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DREAMING FOR CHANGE Group sheds light on immigrant student challenges PAGES 6-7

RED CEDAR ROWDIES The men’s soccer student section is on the rise PAGE 9

THE ROAD TO 110 WINS Look back at Mark Dantonio’s biggest career milestones

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CAMPUS

Alumni club members reflect on their time at MSU during homecoming week

BY CHANDRA FLEMING CFLEMING@STATENEWS.COM

As homecoming weekend approaches, Michigan State alumni from all over the nation ref lect on their experiences at the university and provide some advice for fellow Spartans.

Most states have alumni c lub s, a nd t houg h t he y a l l m ig ht h ave v a r y i ng opportunities available for members, they each f ind ways to carry on their Spartan pride.

Jacksonville Alumni Club President Toni Chrabot — who spent more than 20 years working for the FBI and is now the CEO of Risk Confidence Group, LLC — is originally from northern Michigan, but moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 2009.

She said she enjoyed every second at MSU. “Some of my best memories are with the friends I made there,” Chrabot said. “I think

I went to every football game all four years. One of my best memories was after a huge snow storm — walking through campus and realizing how gorgeous it was. The snow had piled four or five inches on every branch of the huge, tall pine trees. It was absolutely stunning.”

Chrabot graduated in 1984 with a degree in organizational communication. She said her experience at MSU was also inspiring because she was introduced to new ideas and perspectives she wasn’t exposed to before.

A lu m nu s Ste v e n C u lp, member of the Metro Detroit A l u m n i C l u b, c a m e t o MSU from Los Angeles. He graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

He said MSU gave him ever ything he wanted out of college, academically and socially.

“The ability to meet people of different backgrounds, a social campus,” Culp said.

“People in general were just friendly, happy to meet you, learn about you and willing to share themselves with you. That was everything I was looking for, and MSU provided that.”

A lumna Megan Jack son said she has hope for MSU’s future. She said she believes President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. has started to make changes at the university recently.

“Those couple of people that made decisions that might not have been the best at the time, those people aren’t truly Spartans at all. Because those aren’t the standards we hold ourselves to,” Jackson said.

She finished her bachelor’s degree in communications in 2016 and received a master’s degree in health and risk communications in 2017.

MSU a lum nus Rober t Hornik, who is the president of t he M ac omb C ou nt y A lu m n i C lub, t ra n sfered f r om We s te r n M ic h ig a n during his sophomore year.

He graduated in 1978 with a degree in political science.

He said going to a four-year universit y as a f reshman makes you grow up quickly.

“There is no one there to watch over you and you have to want to accomplish what you want to accomplish,” Hornik said.

Chrabot said her advice to MSU students would be to take advantage of all that the university has to offer.

“In the course work, in the culture, in this diversity that it offers of people you can meet and be exposed to,” she said. “Reach out to your alumni. Spartans want to help other Spartans.”

Macomb Count y A lumni Club recently provided three freshmen with scholarships to cont inue at tending the university.

Culp said he wants MSU students to remember that once you become a Spartan, you’re always a Spartan.

“One thing I know

i s d i f f e r e nt t h a n ot he r universities is when you go to MSU, wherever you go, if you’re wearing Michigan State gear, people will come and say, ‘Go Green’ to you,” he said. “If you meet someone from Michigan State, that is that ultimate bond there. I would say Spartans for life.”

The MSU Pom team performs during the MSU Homecoming Parade on Oct. 5, 2018.

PHOTO BY C.J. WEISS

Volunteer or earn MSU credits tutoring children or adults MSU Student Literacy Corps (517) 420- 1849 • literacy@msu.edu

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THURSDAY, SEPT E MB E R 2 6 , 2 01 9

OPINION

2019

COLUMN

EDUCATION

THE IMPORTANCE OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

ABROAD

individuals because it is inclusive of non-Spanish speaking countries and indigenous groups.

The term does not include romance languages, such as French, Romanian and Italian.

LATINX

BY EDWIN JARAMILLO EJARAMILLO@STATENEWS.COM

B

eing a first-generation Mexican American college student, it’s hard to look at the curriculum presented to me and see it reflective of my experience. This is true for many MSU students.

HISTORY OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

National Hispanic Heritage Month — which is between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 — gives Latinx-identifying individuals the opportunity to reflect on their cultural roots and help other students who might not identify with the culture learn more about what Latinx individuals have contributed to society.

