Thursday 10/24/19

Michigan State’s Independent Voice

THE PROBLEM WITH VAPING Some call it a lifestyle.

Others call it a public health emergency.

PAG E S 4 -5 E D ITO R I A L

SPORTS

CAMPUS

Racism at MSU needs consequences

Pistons basketball training camp at MSU

Racist incidents prompt discussion

“When two black students find nooses taped to their dorm room door, it’s not a ‘Halloween prank’”

The Spartans learned from the Detroit Pistons during the NBA team’s training camp

After incidents of racism on campus, MSU community members are speaking out

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T HU R S DAY, O C TO B E R 24 , 2 019

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COMMUNITY

The 5 biggest culture shocks for MSU students from rural towns

BY ELIJAH MCKOWN EMCKOWN@STATENEWS.COM

Every college student experiences a major change in their lifestyle when they begin college, but students from rural communities often face culture shocks when they first step onto campus.

While East Lansing might not seem big to most, but to rural students it appears as a sprawling metropolis.

Some students shared their perspectives on East Lansing and highlighted the five biggest culture shocks they have experienced at MSU.

1. VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS

While many people complain about the lack of college bars and restaurants near campus, rural students are often overwhelmed by the amount of choices they have.

Having the ability to eat at the dining halls, Sparty’s, The Union, the International Center and all the other restaurants in East Lansing is an enormous luxury in the eyes of a small-town student.

Engineering freshman Ryan Laka-

tos, from Sand Creek, Michigan, said he has thrived with the variety of options.

“It’s definitely nice. I really like the dining halls on campus,” he said.

Lakatos said the close proximity of the dining hall and Sparty’s is more convenient than he anticipated.

However, for some students, it might not be the lack of options, it is a lack of variety.

Human biology freshman Gabby England said she enjoys the variety of food she can now have.

“Just even in the dining halls when they have the different groups of ethnic food, I have been trying to try some of those out that I’ve never had before,” England said. “It’s a lot different than Wendy’s, McDonald’s and all of the American burger places.”

2. THE CHANGE IN WATER

Rural students often have a completely different water system than the one used in East Lansing.

Mechanical engineering freshman Carter Stefanovski is from Whitmore Lake, a small town near Ann

Arbor, and was used to his well water system. A well water system is a water system where each house has its own water system instead of the typical industrial pipe system in cities like East Lansing.

“I got a filter because (the water) was very different. ... It was very iron-y,” Stefanovski said.

The well water system taste can change house to house depending on the quality of the pump within the system, so the experience might be different from individual to individual.

Regardless, the taste of water can be a huge change.

3. VARIETY OF TRANSPORTATION

Often the only means of transportation for rural residents is by car.

There are no Gotcha scooters or CATA bus systems. In addition, there are not many Ubers or Lyfts in most small towns.

“It’s actually kind of fun. Back at home ... there weren’t many places to ride a bike, and I get to ride a bike every day, and I love it,” Stefanovski said.

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4. CLASS SIZE

Many new college students are blown away with the large lectures they have to take at some point in their college education, but for small town kids, it is an even bigger transition. For Lakatos, it was a huge transition.

“Almost all of my classes were down one stretch of a hallway. I had classes in five different classrooms at my high school,” Lakatos said.

“The 300 to 400 kid lectures are just insane. I come from a school where I had a class of six kids my senior year.”

While a six-person class may be an extreme outlier, the large class sizes rural students are forced to adjust to can be an enlightening yet frightening experience.

5. RACIAL DIVERSITY

One of the biggest changes for all

www.rha.msu.ed u ccc@rha.msu.ed u 517-355-8285

THURSDAY, OCTOB E R 24, 2 01 9

rural students is the diversity of the MSU student body. Often, the places rural students come from are predominantly white.

England is from Onsted, Michigan, a town that is 96.2% white, according to the 2010 census.

“In Onsted, it was basically all white people. So coming here, it’s definitely been a lot different on how much they embrace diversity and how much they make everyone try to feel ... welcome here,” England said.

