dame (2-1 overall) on the guest list. Blowing out Youngstown State gave fans something to chew on, but like most snacks, it could prove to be empty calories. The Fighting Irish are a different beast, with a talent pool far superior to anything MSU (3-0) has seen this season. “How we take the next step, we’re going to find out,” head coach

MSU football players plant the Spartan flag in the 50-yard line of Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind., following their 44-41 victory in overtime over the Irish in 2005.

who later committed to the Spartans in 2009 and now is a junior running back. “I went down to Notre Dame and ironically, it was Michigan State playing them and beat them, and here we are. “It was destiny for me to come here.” Now in his seventh season as the Spartans’ head coach, Dantonio leads the Spartans back to South Bend, Ind., on Satur-

day (3:30 p.m., NBC) to renew one of college football’s oldest and most significant rivalries. And with the rivalry set to take a break until 2016 — the first such break between the teams since 1994 — Dantonio said the game serves as a definitive measuring stick for the MSU football program. “After your career is over, See ECHOES on page 2 u

Gameday info MSU (3-0) vs. No. 22 Notre Dame (2-1) Place: South Bend, Ind. Time: 3:30 p.m TV: NBC Last meeting: 2012. Notre Dame defeated MSU in East Lansing, 20-3.

quarterback breakdown Connor Cook

Tommy Rees

Starts this season: 2

Starts this season: 3

Yards: 276

Yards: 969

Completion percentage: 55.1

Completion percentage: 60.7

Touchdowns: 4

Touchdowns: 7

Interceptions: 0

Interceptions: 2

Julia Nagy/The State News

Photo courtesy Notre DAme Media relations

To view a video of head coach Mark Dantonio discussing the rivalry between MSU and Notre Dame, visit statenews.com/multimedia.

See COLUMN on page 2 u

simon’s visit touches on penn case, enrollment By Justine McGuire jmcguire@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon sat down with The State News on Thursday to discuss important topics affecting students, including English professor William Penn and

enrollment. Professor William Penn Removing Penn from classes after an alleged anti-Republican rant during class earlier this school year was a mutual decision, Simon said. But she would not elaborate on what factors went into the decision, besides to say that it was done quickly.

“When decisions are made, they’re made in the light of the moment and have to be done in a relatively compressed period of time,” she said. Simon said removing him from the classroom was determined to be in the best interest of the students, but would not explain why.

She also said Penn still is employed at MSU and doing research. “He feels very passionately about his students,” Simon said. “He feels passionately that he needs to be a challenging professor and to do that in ways that cause people to think about what’s around them, which is

what universities do.” She added there is a delicate balance between a rant and challenging students to think about issues. “People want somebody who is dynamic, who challenges them and maybe is very forceful in the way they state views to cause you to think,” Simon

said. “There’s a very fine line between a rant and dynamic, See ACADEMICS on page 2 u

More online … To view an interview with Simon, visit statenews. com/multimedia.

more inside Apples in the orchard Farmers expect better apple crops for upcoming fall after poor 2012 campus+city, pg.3 East Lansing resident Doug Barr. Danyelle Morrow/The State News

Softball assistant coach dies in accident

Creating unique, distinct works of art

Friends, others remember MSU coach as leader on and off the field

MSU professor steps outside boundaries of classroom with new collection

sports, page 6

features,page page37 campus+city,


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