When President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Hispanic Heritage Week bill into law on Sept. 17, 1968, National Hispanic Heritage Week was founded.

This was expanded and introduced as a month in 1987, when Rep. Esteban Torres submitted a bill to change Hispanic Heritage Week into Hispanic Heritage Month. Unfortunately, Torres’ bill died and was reintroduced and amended by Sen. Paul Simon.

The Senate bill then passed the House, and President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on Aug. 17, 1988.

The month celebrates the rich cultures, history and contributions of individuals whose ancestors come from Latin America, which includes Mexico and countries in South and Central America.

There is much more to the Latinx community than the term “Hispanic.” There are multiple layers within the community itself and it’s important to recognize and honor these communities equally.

HISPANIC

The term Hispanic, according to the U.S Census Bureau, is defined as a person, regardless of race, of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American descent, or of another Spanish culture or origin.

The term is deemed controversial due to many finding it to be reflective of “Spanish” culture and colonialism.

It is important to note that this term only includes individuals who are from Spanish-speak ing Latin A mer ica, according to Britannica.

LATINO/A

The term Latino or Latina — according to Britannica — refers to anyone born in or with ancestors from Latin America and living in the U.S., including Brazil.

The term Latino is embraced more by Latinx

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Latinx is generally used as a gender-neutral term for Latin Americans, but it is especially embraced by members of Latin LGBTQ communities as a word to identify themselves as people of Latin descent possessing a gender identity outside the male/female binary.

The Spanish language has a gendered structure. For instance, a group of women can be gathering and are referred to as “Latinas.”

However, as soon as a single man joins the group, they are referred to as “Latinos.”

Latinx is a push to be more inclusive and still refers to anyone born in or with ancestors from Latin America and living in the U.S., while also including individuals who do not identify with gender binary terms.

AFRO-LATINO/X

There is a deep intersectionality between the black and Latinx identity.

The term Afro-Latino or Afro-Latinx refers to individuals with Latin American descent and African roots.

Afro-Latino/Afro-Latinx individuals are around the world, ranging from Honduras, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

Being a more recently-coined term, many celebrities — such as singer and television star Amara La Negra — have opened up about their identities and what it means to be Afro-Latina.

WHY IS THIS ALL IMPORTANT?

The Hispanic population is 55.6 million as of July 1, 2015, constituting 17.6% of the nation’s total population. This means people of Hispanic origin are the nation’s largest ethnic or racial minority, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Furthermore, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population will constitute 26.8% of the nation’s population by 2060.

It is important for Latinx individuals to be given the space to learn more about, and express, their culture. There are layers to the Latinx community, and it is important to recognize and highlight the diversity within the community.

In this particular time, Hispanic Heritage Month plays a bigger role than it ever has before.

In this political climate, the Latino community has been dehumanized. Latinos have been called “criminals” and “rapists” by various individuals. This common rhetoric has made it easy for others to have preconceived notions of the Latinx community.

It’s important to be engaged and educated about the Latinx community in a positive manner, and I encourage all MSU students and professors to do so.

On MSU’s campus, there are a variety of organizations dedicated to serving the Latinx community and educating those who are wanting to learn and be an ally.

One of my favorite quotes is from Clive Barker, and he says, “Everybody is a book of blood; wherever we’re opened, we’re red.”

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SPOTLIGHT

DreaMSU members (from left to right) Isha Nigam, Finn Hopkins, Ayssa Ratcliffe, Erin Fuller and Shiksha Sneha pose for a photo on Sept. 16. PHOTO BY ANNIE BARKER

DREAMING FOR CHANGE

Group sheds light on challenges immigrant students face

BY EDWIN JARAMILLO EJARAMILLO@STATENEWS.COM

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F

or immigrant and undocumented students, attending Michigan State means facing a number of obstacles, including a lack of resources and MSU’s policy that they must pay international student tuition rates.

DreaMSU, a student organization that advocates for more inclusive policies for immigrant and undocumented communities at MSU, aims to highlight the issues Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, recipients and undocumented students go through while attending the university.

The new organizations’ title refers to the DREAM Act, which stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. “I saw a really unique opportunity to give back to a community that has been discriminated against,” DreaMSU Fundraising Chair Finn Hopkins said.