England also has tried to find a way to truly embrace the diversity of MSU by trying out MRULE. “A lot of different people show up and we talk about global issues. To get a perspective of those different people that are like, ‘I’m originally from this place and here, this happens,’ and it’s cool to hear about that. That is why I joined MRULE in the first place. Because of that diversity there,” England said.

While all college students experience serious change, students from rural backgrounds face perhaps some of the most unique culture shocks among the student body.

EDITORIAL: Racism needs consequences at MSU

BY THE STATE NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK@STATENEWS.COM

October 24-27

From lecture to the silver screen, come see a movie at Wells Hall with RHA this weekend!

However, Stefanovski said there are some drawbacks for students who miss the independence of their vehicles.

“I’m missing my truck right now,” he said.

Let’s call things what they are, Michigan State.

When two black students find nooses taped to their dorm room door, it’s not a “Halloween prank.” The fact that MSU’s Residence Education and Housing Services, or REHS, initially accepted the explanation of the perpetrators — that the toilet paper they taped to the door wasn’t intended to look like a noose — tells the student body at large that MSU values its racists on campus more than its students of color.

MSU needs to hold people accountable for acts of discrimination. Racism on campus is inexcusable in every instance, it’s not a joke or a prank.

This recent incident isn’t an isolated one on campus.

In 2011, a black doll was hung in a noose in the Biochemistry Building and racist writing was found on the dorm doors of black students, and in 2017 a noose later dismissed by police as a “packaged shoelace” was found hanging in a dorm.

There is a history of racism on this campus, and pretending each instance is isolated is dismissive.

There is an ongoing Office of Institutional Equity, or OIE,

investigation into the most recent incident, but given REHS’s rhetoric about what happened, it feels unlikely we’ll see real accountability.

The investigation will happen behind closed doors, but the protocol they follow is found online.

OIE’s standards of assessing incidents like these fall into three levels. Level one is a single nonviolent incident in which a member of a protected group is targeted for abuse.

Level two is physical intimidation, threat of physical violence, or multiple bias incidents. Level three is an act of violence.

Anything categorized as levels two or three are sent to the Bias Incident Response Team, or BIRT, which includes MSUPD, the Title IX Coordinator, the OIE Director, and more.

This makes the distinction between level one and two the most important distinction, because it determines how the investigation is handled further.

The distinction between these levels is weak at best.

Ultimately, most nonviolent racist incidents are threats of physical violence.

While this most recent incident is technically nonviolent, it refers to lynching, making it a threat of physical violence.

Despite this, it will likely be counted as level one in the OIE

investigation because it lacks an explicitly worded threat, meaning the investigation doesn’t need to involve the BIRT, keeping the investigation in OIE. Students feel they can get away with acts of racism because they’ve seen the pattern of MSU not holding them accountable and enacting zero consequences.

REHS made a “Pledge and Promise” to uphold diversity, inclusion and equity, and has even launched a campaign framed as “Hate Has No Home Here.” Yet, when hate was placed on the dorm door of a Spartan, the university framed it as a “Halloween prank.”

The culture cultivated in this university is influenced by the way it’s run. There needs to be change.

The State News Editorial Board is composed of Editor-in-Chief Madison O’Connor, Managing Editor Mila Murray, Copy Chief Alan Hettinger, Campus Editor Kaitlyn Kelley, City Editor Evan Jones, Sports Editor Paolo Giannandrea, Photo Editor Sylvia Jarrus, Multimedia Editor Haley Sinclair, Social Media and Engagement Editor Wolfgang Ruth, Staff Representative Matt Schmucker and Diversity and Inclusion Representative Edwin Jaramillo.

Vol. 110 | No. 10

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2019 ASK US QUESTIONS What questions do you have about your community? What do you want to know about MSU and the city of East Lansing? Submit what you’re curious about — we want to find answers for you. Submit your questions at editorinchief@statenews.com

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison O’Connor MANAGING EDITOR Mila Murray COPY CHIEF Alan Hettinger CAMPUS EDITOR Kaitlyn Kelley

SEND US YOUR STORIES Is something happening that you wish other readers knew about? Send us story ideas and news tips, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at feedback@ statenews.com TELL US WHAT YOU THINK Send us a letter to the editor with your name, email and class year or university affiliation. Letters can be dropped off or mailed to The State News at 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823, or submitted online at statenews.com/page/submit-letter

