Tuesday 10/1/13

Planning for the city’s future

Exposing ordinary lives through art

First of three design forums held for Park District

New museum exhibit profiles artistic traditions

campus+city, pg. 3

features, pg. 5

Family tradition on campus Sarah Kovan & father enjoy close bond Sophomore midfielder Sarah Kovan Danyelle Morrow/The State News

statenews.com | 10/01/13 | @thesnews

sports, pg. 6

Michigan State University’s independent voice

politics

Fed. health exchange site raises questions

By Michael Gerstein mgerstein@statenews.com

THE STATE NEWS nn

On Monday at midnight, officials were set to unveil the federal health insurance marketplace portion of the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, despite threats of a federal government shutdown that loomed throughout the week.

Roughly 95 percent of MSU students report they already have health insurance, likely because of the AC A prov ision allow ing them to stay on their parents’ plan until age 26, said Kathi Braunlich, communications manager for MSU Student Health Services.

But that leaves a couple

Some uninsured students at the university potentially could use the new healthcare exchange thousand uninsured students who might be interested in checking out the new exchange, she said.

Braunlich encourages them to compare plans on the exchange to the MSU Student Insurance Plan.

“At Olin Health Center, we see students every week that end up hospitalized and never expected it,” Braunlich said. “A few days of inpatient care for mental illness can be several thousand dollars. A trip to the emergency room by ambulance will likely be well over $1,000, even if they don’t get admitted to the hospital,” she continued.

News outlets as recently as the end of last week were cautioning that some of the exchanges might not

See EXCHANGE on page 2 u

basketbal

crunching the numbers

By Justine McGuire

Breakdown of the Big Ten

jmcguire@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

M

SU’s faculty salary and compensation numbers are lacking compared to its peers, raising questions about the university’s ability to recruit and retain talented faculty.

The university is second from the bottom of the Big Ten Conference on average when it comes to faculty salaries and sits about in the middle for total compensation, according to data compiled by the MSU Office of Planning and Budgets for the 2012-13 academic year.

“There’s a lot of unanswered questions about why are we in the cellar on these things, of course someone has to be in the cellar,” said William Donohue, chair of the University Committee on Faculty Affairs and communication professor. “Adding 1 percent to all salaries would probably take us out of the basement, but it’s probably a lot of money.”

Recent data released by the Chronicle of Higher Education breaks salaries down by type of faculty, including instructors, assistant professors, associate professors and full professors. MSU paid full professors better than three other Big Ten universities and associate professors better than five, but ranked the worst for pay to assistant professors and instructors in 2012-13.

When people are first hired into the tenure stream, they generally start as assistant professors.

Donohue said he doesn’t know of any time when the university didn’t get someone or lost someone because of the pay rate.

Professors make less than people in the private market who have similar training, Donohue said, adding that salary is probably third, fourth or fifth on the list of considerations.

If the university could

offer more money, it might get more people here, but if the work environment isn’t good, money won’t keep people here, he added.

“As a general brand, I don’t think it looks good for us to be at the bottom.

I don’t think we should be at the top but I don’t think being at the bottom is a good place to live forever," he said.

Peer comparison Compared to the more than 1,200 institutions surveyed by the Chronicle, MSU is above the median for pay to full professors and associate professors, but below the median for assistant professors and far below the median for instructors.

As for his own salary, Donohue said it probably should be higher to be competitive with other people in his department.

He said that when he started in 1976, he made about $12,500 a year.

In 2012-13, he made about $97,000, according to the university’s public salary list.

“I’ve been well treated by the university and I feel very honored to be a

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon notes salaries are not overly competitive part of it,” Donohue said.

The average pay for a full professor at MSU is $131,200. Associate professors make an average of $90,900, assistant professors average $71,000, and instructors get an average of $42,200, according to the Chronicle data.

Izzo says Dawson healthy, ready Sophomore guard/forward Branden Dawson goes to shoot the ball as Michigan guard Tim Hardaway Jr. attempts to block March 3, 2013, at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. The Spartans lost to the Wolverines, 58-57.

State News File Photo

See BASKETBALL on page 6

National data shows MSU falls below Big Ten peers in key faculty salary figures

According to data from the Chronicle of Higher Education, MSU paid full professors better than three other Big Ten Conference universities.

PUBLIC vs. PRIVATE

BIG TEN SCHOOLS

Northwestern University

Faculty salaries differ between a public institution and a private institution.

Michigan State University

Ohio State University

Enrolled: 48,906

Enrolled: 56,387

Purdue

University of Nebraska

$176,700

Enrolled: 39,256

Enrolled: 24,207

University of Michigan

Indiana University

Enrolled: 43,426

Enrolled: 42, 133

University of Iowa

University of Illinois

Enrolled: 31,498

Enrolled: 42,833

Penn State

University of Wisconsin

Enrolled: 45,357

Enrolled: 42,820

University of Minnesota

Northwestern University

Enrolled: 51,853

* Private

Michigan State University

$131,200

16,475

48,906

AVERAGE SALARY Average salary among full-time professors in Big Ten $136,241

Enrolled: 16,475

Below average

FULL PROFESSOR AVG. SALARY

Above average

MSU Purdue

$200K

U of M U of Iowa

150K

Penn State U of Minn.

Ohio State

100K

U of Neb. Ind. Unv. U of Illinois

50K

U of Wisc.

0

University

The University of Michigan, which receives Michigan state support from the same formula as MSU, pays its faculty more — professors make an average of $148,700.

The Chronicle rated U-M far above the median in salary for every category of faculty.

“Certainly, the faculty understand where we fit relative to our peers — our overall compensation package is reasonable, but salaries are below where we need to be,” said Sue Carter, chair of the Steering Committee and a journal-

Northwestern Source : the chronicle of higher education infogr aphic by Paige Grennan | SN

ism professor. “We want a robust faculty and salary is one way to attract people.”

Carter made almost $132,000 in 2012-13, according to MSU data.

“I enjoy my time at MSU and I’m pleased to be here,” she said when asked if she’s satisfied with her salary. “It’s just a fantastic place — that’s what I hang my hat on.”