“There’s a lot of things MSU can be doing better.”

Hopkins said he hopes to see the organization inspire others to be aware of the policies in place at MSU. DreaMSU Social Media Chair Isha Nigam’s parents and sister are first-generation immigrants. She said one of the reasons she joined DreaMSU was because of how difficult it was for her sister to navigate through the college application process.

“She was kind of just on her own,” Nigam said.

DreaMSU’s president, Shiksha Sneha, spoke at the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Sept.

6 and highlighted what her organization aims to do this year.

“I moved here when I was 11 years old,” Sneha said. “I considered myself a Michigander, which is why I was surprised and confused when Michigan State not only identified me as an international student, but also asked me for international tuition.”

Sneha said she was lucky her dad was vigilant enough to go to many different departments and meet with several people — many of whom were unsure of what to do given her non-citizen status — until they found someone who could help.

“Many students want to become Spartans but choose not to because they know they can’t get out of this international student classification,” Sneha said.

The National Forum at the University of Michigan conducted a study that assessed how accessible Michigan’s two and four-year public higher education institutions were in admission, tuition, residency and financial aid policies for undocumented students.

Within the study, MSU received one out of four stars for “general support” of undocu-

mented students. The criteria listed under a one star reads, “Website lacks information about undocumented student resources and policies at institution,” according to the study.

The University of Michigan and Grand Valley State University each received a four out of four stars, which, according to the study, means each institution “has a resource center or program for undocumented students on campus, identifiable through the website.”

Graduate student Juan Mascorro-Guerrero spoke about the differences between his experiences attending Grand Valley State University and MSU at the board meeting.

“I graduated cum laude from GVSU because they believed in me and had resources for people like me,” Mascorro-Guerrero said. “They provided financial aid to DACA and undocumented students and had a staff member who directly worked with these students. ... I want Michigan State University to be more cognizant about the systematic barriers that DACA and undocumented students face while trying to enroll and persist through (MSU).”

“I want Michigan State University to be more cognizant about the systematic barriers that DACA and undocumented students face while trying to enroll and persist through Michigan State.”

Juan Mascorro-Guerrero Graduate student

SPOTLIGHT

Graduate student Juan Mascorro-Guerrero poses for a portrait on Sept. 18. PHOTO

BY ANNIE BARKER

“We came to America when I was two months old, and I actually grew up in Lansing. That’s what was frustrating to me. To have lived less than ten minutes away from campus my entire life but (still) being classified as an international student.”

Brenda Pilar Psychology junior Psychology junior Brenda Pilar shared her frustration in being categorized as an international student at MSU. “We came to America when I was two months old, and I actually grew up in Lansing,” Pilar said. “That’s what was frustrating to me. To have lived less than ten minutes away from campus my entire life but (still) being classified as an international student.”

Pilar said she didn’t know she would be charged with international student tuition until a few weeks before classes.

“I still remember sitting in front of the computer just crying. ... And after a few minutes, I just wiped my tears away,” Pilar said. “I feel like they just

don’t understand. We’re just in a gray area. We don’t fit in one or the other.”

Pilar said she’s fortunate to be able to qualify for in-state tuition after making numerous phone calls. She also said there are ways MSU can better engage undocumented students.

MSU recently joined more than 600 colleges and universities in a letter to Congress regarding DACA and support for Dreamers.

“Overall, the university is dedicated to being a welcoming, inclusive community and that includes for our undocumented employees and students,” University Spokesperson Emily Guerrant said in an email. “We believe our campus

is strengthened by the ability to learn from people with diverse backgrounds and experiences, as it enriches the conversation and challenges us to grow and think more broadly.”

House Bill 4798 — introduced

by Rep. Yousef Rabhi, who represents Michigan’s 53rd House District and is currently serving as the Democratic floor leader — was first introduced June 26. The bill intends to express legislative intent in support of in-state tuition rates for certain non-citizen students.

“I think if an undocumented DACA recipient student meets the residency requirements, they should have access to the in-state tuition level,” Rabhi said. “They and their families have been paying taxes in the state of Michigan, and thus contributing to the success of Michigan State University. It is unacceptable that we are treating two different groups of taxpayers differently.”

Currently, the bill hasn’t been a priority to Republicans, Rabhi said, and is seen as an uphill battle.