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CITY EDITOR Evan Jones SPORTS EDITOR Paolo Giannandrea PHOTO EDITOR Sylvia Jarrus MULTIMEDIA EDITOR Haley Sinclair SOCIAL MEDIA & ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Wolfgang Ruth Black Students’ Alliance Vice President Keilyn Broussard listens to comparative cultures and politics senior Talyce Murray at a BSA community forum at Akers Hall on Oct. 22. PHOTO BY ANNIE BARKER

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SPOTLIGHT

THE PROBLEM WITH V

BAN TO SAVE LIVES OR GATEWAY TO CIGARETTE STORY BY MADDIE MONROE MMONROE@STATENEWS.COM

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY MATT ZUBIK MZUBIK@STATENEWS.COM

When computer science senior Julius Eillya walks to class, he can’t help but notice clouds of smoke in the corners of his eyes. Around 12.9% of college students reported they’ve vaped in the past 30 days, according to the American College Health Association’s 2018 National College Health Assessment, and Eillya used to be one of them.

He said he quit after realizing it was not worth the risk to his health.

“I made so many bad decisions, it’s so bad for you, it’s a waste of time, a waste of money, so I got over it,” he said. “I was on the Juul for about a year and a half, then I got on the Mr. Vapor newer disposables for like three months then I got off it.”

Even with the tobacco-free ordinance approved by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees in 2015 — which bans on-campus cigarette and e-cigarette use — seeing people vaping at bus stops, in bathrooms and even in dorms is still a common occurrence for students like Eillya.

After quitting cold turkey, he has officially gone five weeks without nicotine. Now, looking back, he said he regrets ever starting to vape in the first place.

“It’s just not worth it. If you really step out of the box and think about it, you have to quit eventually, you can’t do it for the rest of your life — so what’s the point of ... doing it?” Eillya said. “You’ve got to be strong and just get over it, it is what it is. It’s gonna suck for a week, a month, or months, you never know. But it’ll be worth it.

“It’s your life, so respect it.”

Since August, one death and 30 cases of lung illnesses related to the use of e-cigarettes have been reported in Michigan. As of Oct. 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reported 1,479 lung injury cases in 49 states and one territory, as well as 33 deaths in 24 states.

Following the Michigan Department of Health

and Human Services, or MDHHS, and the CDC’s release of multiple reports outlining the dangers of vaping, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made Michigan the first state to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes on Sept. 4. Michigan also issued a public health emergency in regard to vaping, and included a directive for vape shops to remove all flavored vape products within 30 days.

The ban was commended by Attorney General Dana Nessel, who issued the public health emergency. Under the rule, any store that continued to sell flavored vape products after the ban could be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by a $200 fine and/or six months in prison.

“The governor’s emergency actions today are exactly the bold measures we must take to protect Michigan’s children from the dangerous effects of vaping,” Nessel said in a statement.

A week after Whitmer took action, the flavored vape ban went nationwide when the Trump administration announced a halt on the production of non-tobacco flavors on Sept. 11.

“We are urging people to consider refraining from vaping until we know more, until the specific cause of these vaping-related severe lung injuries are determined,” said Lynn Sutfin, an MDHHS public information officer.

The ban was implemented in hope of preventing young people from using these products. However, smoke shops — many of which were negatively affected financially by the ban — opposed it. And Wild Bill’s Tobacco, an East Lansing smoke shop, encouraged its patrons to oppose the ban, too.

In a public statement, Wild Bill’s said the action taken by Whitmer was unprecedented, and the solution to the youth vaping problem is enforcing age restrictions, not banning flavors that could help many adults quit smoking cigarettes.

“It’s just not worth it.

If you really step out of the box and think about it, you have to quit eventually, you can’t do it for the rest of your life.”

Julius Eillya Computer science senior

Some students also have doubts about the effectiveness of the ban, including human biology freshman Elizabeth Becker, who doesn’t think prohibiting flavor cartridges will stop anyone from vaping.

“I think it’s kind of unnecessary,” Becker said.