Balancing act Full professor salaries have risen across the board at Big Ten institutions over the past 10 years

n e w s b r i ef

Jury selection complete in mccowan trial Witnesses are set to begin their testimonies Tuesday morning in the trial of Okemos resident Connor McCowan, who is accused of fatally stabbing McCowan MSU student Andrew Singler earlier this year.

Jury selection concluded late Monday afternoon for the trial, which Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III said could last up to two weeks.

Most of the jurors selected were from Lansing, although some Okemos residents also were chosen.

McCowan is charged with open murder, which means he later could face either first or seconddegree murder.

McCowan, 19, had an altercation with Singler, 23, on Feb. 23 in Singler's home in Castle Point

and MSU has consistently been toward the bottom.

“Every organization wants to acquire the best talent. If you look collectively, we’re competitive but not overly,” MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said in a recent interview with The State News editorial board.

She added that the university will have to rebalance to stay in the middle of the Big Ten on compensation after cutting some components of post-retirement healthcare.

See SALARY on page 2 u

Apartments in Meridian Township, according to past State News reports.

Meridian Township police testified in April that Singler sent profane text messages to McCowan, calling him a "whore," "slut" and a "queer" the night he died. Singler had been drunkenly texting Connor McCowan's sister Shay McCowan, who he was dating and living with at the time.

Chris Bergstrom, Connor McCowan's attorney, asked potential jurors many questions regarding their use of social media and texting, as well as their beliefs on an individual's right to defend themselves.

Shay McCowan texted her brother that night saying Singler had broken her back and ribs, but later texted him to say she was all right.

Connor McCowan allegedly drove to Singler's apartment at Castle Point Apartments in Meridian Township to confront him.

Alumnus Tyler Aho, who lived with Singler at the time, also testified in April and said Connor McCowan arrived at his apartment door with a flip blade. Aho said Singler punched Connor McCowan in the face, causing a fight to ensue until Singler was fatally stabbed in the chest.

KATIE ABDILLA

internet

University to offer free Wi-Fi in all res. halls

By Nolly Dakroury ndakroury@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

University officials are looking to make free Wi-Fi available to students in residence halls in the coming years, with residents of Wilson Hall already experiencing the new perk this year.

The university has implemented free Wi-Fi service in Wilson Hall and will follow a phased approach in implementing the service in halls across campus to make sure that the money is "invested wisely," said Kat Cooper, communications manager for the Division of Residential and Hospitality Services, or RHS. Officials do not have a timeline for full implementation of the Wi-Fi service because finances still are being determined, Cooper said.

See SERVICE on page 2 u

2 | T he State N ews | T uesday, O ctobe r State News blog roll Academics ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, passed a bill to allocate $1,500 to sponsor the Student Food Bank’s 20th anniversary event on campus, which will be on Nov. 15.

K.C. Perlberg, music education and political theory senior and ASMSU representative, said the Student Food Bankshould use the anniversary as a chance to raise awareness about the program.

ASMSU Director of Public Relations Matt Franks said ASMSU has been working with the food bank since its founding in 1993.

The food bank, which boasts about being the first student-run operation of its kind, helps students who do not have enough money for food or a meal plan.

A lot of graduate students take advantage of the food bank because many have dependents and families to support, said Stefan Fletcher, president of the Council of Graduate Students, or COGS. The food bank was initially established through the collaboration of ASMSU and COGS. nolly dakroury

Entertainment Blog The ending of TV shows such as “Dexter“ and “Breaking Bad“ have had catastrophic impacts on their biggest fans. While existing TV shows might lack the same appeal that viewers’ favorite shows offered, it’s time to dry your tears and perk up because new shows are on the way for the upcoming fall season.

ANYA RATH

Three-day forecast

Tuesday Partly Sunny High: 79° Low: 54°

Wednesday Partly cloudy High: 79° Low: 57°

1 , 2 01 3 | state n ews.com

salary

Student leaders feel MSU needs competitive salary rates to attract topnotch faculty from page one

University officials have said in the past that MSU strives to be about in the Big Ten’s middle.

Carter said there is concern among faculty about the erosion of benefits, especially health benefits that have been cut recently, which will affect the overall compensation numbers and push MSU down in compensation category rankings in the near future.

exchange

Marketplace expected to attract users who aren’t already insured under other plans from page one

be operational for weeks or months, with programmers and testers working out kinks for various exchange sites.

At a briefing Tuesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the sites will be “ready to go.”

For Michigan, the health exchange is a federallyadministered website offering a comprehensive list of available health insurance plans, allowing people to compare policy prices and find out if they qualify for new federal subsidies to afford coverage required next year under the ACA. Most e x p e r t s e x p ec t mostly those with pre-existing conditions to sign up on the exchange, the majority of whom aren't particularly young.

T hat 's a problem for insurance providers, who dep end on you ng a nd healthy people to "spread risk." In other words, without people buying insurance who don't actually have many medical procedures or use expensive medications, companies could lose money and potentially fold.

The goal is to get both

“To raise the prestige and academic rigor of the university, it’s obvious that the value of the faculty would have to increase.”

Evan Martinak, ASMSU President

Northwestern University, the only private institution in the Big Ten Conference, pays every type of faculty more than any other Big Ten school when looking at both salary and compensation.

“To raise the prestige and academic rigor of the university, it's obvious that the value of the faculty would have to increase, and therefore, their salaries would need to be similarly increased,” said Evan Martinak, ASMSU president and international relations senior. “It's up to the universi-

“There’s no doubt that this is all kind of predicated on getting buy-ins from young people.”

Caleb Buhs, Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services

healthy and unhealthy people to buy coverage, said Stacey Hettiger, director of medical and regulatory policy for the Michigan State Medical Society.

Hettiger said everyone in the industry is waiting to see if young people sign up. Many are concerned they won't.

“There’s no doubt that this is all kind of predicated on getting buy-ins from young people in the country," said Caleb Buhs, public information officer for the Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services. "It helps spread the risk for insurance companies. It’s important for young people to at least explore their options."

More broadly, stakeholders wonder who and how many will use the exchange in general, said Rick Murdock, executive director of the Michigan Association of Health Plans.

"Right now, we just have broad details," Murdock said.

In Michigan, he estimat-

Continued service

ty community if we're willing to pay for exceptional faculty.”

Pennsylvania State University, a fellow Big Ten member and land-grant college, like MSU, ranked above the median in every faculty category, according the Chronicle.