“Since the 2016 elections, there has been a massive at-

A DreaMSU member during the organization’s meeting at Case Hall on Sept. 23.

PHOTO BY CONNOR DESILETS

tack on immigrants in general and that’s not the society that I want to live in,” Rabhi said. “I wake up every morning thinking of ways that I can fight for my neighbors, whether they’re documented or not.”

Sneha said she believes this is something that can be fixed and something that is achievable.

“Having a website up just for

students who are undocumented or non-citizens is not that big of an ask,” Sneha said. “We’re not asking for money, we’re not asking for anything else, we are just asking for an official website that people can go to.”

Hopkins said although DreaMSU’s goal of establishing a “Dream Center” at MSU will most likely not be achieved

while they’re still students, he hopes to build a solid foundation so it eventually can be.

“Our goal would be to inspire more change at Michigan State,” Hopkins said. “If that can inspire other students to come join us or at least be more aware of the policies at Michigan State, I consider that a success.”

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DreaMSU President Shiksha Sneha during a DreaMSU meeting held at Case Hall on Sept. 23. PHOTO BY CONNOR DESILETS

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SPORTS

DANTONIO’S ROAD TO 110 WINS Win #1. MSU 55, UAB 18

BY ELIJAH MCKOWN EMCKOWN@STATENEWS.COM

9/1/2007

On Nov. 27, 2006, MSU hired head coach Mark Dantonio. Now, 13 years later, Dantonio has broken Duffy Daughtery’s 109 win record at MSU. We look back at the most important wins in Dantonio’s career.

Win #14. MSU 35, Michigan 21 10/25/2008 A year removed from Mike Hart’s “Little Brother” comments, Dantonio’s squad recorded its first victory over the Wolverines as Javon Ringer led MSU to a victory at the Big House.

Win #18. MSU 26, No. 22 Michigan 20 (OT) 10/3/2009 Kirk Cousins, in his first start against the Wolverines, struggled, but freshman tailback Larry Caper became the hero as he broke off a 23-yard touchdown run to win the game in overtime. Dantonio moved to 2-1 against Michigan.

Win #25. MSU 34, Notre Dame 31 (OT) 9/18/2010 It was this day that the famous “Little Giants” play was born.

Dantonio’s gutsy play call to have Aaron Bates throw to a wide open Charlie Gantt won the game for MSU.

Dantonio celebrates his 110th win after the Spartans defeated Northwestern 31-10 on Sept. 21. PHOTO BY CONNOR DESILETS

Win #38. No. 23 MSU 28, No. 11 Michigan 14

Win #39. No. 15 MSU 37, No. 4 Wisconsin 31

10/15/2011 Sporting the green and gold Nike Pro Combat uniforms, the Spartans won 2814 on the back of Edwin Baker’s phenomenal day. Dantonio moved to 4-1 against his rival in Ann Arbor.

10/22/2011 Kirk Cousins launched the ball into the end zone where it was bobbled into the hands of Keith Nichol. “Rocket” became one of the most legendary moments in MSU history.

Congratulations Coach Dantonio & Happy Homecoming Spartans!

Canterbury MSU

Editor’s note — Past issues still linger. On Sept. 19, ESPN reported former recruiting director Curtis Blackwell — who is suing Dantonio and other university officials following his contract expiration — said under oath Dantonio ignored warnings about a recruit later arrested for sexual assault.

In 2017, former defensive end Auston Robertson pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting another MSU student and was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.

The State News included this information to address the recent news surrounding the football coach, as not including the recent allegations would offer an incomplete picture of relevant current events.

Win #59. No. 24 MSU 29, No. 23 Michigan 6 11/2/2013 The Spartans held the Wolverines to a school-worst negative 48 rushing yards. Dantonio advanced to 5-2 against Michigan.

Win #63. No. 10 MSU 34, No. 2 Ohio State 24 12/7/2013 After losing in their first appearance in the Big Ten Championship Game, the Spartans shut down Braxton Miller and the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten Title and secure a Rose Bowl berth.

Win #64. No. 4 MSU 24, No. 5 Stanford 20 1/1/2014 In MSU’s first Rose Bowl appearance since 1988, senior walk-on linebacker Kyler Elsworth, filling in for the suspended Max Bullough, became an MSU folk hero when he jumped over the line of scrimmage to stuff Stanford on fourth down to clinch the game.