“People are still gonna vape anyway, it’s more about the nicotine buzz,” Becker said. “But I guess if they want to stop vaping with younger kids it could work.”

However, things went back to the way they were Oct. 15 when a state court halted the flavored vape ban, making it so products can be sold until the court rules otherwise.

Retailers have challenged the ban in state and federal courts since it was fully implemented Oct. 1. But Whitmer plans to appeal Judge Cynthia Stephens’ rule in the Michigan Supreme Court.

IN THE PAST 30 DAYS

VAPE

16% 11% 5%

OF COLLEGE STUDENTS VAPED USING NICOTINE

OF COLLEGE STUDENTS VAPED USING MARIJUANA OF COLLEGE STUDENTS VAPED USING FLAVOR-ONLY CARTRIDGES

GRAPHICS BY COURTNEY MCKOWN SOURCES: CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, PEW RESEARCH CENTER, THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 4

THE STATE NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOB E R 24, 2 01 9

SPOTLIGHT

VAPING

ES? DEPENDS WHO YOU ASK.

“This decision is wrong. It misreads the law and sets a dangerous precedent of a court secondguessing the expert judgment of public health officials dealing with a crisis,” Whitmer said in a statement. “The explosive increase in youth vaping is a public health emergency, and we must do everything we can to protect our kids from its harmful effects.”

When asked about her opinion on the interruption of the ban, education freshman Molly Regan said she thinks there are both positive and negative consequences.

“I think it was headed in a good direction, because kids couldn’t get their hands on anything and they didn’t really know what to do,” Regan said. “But ... it’s coming back, so now I think many are prone to going back to it — so it might go in a more negative direction. But at the same time, when it was banned, kids would do it in a more unhealthy way.”

Even with the repeal of the ban, some students still find this vaping trend to be damaging, especially with the growing number of health issues related to it.

“A lot of my friends got into it early in high school and I just never did,” business-preference freshman Raymond Vizzaccaro said. “A lot of my friends have been addicted for a while, but fortunately I’m not.”

Vizzaccaro said even though he is concerned about his friends’ health, he chooses not to bring up the subject of quitting with them in order to avoid conflict. However, he does wish they would find help.

“I usually don’t bring up the subject, it can be touchy — it’s an addiction,” Vizzaccaro said. “I would love for my friends to quit and I will help them if they ask for it.”

At the same time, some students feel indifferent to the health risks, including an MSU sophomore who chose to remain anonymous, who continues to vape.

“I probably should quit, but I don’t really care,”

they said.

Despite warnings issued by the MDHHS and the CDC, they use their e-cigarette multiple times an hour, and believe the injuries are related to THC products. Sixteen percent of college students used nicotine to vape during the past 30 days, and 11% used marijuana and 5% used flavor-only cartridges, according to the University of Michigan’s 2018 Monitoring the Future Survey.

The sophomore said the rise in lung illnesses and deaths related to vaping scared them.

“It definitely spooked me, I stopped using (THC) cartridges,” they said. “But I’m not gonna quit.”

In response to the reports and increase in e-cigarette use as noted by the CDC, MSU has begun to provide resources for those looking to quit.

“We have always recommended not to vape and continue to do so,” Marketing and Communications Manager for Student Health Services Kathi Braunlich said. “Employees and grad student employees wishing to quit the vaping habit can take the Health4U program ‘MSU Breathe Easy: Tobacco, Nicotine and Vaping Cessation Program.’”

Braunlich said MSU students can also contact the MSU Alcohol and Other Drug, or AOD, Program, located in the Student Services Building, for assistance.

“Additionally, students using nicotine-based vaping products can be helped by approved medications to help with the addiction habit,” she said.

Eillya continues to be concerned for the people around him since quitting vaping, and said he urges his friends to stop as well to protect their health.

“You are stronger than you think,” he said. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to quit, but I did — cold turkey. It was weird at first, but I did it.”