“It’s important for us to have top quality faculty,” said Stefan Fletcher, Council of Graduate Students president. “Being at the bottom and in the middle … (is a) consistent struggle for MSU and they need to evaluate whether it is competitive within the Big Ten.”

Exchange Breakdown The federal health insurance marketplace was planned to launch midnight on Oct. 1 despite concerns throughout the week over a government shutdown.

About 95 percent of MSU students already have health insurance, but university officials estimate a couple thousand students don't.

Students are able to log onto healthcare.gov to explore their options on the federal health exchange marketplace.

An estimated 200,000 Michigan residents might use the health exchange, although anyone can log on and compare policy prices to their current coverage.

SOURCE: FED. health exchange

ed roughly 200,000 people — the remainder of the uninsured not covered by Medicaid expansions — might use the exchange.

Murdock said the majority of users likely will be those without any insurance, though current policy holders can look online for cheaper coverage and other plans.

University officials plan to implement the WiFi service gradually to ensure effective operations from page one

The cost estimate for the implementation of the WiFi service at Wilson comes to $350,000. Cost estimates across campus are yet to be determined, but a study conducted five years ago put the cost estimate for the service at $4 million.

The total cost of providing the service is expected to be known by October.

The university is expected to approve the appropriate funds by January 2014, Cooper said.

The implementation of the WiFi service will examine the system’s efficiency and effectiveness Through implementing the service gradually, RHS hopes to have a better understanding of the long-range service costs.

Officials also will closely examine the efficiency of the operating software to make sure that when the service is fully implemented on campus, it is functioning flawlessly.

Biosystems engineering freshman Carly Head said the Wi-Fi service has been available since she moved in to Wilson Hall this fall semester and has been running so far without problems.

The routers are provided in the rooms, and students can register two devices to

“(The service) is already something that is coming our way.”

Zachary DeRade, Residence Halls Association President.

RHA will discuss the plan Wednesday at its meeting.

the Wi-Fi network.

Working with Internet in dorms like Wilson used to require purchasing a separate router and going through the process of configuring the system, something students said was a time-consuming hassle that detracted from studies and work.

"The idea has been floating around for some time," Cooper said, adding that the Residence Halls Association, or RHA, has suggested the service to the university in the past.

The Wi-Fi service was discussed by RHA executive board members this semester, but it only came as a coincidence that the organization decided to implement the service, said RHA President Zachary DeRade. "(The ser vice) is already something that is coming our way," DeRade said, adding that REHS representatives will be explaining their plan for full campus ser v ice operations more in depth at the organization’s upcoming meeting on Wednesday evening.

The new service is a large investment by the university, which is funded through a Teaching and Learning Environment, or TLE, grant, Cooper said.TLE is a grant allocated by the state of Michigan to the university providing recurring funds for various longterm programs aimed at bettering the learning and teaching environment.

Crossword

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

VOL. 104 | NO. 122

Thursday Rain High: 73° Low: 63°

Index Campus+city 3 Opinion 4 Sports 6 Features 5 Classifieds 5

Level: 1

2

3 4

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 Summer Ballentine campus EDITOR Robert Bondy City Editor Lauren Gibbons sports editor Matt Sheehan Features editor Isabella Shaya nn

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

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10/1/13

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 2012 Ben Affleck political thriller 5 Organizes by date, say 10 Is able to 13 Former Defense secretary Panetta 14 Came into play 15 “Mission: Impossible” theme composer Schifrin 16 Novelist Tyler 17 Most populous city in South Dakota 19 Second-in-command in the kitchen 21 Demean 22 Baby goat 23 Legged it 24 Mercedes rival 26 Bus. get-together 27 Sharp ridge 29 Adman’s connection 31 Digital camera battery, often 32 Legal thing 34 Hoops gp.

35 Superficially cultured 36 Michigan or Ontario city on the same border river 40 Unit of cotton 41 Carry a balance 42 Yeats’ land: Abbr.

43 Land parcel 44 Continental border range 46 Last Supper query 50 Unbarred, to a bard

51 Fall mo.

52 Marlins’ div.

54 ISP option 55 Indian dresses 57 Canal passage connecting Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes 59 “W is for Wasted” mystery author 62 Margin jotting 63 Gymnast Korbut 64 Part of BYOB 65 Price 66 Low in the lea 67 Betsy Ross, famously 68 Lodge group

Down

1 “North to the Future” state 2 Pierre-Auguste of impressionism 3 Take it all off 4 Small bills 5 Barack’s younger daughter 6 “Murder on the __ Express” 7 Ski rack site 8 Lone Star State sch.

9 Gender 10 Ristorante squid 11 “Good Hands” company 12 Bouquet of flowers 15 Chem class requirement 18 Baby deer

20 Fishing basket 24 Neuwirth of “Cheers” 25 Home of baseball’s Marlins 28 “You’re right” 30 Very big maker of very little chips 33 Mall unit 35 “Iliad” war god 36 Home to millions of Brazilians 37 Half a superhero’s identity 38 Switch 39 Animated mermaid 40 Open, as a bud 44 KGB country 45 Take a nap 47 “No worries, man” 48 “Shame, shame!”

49 Detailed map windows 53 Recluse 56 Franchised supermarket brand 57 Put away 58 Almost never 60 Sit-up targets 61 Opponent

Get the solutions at

statenews.com/puzzles

Campus+city Cit y Cou nci l R ACE ‘ 13

Ruth Beier

T

–By Geoff Preston, SN

SN: What do you envision for the bar scene downtown?

RB: "From an economic perspective, we're probably satiated on the bar scene.

I don't think if you built another big bar, there would be enough demand for it. At the same time, I don't like just a broad rule without thinking about it. I would rather have the city council say 'Oh, here's a project. We don't want to do that, because we don't want another bar, or we

want to do that because it even though it serves alcohol it may have fine dining or something like that."

SN: What are some problems you have noticed with East Lansing?

RB: "I think for students, a really important issue that no one wants to talk about is off-campus housing that is near campus. With a college next door, there is going to be huge demand right up against the neighborhoods.

There (are) going to be students, graduate students, young professors — but once a row of houses are all students, it really crowds out everyone else."

SN: How do you hope to bridge the gap between the city of East Lansing and MSU students?