You are Welcome Here!

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THURSDAY, SEPT E MB E R 2 6 , 2 01 9

Win #82. No. 7 MSU 27, No. 12 Michigan 23 10/17/2015 Images of stunned Michigan fans littered the internet and praises of Jalen Watts-Jackson were heard around the world. Dantonio left Ann Arbor with one of the most shocking victories in college football history.

Win #87. No. 5 MSU 16, No. 4 Iowa 13 12/5/2015 With a trip to the College Football Playoff on the line, L.J. Scott bruised his way down the field and across the goal line in the closing seconds.

TOP: Dantonio after the 100th Rose Bowl game against Stanford on Jan. 1, 2014. The Spartans defeated the Cardinals, 24-20. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO BOTTOM: Dantonio greets fans following a victory against Northwestern Sept. 21. MSU defeated Northwestern 31-10. PHOTO BY CONNOR DESILETS

Win #110. MSU 31, Northwestern 10 9/21/2019 With a win in Evanston, Dantonio became the winningest coach in MSU’s history.

SPORTS

Red Cedar Rowdies section gives men’s soccer an edge

BY DEVIN ANDERSON-TORREZ DANDERSONTORREZ@STATENEWS.COM

With every Spartan team comes their supporting cast in the stands. Football has their student section, basketball has the Izzone and hockey has the Munnsters.

Soccer has something a little different.

The Red Cedar Rowdies are one of the Spartans’ newest student sections. They pride themselves on being student-led, organized, fun and uncensored.

After starting with just a small group of people, the Rowdies have gotten a little bigger each year, and the lead role has been passed down over time to students who show out for the Rowdies and the soccer team.

This year, one of the co-leaders is senior Nicholas Tyler, who, after playing soccer in high school, decided to start attending the soccer games. After working his way up to the front, he has been a leader ever since.

“I think in 2011 some guy just kind of realized that our team was way too good not to have a student section and started out by just going around and banging on people’s doors in his dorm,” Tyler said. “Over time, we’ve passed it on student to student. Anyone who has a passion for this sport and for this team especially has really just taken over, and it’s growing year after year.”

The principles of the Rowdies haven’t changed much over the years. Although they are bigger now and set off smoke bombs with each goal, their number one objective is still to give their

team an edge.

“MSU’s one and only student section, supporter section for Michigan State men’s and women’s soccer games. We just gather around, get rowdy for each game, try to help out the team any way we can,” co-leader Mathew Bluestein said.

Standing out from the rest of the student sections is something the Rowdies are good at. Being student-led, with much less input from the school, they have many more freedoms that other student sections normally wouldn’t have.

“We’re more uncensored than the other (student sections). ... We spend a lot of the game just having fun, being a normal soccer section like you’d see anywhere else in the world. Making fun of the players, making up the most random and fun chants, just really having energy the entire time. … (We) just make ourselves act like idiots and have a great time with it,” Tyler said.

The Rowdies can make the games hectic. Raising the energy level of DeMartin Stadium, and bringing all the trash talk they can, the group has successfully made it a tough environment for visitors to play in.

“We definitely bring a level of energy,” Bluestein said. “We’re right on top of the players, so they can hear us. The other team can hear us. We trash talk the other team. We get underneath their skin.

We’ve been told after games by other players that they don’t like playing here.”

The energy and support from the Rowdies hasn’t gone unnoticed. Year after year, head coach Damon Rensing has sent his praise to the group.

A Red Cedar Rowdies member celebrates after catching a shirt from the fan shirt toss during the game at DeMartin Field on Sept. 24. The Spartans lost to the Fighting Irish 0-1.

PHOTO BY CONNOR DESILETS

The Rowdies show up at every home game, and the impact is not forgotten by Rensing.

“Rowdies were awesome. … They were incredible from start to finish. It felt like I was in a small European stadium,” Rensing said after a game against Washington on Sept. 6, pledging to buy them pizza at the next game.

Being uncensored and free, the section is something that Tyler thinks more people should know about and would have a great time if they did.

Between the game, the chants, the energy and the atmosphere, the Rowdies have created an environment that is exciting and appealing.