1,479 LUNG INJURY CASES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF VAPE PRODUCTS

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DEATHS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED IN 24 STATES T H U RS DAY, OC TOB E R 24 , 2 01 9

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SPORTS

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

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/ 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. Paul Lutheran Church (ELCA) Worship with us on Sundays at 10am 3383 E. Lake Lansing Rd 517-351-8541 www.stpaul-el.org officemanagerstpaul el@gmail.com

Spartans take notes from Pistons training camp

St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C Ave. (517) 337-9778 Sun: 8am, 10am, Noon, 5pm, 7pm M,W: 5:30pm T & Th: 8:45pm F: 12:15pm www.stjohnmsu.org University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd (517) 332-5193 Sun. Bible Study: 10am Sun. Worship: 11:15am www.universitychristianwired.com University Lutheran Church (ULC) “We’re open in every way” 1120 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Sun. Worship: 8:30am & 10:45am Fridays@Five: Dinner, discussion & fun 5pm Mon. Bible Study: 6:30pm @Wells Hall Quad www.ulcel.org Facebook: ULC and Campus Ministry

Sophomore forward Marcus Bingham Jr. laughs during MSU basketball media day on Oct. 15 at the Breslin Center. PHOTO BY SYLVIA JARRUS

BY DEVIN ANDERSON-TORREZ DANDERSONTORREZ@ STATENEWS.COM

The offseason for the Spartans looked a little different this year. Along with the noise surrounding preseason expectations, they welcomed some special guests into the Breslin Center.

For a week, the Detroit Pistons held their training camp in Michigan State’s facilities, and having a pro team in the gym was a learning experience for both the players and coaches.

Head Coach Tom Izzo said he thought their presence was a rewarding experience.

“It was fun to have the Pistons here and Isaiah Thomas talking about our program. I do appreciate those things,” Izzo said.

But the fun also comes with opportunity, as Izzo picked Pistons Head Coach Dwane Casey’s brain as much as he could while he was here.

“It was interesting having the Pistons here, I thought Dwane Casey was phenomenal. Just things he said, I spent every night with him, just because they have some of the same problems,” Izzo said as he talked about limiting distractions for his team during Media Day. The Pistons’ visit was a

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

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6

learning experience for every player, but for sophomore guard Foster Loyer, the visit was a little more special.

Loyer grew up around the Pistons organization. His father, John Loyer, served both as an interim head coach and assistant coach for the Pistons, so Loyer was able to reconnect with some of the guys he spent his childhood around.

“I used to know Andre (Drummond) real well.

My dad was with the team when they drafted him ... so we kind of caught up a little bit,” Loyer said.

After catching up, Loyer saw he had a lot to learn.

Growing up around basketball, with his dad coaching for many different teams and now a scout for the Los Angeles Clippers, he said he saw a lot of professionals play. Now, no longer in middle school, Loyer is watching the players a little differently.

“I was around the Pistons a little bit when I was in middle school,” Loyer said.

“Now that I’m at this stage in my career, seeing how much different you can look at things was really interesting.”

Loyer said he got to spend his time analyzing two point guards with long NBA

T H E STAT E NE WS

careers.

Reggie Jackson, who spent time with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook before going to the Pistons to take on a starting job and Derrick Rose, a former MVP for the Chicago Bulls who is now a seasoned veteran and signed with the Pistons this offseason, were both there for the week at the Breslin.

Loyer, senior Cassius Winston and freshman Rocket Watts, alongside the rest of the team, were able to learn from experienced players how they have been able to contend against the highest competition.

“Getting to watch Reggie Jackson, Derrick Rose, the different ways they kind of manipulate within the offense, just to put themselves in the position to score and get their teammates open was something I really paid attention to,” Loyer said.

The training for the Pistons ended up being a learning opportunity for the Spartans, as they got to see what things were like at the next level.

“Just to watch their intensity in practice, how they go about things. The attention to detail that’s required at the next level. It was just fun,” Loyer said.

TH U R S DAY, O C TO B E R 24 , 2 01 9

SPORTS

Valery Plata looks to continue hot start to sophomore campaign Sophomore Valery Plata watches her drive. PHOTO COURTESY OF MSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

BY SARA TIDWELL STIDWELL@STATENEWS.COM

V

alery Plata is a sophomore at Michigan State University, spending her time as a student athlete out on the green with the women’s golf team.

Her entire freshman year, Plata was 17 years old, and she only recently turned 18 in June of 2019. But, being this young definitely hasn’t stopped her from dominating against some of the best women in the nation.