RB: "I think the entire city of East Lansing is a little schizophrenic about students. They know that East Lansing would not exist without the students.

Everybody knows that MSU is our lifeblood. At the same time, we want to live here.

Most people aren't students and want to be able to appreciate all of the things that a big campus has without all the headaches, which is just not going to happen."

Environment

MSU plans eco-friendly events for Campus Sustainability Month

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

October is Campus Sustainability Month, and to celebrate, the Office of Campus Sustainability is planning a number of outreach activities.

Activities include walking tours of the campus, student organic farm and Bailey GREENhouse, composting presentations, an open house at the MSU Recycling Center and craft workshops featuring recycled material from the MSU Surplus Store.

Last year, sustainability month events were more geared towards educating students about the Energy Transition plan. But with a more broad focus this year, assistant director Ann Erhardt said she hopes to engage more students.

"All of our events will be open to everyone on campus," Erhardt said. "We're actually looking to work with more student groups, to brainstorm more ideas."

On Oct. 19 there will be a "green" football tailgate before MSU plays Purdue at home.

Be Spartan Green encourages students to help the environment by carpooling to games when driving and use all-natural, chemical free charcoal.

"We're piloting a program to promote more sustainable game days, so we're kicking off campus sustainability week with a greener tailgate opportunity," Erhardt said.

Residential and Hospitality Services, or RHS, is also getting involved, RHS sustainability manager Carla Iansiti said.

With a food waste campaign, RHS will be encouraging students to clean their plates when they eat in the dining halls, Iansiti said.

“We're also going to be doing demonstration cooking at Brody,”

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

Development

By Geoff Preston

he East Lansing City Council will have new faces come the Nov. 5 election, and MSU alumna Ruth Beier thinks her economics background and financial know-how make her a good fit for the job.

Beier, an economist for the Michigan Education Association and member of the city's Downtown Development Authority, is running for one of two available four-year city council terms soon to be vacated by incumbents Kevin Beard and Vic Loomis.

Beier sat down with The State News and answered questions about her candidacy.

SN: What are your plans for the Park District project downtown?

RB: "One of the reasons I decided to run is because of City Center II, which never got built. I'm very interested in this project. it can make or break downtown. I think we have to do it. ... What I see going in there is mixed use, very dense, maybe on the corner, a tall building with a hotel and some office space and retail, restaurants and some smaller buildings that can be residential. ...

Whatever it is, it is going to be way better than what we have now."

3

E.L. residents get first look at Park District plans

Council candidate

Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a biweekly series profiling East Lansing City Council candidates prior to the Nov. 5 election.

stat e ne ws.co m | T he Stat e N ews | t u es day, octob er 1, 2013 |

KEY DATES Oct. 9 Energy Efficiency workshop at Michigan Energy Options.

Oct. 19 "Green" Tailgate, MSU v. Purdue Oct. 21 Student Organic Farm tour, Recycling Center Open House, Composting Presentation, Mobile Bike Service Oct. 22 Energy Transition Town Hall, Recycled Floral Arrangement Workshop, Mobile Bike Service Oct. 23 Tree Appreciation Walk, Mobile Bike Service, Recycling Center Open House Oct. 24 Green Roof Tour, Mobile Bike Service, Recycling Center Open House, Energy Transition Town Hall SOURCE: MSU Office of Campus sustainabilit y

Iansiti said. “We're looking into preparing a dish using Student Organic Farm greens."

To promote sustainable transportation like biking, MSU Bikes will be at five campus neighborhoods from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. during Campus Sustainability Week, which runs from Oct. 19 to Oct. 26.

"Students can get in line with their bikes for minor repairs, like checking breaks, pumping tires or oiling the chain — maintenance and quick fixes," Waste Reduction Coordinator Dave Smith said.

Other activities include energy efficiency workshops for offcampus students who want to learn how to weatherize homes for the winter and MSU Community ReUse days, where anyone can drop off unwanted household items to the Surplus Store and Recycling Center.

Dietetics senior Emily Hazel casts her vote for potential building designs Monday at the Marriott at University Place. The meeting allowed residents to learn about the park district project and vote on what they would like to see built.

gpreston@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

About 50 community members and city government officials gathered at the East Lansing Marriott at University Place Monday evening to learn about the Park District project in the first of three scheduled meetings.

DTN Management Co. put on the community meeting as part of a proposed $105 million project that would provide a mixed-use development with dining, retail, hotel and residential options.

The project ties in areas related to the former site of the failed City Center II project.

DTN began the meeting by describing their goals for the project and other aspects of its design, including different uses for the space, parking and examples of buildings in other cities with concepts they would like to implement.

Communit y members brought up questions and suggestions during the meeting, and future meetings likely will delve further into community suggestions and concerns, officials said.

Khoa Nguyen/ The State News

Colin Cronin, vice president of DTN, said community engagement is the overall goal of the charrette process.

"We've got our plans, but I want to find out what everyone else's plans are and see if they can't think of something more creative," he said.

City Manager George Lahanas said he was pleased with community turnout.

"You have to get people out there and hear their opinions,” he said. “I think the process has been designed in an excellent manner."

Dublin Square owner Paul Vlahakis said he hopes the project will help East Lansing catch up with other university towns across the country.

Dublin Square is a bar and restaurant in close proximity to the proposed Park District property.

"I think what (East Lansing) lacks is a density down here," he said. "You need critical mass to succeed."

Vlahakis said the community voice is being heard better as a result of the charrette.

"You didn't get a lot of these in

the past,” he said. “There certainly wasn't a charrette process for the City Center II project. When stuff like that isn't brought forward, you get a lot of push-back.'"

Cronin said that the most important thing DTN can take away from the process is maintaining the balance between what community members want and what is financially feasible.

The other two community meetings will take place Oct. 16 at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and Nov. 14 at the Marriott at University Place.

Diversity

Professor studies LGBT college experience

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

Colin Wiebrecht's involvement in the LBGT Resource Center made him feel like he had a second family away from home during his first year at MSU. But one aspect of the then-freshman's life was not as welcoming — his roommate, who he believed showed a bias against gay people.

The social relations and policy sophomore didn't feel safe in his dorm; just being in the same room as his roommate was stressful. Wiebrecht had stumbled upon offensive tweets on his roommate's Twitter, and when confronted, his roommate's defense of the tweets were "totally not the right things that people should be saying."