“People need to know that it’s here, and when you come here, whether you care about soccer or not is beyond the point, because I guarantee that people that come here all the time aren’t always

major soccer fans. But you’re going to have fun if you come here, no matter what. If you actually just let yourself get into the energy and just enjoy the time, you’re gonna have a blast,” Tyler said.

The Red Cedar Rowdies are still looking to get bigger each year. In the past few years, they have worked more with marketing, adding t-shirts, flags and smoke bombs.

The section is still lesser known than most, but still manages to pack the stands each game and make it a fun and welcoming environment to anyone who has yet to come.

“It’s a little pocket of campus that a lot of people don’t know about when they come here, but once they realize what it is, it’s incredibly exciting. Win or lose, we always have fun,” Tyler said.

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Spar rha T H U RS DAY, S E P T E MB E R 26, 2 01 9

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CITY

RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY Stay up to date at: www.statenews.com/religious

All Saints Episcopal Church 800 Abbot Rd. (517) 351-7160 Sun. Worship: 8am, 10am, & 5pm Sunday School: 10am www.allsaints-el.org

Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St. (517) 332-1916 Services: Friday night 6pm, dinner @ 7, September–April www.msuhillel.org

Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Road East Lansing (517) 337-9703 Sunday worship: 10:00am Sunday Bible study: 8:45am Thursday Bible study: 2:00pm www.ascensioneastlansing.org

The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd. (517) 351-4309 Friday Services: 12:15-12:45pm & 1:45-2:15pm For prayer times visit www.lansingislam.com/

Crossway Multinational Church 4828 Hagadorn Rd. (Across from Fee Hall) (517) 917-0498 Sun: 10:00am crosswaymchurch.org Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. (Meet @ University Christian Church) (517) 898-3600 Sun: 8:45am Worship, 10am Bible Class Wed: 1pm, Small group bible study www.greaterlansing coc.org

Martin Luther Chapel Lutheran Student Center 444 Abbot Rd. (517) 332-0778 Sun: 10:30am & 7pm Wed: 7pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) www.martinluther chapel.org The People’s Church Multi-denominational 200 W Grand River Ave. (517)332-6074 Sun. Service: 10:30am with free lunch for students following worship ThePeoplesChurch.com Riverview Church- MSU Venue MSU Union Ballroom, 2nd Floor 49 Abbot Rd. (517) 694-3400 Sun. Worship: 11:30am-ish www.rivchurch.com

St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C Ave. (517) 337-9778 Sun: 8am, 10am, Noon, 5pm, 7pm M,W,F: 12:15pm T & Th: 9:15pm www.stjohnmsu.org University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd (517) 332-5193 Sun. Bible Study: 10am Sun. Worship: 11:15am www.universitychristianwired.com

EAST LANSING WELCOMES THE WORLD

BY CHASE MICHAELSON CMICHAELSON@STATENEWS.COM

E

ast Lansing Mayor Mark Meadows urged the international communit y of East Lansing to make their voices heard and numbers count during an appearance at the East Lansing Welcomes the World event on Friday, Sept. 20 at the East Lansing Public Library.

“This is a very special year,” Meadows told the crowd of more than 200 community members, most of international origin.

"This is the year of the United States census. You are counted as a resident of the United States on April 1 ... for our census, so thank you for helping us raise

PHOTOS BY SYLVIA JARRUS SJARRUS@STATENEWS.COM

the number of people who live in the city of East Lansing. Thank you again for choosing Michigan State University to come to.”

According to MSU’s Office for International Students and Scholars, more than 9,000 international students along with faculty, staff and their family members live in East Lansing and the surrounding areas.

The event Friday night was family-focused, with children playing in the halls and taking pictures.

Even Sparty, MSU's mascot, made a brief appearance.

Food was available to reflect

University United Methodist Church 1120 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Main Service: Sun: 11am in the Sanctuary Additional Services: NEW contemporary service Sundays at 9am with band titled ‘REACH’ TGiT (Thank God its Thursday): Thur: 8pm in the Chapel of Apostles universitychurchhome.org office@eluumc.org

the diverse flavor of the event.

International students said the location of the event — the East Lansing Public Library — made it feel like a safe place to bring their families.

“I have a library card of the East Lansing Library, and in the summer, we came every other day,” said Nazia Iqbal, a Fulbright postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies. Iqbal is from Pakistan, and she said her three children view the library as a recreational space.