"You could say my living situation was bad for my academics for a little while," said Wiebrecht, who was able to remedy the situation quickly. "It just messed up my sleep and stress levels."

The experiences of students in MSU's LGBTQ community are the subject of the latest phase in a study conducted by higher, adult and lifelong education professor Kristen Renn. Entitled the National Survey of LGBTQ Student Success, the study aims to examine the lives of LGBTQ students during their first year at university.

Renn conducted the first phase of the study at the Midwest Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Transgender Ally College Conference in February, where she collected over 900 survey responses and conducted 60 in-depth interviews.

"The purpose of the study was to find out personal resilience factors, as well as environmental factors that help LGBTQ students succeed," Renn said.

For Wiebrecht, the LBGT Resource Center continues to be a major facet of his life at MSU. "You come here for support — It’s just a nice, safe place you can come to anytime," Wiebrecht said of the center. "I obviously used the resources here to figure out what I could do."

Renn said substantial research has been done on the negative climate towards the LGBTQ community at U.S. universities, but there is no research about what tools they use to succeed.

"In spite of (negative campus climate), a lot of LBGT students are successful, aca-

demically and personally," Renn said. "What are the factors that go into that?"

The current phase of the study will spend this academic year focusing solely on MSU students by interviewing a group of freshmen LGBTQ students four times throughout the year and asking them questions about iden-

tity and what's happening with them on campus personally, academically and socially.

Although the study currently only focuses on MSU students, doctoral student Blue Brazelton said the study will retain its national perspective.

The researchers intend to seek funding to conduct similar sur-

veys in universities across the nation.

“Even though this next phase is focusing on just MSU students, we try and make generalizations for any campus,” Brazelton said.

Renn still is looking for more students to include in the study.

Interested students can apply at http://www.lgbtqsuccess.net/.

4 | Th e Stat e N e ws | t ue sday, o c to be r 1 , 2 01 3 | state ne ws.com

Opinion

Featured blog First date: to pay or not to pay?

Ou r v o i c e | E d i t o r i a l

transitional housing too common at msu EDITORIAL BOARD Ian Kullgren editor in chief Summer Ballentine Opinion editor Celeste Bott staff representative Anya Rath minority representative Olivia Dimmer Staff reporter

F

or another year in a row, MSU has taken in too many students than it can house, resulting in the crowded, cramped transitional housing that is affecting so many students. Last year, hundreds of students were affected by a shortage of oncampus housing. As of last week, 545 are packed in dorms meant for only two people.

It's not just because of the recent large freshman classes.

For more than a decade, MSU has been a habitual offender when it comes to housing three students in two-person dorms. In 2004, nearly 750 dorms were overbooked at the beginning of the school year.

It's understandable that some calculation errors occur, but year after year hundreds of students are displaced because of the combina-

tion of too many enrolled students and too few dorms available.

Why does it keep happening?

The university expects some admitted students not to come to MSU or for more upperclassmen to opt out of on-campus housing, but the current situation proves that assumption was wrong once again. And once again, students had to deal with transitional housing for yet another.

Surely, there is a better way.

Although the number of students in transitional housing rooms has receded slightly so far this year — it’s intended to be temporary and should continue decreasing — there still are many who are stuck with the inconvenience of having an extra roommate. Students are reimbursed only a fraction of what they paid to live on campus, and not all are guaranteed a quick transition to suitable housing arrangements.

It seems that everything else on campus is improving: Spartan Stadium, cafeterias and newly renovated dorms. Yet students still are trapped in rooms much too small for three people to cohabitate.

The logical step to fix the situation seems simple: during planned renovations, tweak the dorms to accommodate three people if need be.

Build more housing. Do whatever is necessary to stop shoving three people into walk-in closet sized rooms that leave no space for belongings and privacy, because privacy is a commodity when living in dorms.

Comments from readers

“Who should pick up the bill on a date?

Keeping it traditional and having the guy pay is sometimes out of the question when there is no money to go around. So, do you split the bill and have the girl pay?”

— Derek Blalock, women’s soccer reporter, and Isabella Shaya, State News features editor

After a long day of class, trudging across campus and doing painstaking hours of homework, the last thing any student wants to do is come home to an overcrowded shoebox.

Not only does MSU admit more students than it can house, but there are no alternatives to living in transitional housing.

While fliers and advertisements for house rentals, apartments and cooperative housing still are circulating, freshmen living in transitional housing do not have the option to take advantage of those opportunities.

Students in transitional housing, freshmen in particular, literally are paying the price for the university's miscalculations.

If that weren't bad enough, some students even have to live with their resident assistants — creating an even more uncomfortable living space.

Since the main job of a resident assistant is to supervise, living with a 24/7 watchdog would be unnerving and annoying.

Living on campus is supposed to be the next step to living on your own and being self-sufficient. Having a live-in babysitter contradicts the goal of living away from parents.

What's even more confounding is that despite already being overcrowded, MSU still is piling on advertisements with the Live On campaign to entice more students to call campus home.

Read the rest online at statenews.com/blog.

When there already is steady interest in oncampus housing, it might be a mistake to broadcast rooms that might or might not be available next year.

Sure, living on campus has its perks: the camaraderie, prepared food and closeness to the university all are great reasons to pay more than $8,000 a year to live in a dorm.

And sure, transitional housing is meant to be just that: a temporary step to a better living situation.

Many have no problem with tight quarters.

About 172 students have chosen to continue with the accommodations this year.

But once you add in the lack of space and privacy that comes with transitional housing, the potential for third-wheel conflicts and the possibility of living with a resident assistant, poor planning on the part of the university is costing at least some students their comfort, personal space and freedom.

And that's a price that no student should be forced to pay.

Just so you know

nn

“ASMSU behind ‘WTF MSU’ campaign, will pay for clean up costs”

monday’s poll results JUST SO YOU KNOW No 30%

None 74%

Should the city have a domestic partnership registry?

Do you shop to cope with stress?

To vote, visit statenews.com.

No 42% 0

ASMSU cannot fix what they’re thinking they will be able to. We saw them get whipped by the university already this year... Try asking admin to lower rates...