“I try to come here (often),” Iqbal said. “My kids enjoy playing here and reading. They have a lot of books at home. They love it.”

A DJ played music and offered karaoke, which only had one taker — five year-old Derrick, whose parents are Ghanian immigrants. Derrick sang Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” but admitted later he was slightly nervous.

“It was scary because there were a lot of people,” he said.

“But I really like to dance and sing.”

WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbot Rd. (517) 580-3744 Sat: 6:30pm msu.edu/~welsluth

TOP: East Lansing resident Lakeisha Alexander (center) claps with her daughters Raneja,12, and Raneira,12, after her son Derrick performed a karaoke routine.

Religious Organizations:

Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory!

Call (517)295-1680 to speak with an Account Executive today

CENTER: Kids greet Sparty during the East Lansing Welcomes the World event on Sept. 20 at the East Lansing Public Library.

BOTTOM RIGHT: East Lansing resident Derrick Adams, 7, sings “Old Town Road”.

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T H E STAT E NE WS

T H U R S DAY, S E PTE M B E R 2 6, 2 01 9

CITY

Meet the 6 candidates running for 3 East Lansing City Council seats

BY LUCAS DAY LDAY@STATENEWS.COM

The Nov. 5, 2019 East Lansing City Council election is approaching, and here’s what voters need to know. Students planning to vote in the election need to register by Oct. 21.

After that, registration must happen in person at the East Lansing City Clerk’s office. Proposal 3, which passed in 2018, allows any registered voter to request an absentee voter ballot without reason as well as same-day

ERIK ALTMANN

Mayor Pro Tem Erik Altmann is seeking a second term, with environmental issues central to his platform.

He said he wholeheartedly supported an ordinance passed March 2019 requiring electric vehicle charging stations at new developments and wants to put solar panels on all city buildings.

Altmann said he supports the approval of new downtown developments including the Center City District. He also said he was a crucial player in the move to adopt a citywide income tax and avoiding a potential financial crisis.

Going forward, Altmann said he would like to attract a large corporate tenant to East Lansing to create jobs and retain talented Michigan State students post-graduation.

“If we had federal leadership on environmental issues, then we could relax. But we don’t have federal leadership on environmental issues, we don’t even have state leadership on environmental issues and so every municipality in the country has to step up,” Altmann said.

FUN FACT Altmann has been a psychology professor at Michigan State since 2013.

LISA BABCOCK

Lawyer and former reporter Lisa Babcock launched her bid for city council with concerns about the transparency of the current council.

Babcock said she is frustrated by how difficult it is to get information from the council.

Babcock also favors swift action on environmental issues. She said she would like to see solar panels being placed on city buildings and for building rooftops to be painted white to reduce heat buildup in the buildings.

Babcock said she thinks the poverty rates for children and the elderly in East Lansing are far too high. If elected, she would work to restructure the budget to give assistance to this part of the demographic.

“You don’t need 53-year-old me telling you what you want,” Babcock said. Come to me, tell me what you want.”

FUN FACT Babcock said she almost always carries voter registration papers with her in an effort to help as many people register as possible.

JESSY GREGG

Jessy Gregg, owner of Seams fabric store, said she offers a perspective that city council is in need of.

She said that she doesn’t think the

current city council is working against business downtown, but they’re working without a complete set of information.

Gregg said she would like to see Michigan State work more closely with the city council to address the needs of students. She would like to see infrastructure changes in the city that would allow for more travel by foot and bike for students going on and off campus.

Gregg currently serves on the East Lansing Arts Commission and will prioritize art in East Lansing if she’s elected.

“There’s only so many long, four-hour long, city council meetings that you can sit through as a passive observer,” Gregg said. “I want to be on the other side of that table.”

registration.

The clerk’s office maintains an automatic applications list for voters to automatically receive an absent voter ballot application before each election in East Lansing.

Three seats on East Lansing City Council are up for grabs to six candidates, and The State News has held video interviews with each candidate. cil communicating with their constituents. He would also work to make sure that the council holds more public forums if he’s elected.

“Is somebody going to end up with empty buildings, and is it going to be a disaster when we hit a recession?” Revitte said.

FUN FACT Revitte has served on the East Lansing Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission and on the farmers’ market committee.

WARREN STANFIELD III MSU political science-prelaw student Warren Stanfield is looking to represent the student population on the council.