Today’s state news poll

Yes 58%

One 23%

10

20

30

40

50

60

PERCENT PERCENT

Total votes: 32 as of 5 p.m. Monday

Stick to being the party planners/free bluebooks group.

Real Talk MSU #RTMSU, June 17 Editorial cartoonist

Not a single commentor actually read the article, did they. “The statement explained the student government was notified by university officials that their campaign was targeted by vandals, who used actual paint in place of the the chalk paint that ASMSU used.” Translation: ASMSU used chalk paint. Vandals (who may or may not have been part of ASMSU, but were not approved by ASMSU) used the real paint. Learn to read.

brandon hankins bhankins@statenews.com

Reality Dose, Sept. 27

I want my $18 back.

Student 007, Sept. 27

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

We want to hear your thoughts.

The State News welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must include your year and major, email address and telephone number.

Phone numbers will not be published. Letters should be fewer than 500 words and are subject to editing.

How to reach us Questions?

Contact Opinion Editor Summer Ballentine at 517-432-3070.

By email opinion@statenews.com By fax 517-432-3075 By mail Letters to the Editor, The State News, 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823

opinion column

Loss of party school reputation unfortunate

M

SU is well known for its storied partying tradition. As a member of a family filled with Spartan alumni, I have been regaled with my relatives' fuzzy, yet fond memories of their time at MSU (the '80s sure sound like fun). For years, perhaps due in part to my wild family, MSU consistently was ranked as one of the nation’s top “party schools."

But a series of riots in the late '90s and early 2000s that gained national recognition, however, cast a negative light on the university and drove school officials to work to clean up MSU’s rowdy image. Freshmen move-in, for example, was delayed to eliminate Welcome Week and limit excessive party opportunities.

Perhaps to the delight of administrators, MSU again remained

ries of the numerous student riots outside Princeton Review’s top that have taken place in East Lan20 party schools for 2013. sing, most notably the 2008 Cedar In an effort to clamp down on Fest mayhem — which riots, MSU has gone guest columnist caused thousands of doltoo far and deterred lars worth of damage and a healthy partyresulted in 52 arrests. ing atmosphere.

These events have hurt One would assume our image as an enjoythat a benefit of the able place to attend university's reformed school. Riots are not parimage would bring ties. The University of about an improved Wisconsin, for instance, academic reputawas not ranked as a “partion; however, this has ty school” because of bronot been the case.

Alex Dardas ken glass, tear gas and According to U.S. dardasal@msu.edu flipped police cars. In genNews and World Report eral, today’s notable party schools Best Colleges rankings, MSU remains earned their recognition because of tied with the University of Iowa at their lively social scenes that ultiNo. 73 nationally. Iowa, interestmately enhance a college experiingly enough, also was ranked as ence, when enjoyed responsibly. the country’s No. 1 party school.

MSU administrators should be less While MSU might have cleaned concerned about ridding the univerup its image as a party school, we sity of its partying history given its still are haunted by the memo-

negligible impact on the school’s overall reputation.

Instead, students and school officials should focus on cultivating a balanced image for the university. Reasonable partying paired with more studying on the students’ part would bode well for everyone.

MSU must signal to the rest of the country that this is a place where students can receive a world class education while having a bit of fun as well.

Alex Dardas is an international relations junior.

“ Students and school officials should focus on cultivating a balanced image for the university.”

5 | Th e Stat e N e ws | t u esday, o cto ber 1 , 2 01 3

state ne ws.com

Features

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

Art

MSU Museum showcases art work of the extraordinary in new exhibit

By Micaela Colonna mcolonna@statenews.com The State News nn

Being ordinary doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

One of the newest exhibits to the MSU Museum, “Extraordinary Ordinary People: American Masters of Traditional Arts,” was designed to introduce everyday individuals who have done exceptional work in cultural form.

Dancers, musicians, storytellers and occupational artists from across the country are being recognized for their work in the folk and traditional arts and are winning awards for their achievements.

“The individuals are not wellknown outside their community,” said Marsha MacDowell, co-curator of the exhibit. “(The intention of our exhibit) is to shine a light on these individuals.”

Joe Foster, a history education junior who works for the museum, said it is important to display the exhibit because it touches on diverse ways to educate people.

As a prospective future educator, Foster said the exhibit would be especially beneficial to younger

showing your

Sorority sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma take pictures of their new members Monday at Bid Day at the Rock on Farm Lane.

Hundreds of screaming girls found a home with their new sisters.

viewers because of the exposure to such levels of diversity.

“It’s a very culturally diverse exhibit,” Foster said. “You are encased with visuals of distinct cultures. For younger generations, visual is better. It’s nice to see that the museum takes pride in expressing diverse cultures.”

Holt resident Kathy Whitford said viewing the exhibit is especially important to students.

“Students (today) are far removed from cultures,” Whitford said. “And this exhibit introduces those different cultures to them.”

MacDowell said the touch screen text panels found throughout the exhibit serve as prompts for people to think about who is an exceptional practitioner in their life.

Each person displayed in the exhibit is a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts’ National Heritage Fellowship, a folk and traditional arts honor. MacDowell said the fellowship is one of the nation's highest art awards, and artists are nominated by their peers.

This is the first location the “Extraordinary Ordinary People" exhibit is being shown nationally.

Margaux Forster/The State News

Awa r e n e s s

Students, community recognize breast cancer month

By Ariel Ellis aellis@statenews.com

research

THE STATE NEWS nn

Shopping, doesn’t help with stress in long term, study says

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

For some, shopping might seem like a fun way to cope with stress.

For others, it could result in a vicious cycle of stress and spending, according to a recent study conducted by MSU assistant professor of marketing Ayalla Ruvio.

The results, published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, showed people with materialistic tendencies are easily stressed and have higher anxiety and lower levels of wellbeing. They cope with these traits by compulsively shopping.

"If it's a stressful event, you will have some sort of stress symptom," Ruvio said. "For materialistic people, the response to this stress is much more severe. They suffer from post-traumatic stress (disorder) symptoms at a greater level."

When Ruvio began the study in 2007, she and the other researchers focused on 139 citizens in a town in Israel that was under constant attack from the Gaza Strip. At the same time, they surveyed 170 residents in a different Israeli town that was not under

Young and old, black and white, women and men — breast cancer is a non-discriminatory disease that can impact anyone.

There is no cure and no one knows the cause; however, MSU breast cancer risk assessment expert Mar y Smania said those who are battling the disease should not lose hope.

"Breast cancer is a very survivable disease," Smania said. "Eighty-eight percent of people diagnosed live five or more years."

I ngha m Cou nt y residents and MSU students are helping raise breast cancer awareness during the month of October with campus and community events.

As an assistant professor in the College of Human Medicine, Smania, who has lost a grandmother to breast cancer and has an aunt who is fighting it, said her family history of breast cancer has been the inspiration for her to educate herself and others about the disease.

Understanding the disease and detecting symptoms of it early increases chances of survival, she said.

"It's so important to get breast cancer screenings,

attack. The researchers gauged how materialistic a person was by asking them how important possessions are in life, and if they believe those items would provide happiness.

They found those who are materialistic in both Israeli towns had a spike in their shopping patterns as a result of the attacks.

"For materialistic people, you have a double jeopardy — they suffer more from it, they try to cope with it, and then they suffer," said Ruvio, adding it is a vicious cycle because of the stress induced by the financial debt from compulsive shopping.

The study concluded with a U.S. survey where 855 residents were asked to imagine their death. The participants' spending habits went up as well, showing this habit is not just in Israel.

Anna McAlister, MSU assistant professor of advertising and public relations, said materialistic people might be trying to control aspects of their life through shopping.

"If you're living in this area, your home is under attack, this is one thing you can control," she said. "It could be about seeking comfort through material things."

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have regular breast exams and get mammograms at the age of 40 and up," Smania said.

"If you notice an abnormality — lumps, nipple discharge, skin or tissue changes in the breast — seek medical attention immediately."

Although breast cancer can affect anyone, Smania said there are several factors that put someone at a higher risk, such as having a child late in life.

Other factors include hormonal influences, such as starting one's menstrual cycle early, going through previous chest radiation, alcoholism, being overweight after menopause or having dense breast tissue.

"Just being a woman puts you at greater risk," Smania said. "White women are more likely to get breast cancer; however, African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer."

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modeled by local breast cancer survivors in the 2014 It's a Breast Thing calendar. The event is free, but there is a $5 suggested donation.

At 1:15 p.m. Oct. 5, the MSU Women's Club Ice Hockey team will host Pink in the Rink at Munn Ice Arena.

For the past four years, the team has held the event in October to support breast cancer research and awareness.

This year, the team will play Ohio State University.

About 50 percent of the proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society, and the remainder will go to support the team's budget.

The team also is selling pink shirts for $15 outside Wells Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday, and at the game on Saturday.

Team secretary Shelby Myers said having this annual event is important because it sup-

ports a cause that is close to her teammates.

"Everyone on the team has a family member that has in someway been affected by breast cancer, so we want to raise awareness and money for the cause," Myers said.

From 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 5, the MSU HealthTeam's Clinical Center will offer free breast screenings for uninsured women in honor of breast cancer awareness month.

On Oct. 26, t he A merican Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer will host its annual 5K breast cancer walk starting at the Capitol in Lansing.

So far, the event has raised nearly $24,000 — an amount that Making Strides specialist Kelly Knupfer said they plan to greatly exceed.

The organizers hope to raise $290,000, after bringing in about $270,000 last year.

Events to remember national breast cancer awareness month The sixth annual It's a Breast Thing will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Eagle Eye Golf Club at Hawk Hollow in Bath, Mich.

The event will include a bra decorating contest, with about 30 bras decorated by local businesses and individuals. Attendees will vote on the winner the night of the event. The top-12 best-decorated bras will be

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Horoscope By Linda C. Black 10 IS THE EASIEST DAY — 0 THE MOST CHALLENGING

Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7 — For the next two days, fulfill promises you’ve made. Chores need attention.

New information threatens complacency. Communicate with teammates. Caring for others is your motivation. Minimize risks. Catch your dreams in writing.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 6 — You’ll soon have time to pause and relax. Invest in success. Take a new angle.

Keep a dream alive with simple actions. Avoid a controversy.

It’s a good time to ask for money ... be creative with your budget.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is a 7 — Allow yourself to dream, but don’t buy treats, yet. Accept the support that’s offered. Stay close to home as much as you can the next few days. Passions get aroused.

Make a delicious promise.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9 — It’s easier to find family time. You’re extra brilliant today. A solution to an old problem is becoming obvious. Costs are high. Arguments about money inhibit love.

Keep a secret. Recount your blessings.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9 — Money’s rolling in over the next few days. Costs are higher than expected, too.

Avoid reckless spending. Make sure others know their assignments. Feel the magnetism.

Your greatest asset is your own determination.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 6 — Give loved ones more attention. They want your time, not money. An invitation says to dress up. Let another person take over, and defer to authority. Accept encouragement. Share your dreams ... the audience is receptive.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 — Get yourself moving! Make sure you have the facts. Get serious about your strategy, but don’t get stuck. You’re very persuasive.

You’ll think of something. It’s easier to finish projects.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 7 — Work quickly but carefully. Obligations get in your way. Being polite is a virtue. Talk over plans with family. Try not to provoke jealousy. Don’t waste your money. Friends offer comfort and advice.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 — Begin a new project. Take time out for love.

Include a female in your plans.

You’ll have to report on your activities. Assume responsibility. Exceptional patience could be required.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 7 — Let yourself be drawn outside your safety zone. The possibility for hurt feelings is high now. Don’t get stuck. Write down long-range goals today. Goodness comes your way. Act quickly to gain your objective. Balance is essential.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is an 8 — It’s time to get started. There’s a temporary clash between love and money.

Review your current budget.

Note all the considerations.

Passion grows now that the stress is reduced. Travel boosts your self-esteem. Follow your fascination.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 7 — Have faith.

Negotiate your way through minor adjustments. Temporary confusion could befuddle. Get family to help. Let another take the lead. Invest in your future without gambling. Respect your partner.

Sports

state n e ws.com | The State N ews | tu esday, o ctob er 1, 2013 |

6

#snDailynumber

0

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

Kovan family enjoys bond over Green and White ties

By Derek Blalock dblalock@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

She grew up a Spartan, and now is the starting midfielder for the MSU women’s soccer team.