FUN FACT Gregg founded the Warrior Goddess Training Academy and is an avid runner.

Stanfield also stressed the importance of representing minority communities. He said his voice is needed because the current council and other candidates can’t understand the needs of disadvantaged communities in the way he can.

Stanfield said he’d like to see Michigan State work more closely with the city of East Lansing to help students in a tough place financially. He pointed to MSU’s high attrition rate as evidence that something needs to change.

“It’s just something that’s been in my blood. Service,” Stanfield said.

FUN FACT If elected, Stanfield would be the third student ever to serve on the council.

MARK MEADOWS

Mayor Mark Meadows has a long history in East Lansing. There is no one more responsible for the current construction of East Lansing than Mayor Meadows. After serving as mayor in the 90s and 2000s, Meadows left to serve as a state representative. He came back in 2015 and hit the ground running, approving a number of new developments around the city.

Meadows served on the first East Lansing Commission on the Environment and oversees a plan designed to eventually power East Lansing with 100% renewable energy.

While Meadows played a huge role in developments like the Center City District coming to fruition in recent years, he wants to pump the brakes a bit going forward with city development. He said he’d like to see how the new complexes do and give it a little time before taking on more large projects.

“I hope everybody knows that they can come and talk to me any time,” Meadows said. “They can call me if there’s an issue. I am interested in the student viewpoint on the things we do here.”

FUN FACT When Meadows began serving as the state representative for Michigan’s 69th district, he took over for current Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

JOHN REVITTE

John Revitte was a Michigan State labor studies professor for 36 years, which he said provides him with knowledge that will help him serve the student community if he is elected.

One of his main concerns is about recent developments in downtown Lansing. Revitte said he is concerned about student housing being built downtown and is skeptical about the long-term outlook for the new complexes.

Revitte stressed the importance of the coun-

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Employment

Apts. For Rent

Houses/Rent

MECHANICS NEEDED at Deb’s Trucking. Owosso and Lansing locations. Call (989) 277-7731 for more information.

BEAUTIFUL ONE bedroom upstairs apartment. Available for 1 tenant. Very close to campus. Free utilities and cable included. 368 Oakhill. 517-332-1763.

AUG 2020-2021 HOUSES. Lic. 3,4,5,6,7,8. Excellent Locations.

Top Conditions.

Extensive Updates. Call or Text: 517-4903082.

NEWLY RENOVATED apartments-Grand River+MAC. Free heat+water! Email mmarcinko@ landmarkcres.com to receive detailed information.

Brand New Townhomes; 517-537 Albert. 7 bed, 3 bth, bsmt, w/d, d/w, covered porch, a/c, great parking, lic. 7-8. Leasing starts Oct. 4th. hrirentals.com. 517-3510765.

RETAIL SALES Clerk Delphi Glass Creativity Center. P/t, includes weekends. Apply @ 3380 E Jolly Rd. 394-4685 or roy@delphiglass. com

Apts. For Rent 1st block of Durand; new/remodeled 2-4 beds. Great parking.

W/D, D/W, hardwood. Some incl. utilities. Leasing starts Oct. 4th. hrirentals.com. 517-351-0765.

Across from Hub; nearly half the price! 911 E. Grand River. 2 bed, 1 bth, balcony, w/d, d/w & parking. Leasing starts Oct. 4th. hrirentals.com. 517-351-0765.

statenews.com

Houses/Rent 200+ Houses & Apartments. Lic. 1-9. Variety of locations & prices.

Leasing starts Oct. 4th. Hagan Realty. hrirentals.com. 517-3510765.

2020 AUG houses available. Lic 2-6 people. www.gutowrentals. com or call 517-749-4767.

LIC FOR 4. Close to campus.

Excellent rates. Call 517-4101198 or 517-203-5157 MSU CLOSE FALL 2020 msurentalhouses.com or Call/Text Rick at 810-588-7204. Lic for 4, 4 bdrms, Parking for 4, Wash/Dryer/Dish, 3 blocks from MSU

2020 Houses. Licensed for 3-8.

Great locations & rates. Call 517.202.0920 or visit msuhouses. com.

T H U RS DAY, S E P T E MB E R 2 6, 2 01 9

STATE N E WS .CO M

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THE STATE NEWS

THURSDAY, SEPT E MB E R 2 6 , 2 01 9