Sophomore midfielder Sarah Kovan spent her childhood around MSU athletics. Her father, Jeff Kovan, has been a part of the sports medicine program since 1995, and has been mainly working with the men’s basketball program since 1996, along with other sports.

In her first two years, Kovan has been a key piece to the Spartans, starting 24 of the 30 games she’s played in, and could be a top midfielder in the Big Ten,

head coach Tom Saxton said.

Jeff Kovan graduated from MSU in 1983 and went to medical school in East Lansing as well, and the love of being a Spartan rubbed off on his daughter.

“I came in during the time period of Mateen Cleaves and that group,” Sarah Kovan said.

“Being in the training room with my dad, and he’s working on them and got to actually meet them. It’s cool looking back now when they’ve become these big figures for MSU.” But MSU wasn’t always a lock for Sarah Kovan. During high school, she said she was looking at other Big Ten schools, as well as schools on the East coast.

In the end, however, the

“At first, I wanted to get away because you want that college experience to be away from home.”

Sarah Kovan, sophomore midfielder

school she grew up admiring eventually came out on top as she signed to play at MSU. “At first, I wanted to get away because you want that college experience to be away from home,” Sarah Kovan said. “I know my grandma lives close and it’s her favorite thing to come to our games each weekend, so it’s really nice.

“The culture and Tom (Saxton), Tammy (Farnum) and Stacy (Heller) have a really good mentality about soccer, and aca-

demics and family are also very important. It’s not just the sport of soccer that’s important, and that was really important to me and you can feel that when you’re out here.”

With Jeff Kovan working with many sports teams at MSU the last 20 years, Sarah Kovan had the opportunity to go to many of the youth soccer camps hosted by MSU soccer.

“Sarah started probably coming to some of our youth clinics and actually played on clubs

coach Stacy Heller worked with,” Saxton said. “We knew she was a very talented and hard working player as far back as middle school and to watch her grow into a high school and club player, you could tell she would be something special.

She has an opportunity to be one of the best midfielders in the Big Ten, if not next year, certainly, before her career ends.”

Over the years, Jeff Kovan had the opportunity to befriend many coaches, including Saxton, which made him more comfortable to let his daughter to attend MSU. Jeff Kovan said it’s nice to see Sarah at his alma mater, but said he let her make her

The number of 40 yard plays for MSU football, being the only FBS team with none.

ow n college c hoice, like his other daughter Brianna, who attends Michigan. The Kovan's joke about the rivalry, but it's not serious. When it comes to women's soccer, MSU is the family's top team.

“For me, it was exciting that she was going to a Big Ten university to play soccer,” Jeff Kovan said. “It was exciting because she was going to play for coaches I thought were quality people, that would be good role models and mentors for her. Lastly, it was wonderful because I could attend every home game ... All those things made it special and unique.”

men’s soccer

men’s basketball

Izzo looking forward to healthy dawson

MSU hits road for pair of games Junior forward Adam Montague and Northern Illinois defender Dusty Page battle for the ball Saturday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. The Spartans defeated the Huskies, 2-0.

By Dillon Davis ddavis@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn

Julia Nagy/ The State News

statenews.com For a preview on MSU’s road trip to Chicago, visit statenews.com.

© 2013 EYGM Limited. All Rights Reserved. ED None.

There’s a story of two different Branden Dawsons.

One is of a high-flying acrobat with the body of a running back, able to make plays near the basket reminiscent of NBA Dunk Contest champion and former Spartan Jason Richardson. The other is of a timid guard/forward rising to the basket for a dunk, but instead settling for a soft layup in hopes his legs won’t collapse beneath his natural force on the dismount.

The difference? A tear to Dawson’s left anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in March 2012, ending his stellar freshman season on the final regular season game of the year. And when he returned to open the 2012-13 season after not practicing for much of the summer, Dawson struggled to find his form on the court for long periods of time.

But with Dawson entering his junior season, head coach Tom Izzo said Dawson is “a different guy,” looking much closer to the player that mesmerized the country two seasons ago than the shell of it he was last year.

“He’s playing harder, he’s worked harder, he’s spent an incredible amount of time in this gym and I don’t think he’s even thinking about his injury anymore,” Izzo said. “I watched some film with him and I definitely think last year — even I couldn’t see it at times — subliminally, there was vibes that he wasn’t the guy I recruited.”

Dawson started 31 games as a freshman, averaging 8.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game prior to his ACL injury. As a sophomore, Dawson appeared in all 36 games, increasing his averages to 8.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest, but Izzo said the injury often was on his mind.

That fact was never clearer than in the second half of a January victory against Nebraska when Dawson fell to the floor in

State News File Photo

Team physician Dr. Jeff Kovan talks with sophomore guard / forward Branden Dawson after Dawson was injured. MSU defeated Michigan, 75-21, Feb. 12 at Breslin Center.

pain after a breakaway attempt, causing Breslin Center to fall silent waiting for the verdict.

After clutching his knee before being helped back to the locker room, Dawson reemerged several minutes later to a thunderous applause from the Izzone.

“It was just planted wrong and my knee kind of buckled,” Dawson said at the time. “You know, my body went through a shock and I was just telling myself, ‘Not again.’ I had a flashback of what happened against Ohio State. (But) I just planted the wrong way.”

When discussing Dawson’s injury, Izzo often references Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, or RGIII,

as both athletes suffered ACL injuries in the NFL. Izzo said Peterson’s recovery set a high standard for the recovery time for that type of injury, given Peterson’s ability to bounce back into relevance.

However, Izzo said Dawson’s injury is more similar to the Redskins’ gunslinger, noting RGIII also has not immediately regained his previous form.

“To me, Branden Dawson is a freak of nature, RGIII is and Adrian Peterson is but one of them, and maybe only one, is a double freak of nature because it didn’t seem to slow him down,” Izzo said. “I actually have grown an appreciation for what Branden Dawson went through. I think you’ll see a different guy.”

Computed CAPEX and OPEX. Then learned how to cook Tex-Mex.

“One thing I’ve learned during my first year here is that capital expenditures and operating expenditures are only part of the EY equation.

On my project team, I work with people from around the world.

Thursday is our international cooking night, when we share our favorite dishes and a bit about our ancestries. We’re a team in the office, a team in the kitchen.”

See every amazing angle at exceptionalEY.com.