Head Coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll said that Plata has grown immensely from her first season as a college-level golfer and that improvements like those “come in many ways. It’s not just on the golf course. It can be maturing as a person.”

Plata was ranked 4th on the team during her freshman year, taking her best finish of the 2018-19 season at that year’s Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, where she tied for 14th out of 96 individual competitors with now graduated Maria Fassi from Arkansas and current junior Morgan Baxendale from Vanderbilt.

“I was getting it all in. It was really different from junior golf,” Plata said in regards to her freshman season.

She said that this season, she has settled comfortably into the swing of things and is simply playing what she knows is possible with her current knowledge and athletic abilities.

Plata has played in three tournaments so far as a sophomore, two alongside her team and the other as an individual. Her most recent performance was at the 2019 Tar Heel Invitational, where she commanded the course all three days and brought home a huge win for MSU. To get ready for a competition this important, Plata doesn’t necessarily change her play. “I was pretty confident about my game,” she said. “As the holes went on, the last couple of holes, I started to get a little nervous.

I knew it was possible, but at the same time, it was my very first time doing it in college and it was pretty exciting.”

Plata entered the final round of the tournament in a tie for first place.

On Oct. 13, Valery Plata took the individual title for the 2019 Tar Heel Invitational with 11-under-par 205 (6968-68), topping senior Kenzie Wright from Alabama by two strokes. She is the first Spartan individual medalist at this tournament.

“We’re very proud of her.

It’s a pressure situation when you’re coming down the stretch. Even that last day, being in the lead, holding the lead, and finishing. Very exciting for all of us,” Slobodnik-Stoll said.

Plata said she definitely did not expect this kind of win to come this early in her collegiate golf career and she thinks it’s going to give her and her team the chance to get better and gain a higher level of confidence.

The No. 19 Spartans also captured a trophy that day, finishing the tournament in first place with 12-under-par 852 (286-277-289), edging out No. 16 Alabama by a single stroke.

When asked about the remainder of their season, as the golf athletes are coming up to their break in competitions, both Slobodnik-Stoll and Plata said their game plan is to “just keep winning.”

One of the goals Slobodnik-Stoll has set for her girls here at Michigan State is to prove to everyone that they’re one of the best teams in the country. That certainly became evident after the Tar Heel Invitational.

Slobodnik-Stoll said she wants to be able to continue this fiery streak for every

tournament they participate in. She’s very assured in her team, keeping the athletes in shape while in the off months from November to February.

“We’re working out five days a week and then they’re practicing every day,” Slobodnik-Stoll said. “For 24 years I’ve told them that just because we do it differently doesn’t mean it’s bad ... We know how we do things. We do things the Michigan State way and it’s worked, and we’ll just keep rolling with that.”

The MSU women’s golf team has one more tournament, The Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, North Carolina, before wrapping up their fall season for the winter months.

Plata said she intends to keep up the hard work she’s put in thus far.

“Whatever tournaments we’re playing in, (I will) try to do the best I can and get the most out of them.”

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Employment

Houses/Rent

Houses/Rent

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

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

Houses & Apartments for ‘20-21.

Lic. 1-6. Great locations & prices remaining. 517-351-0765. hrirentals.com.

Apts. For Rent 1st block of Durand; Parking.

W/D, D/W, hardwood. hrirentals. com. 517-351-0765.

Across from Hub; nearly half the price! 911 E. Grand River.

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DEADLINES

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2020 Houses. Licensed for 3-8.

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4 & 5 Bdrm. Across from campus. $475/person. www.gutowrentals. com or call 517-749-4767.

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Racist incidents prompt community discussion, plans for protests on campus

A timeline of racist incidents on MSU’s campus since 2016 OCTOBER 2016 MSU student Reyna Muck posed with someone in a gorilla suit to mock Ashton Brooks, a female African American high school kicker.

Muck attended a high school football game between Midland Dow and Midland high schools. She posted a picture on Instagram with someone in a gorilla suit, captioning the picture: “Got a pic with Dows kicker.”

Muck was removed from her sorority, Delta Gamma, and went to Twitter to express her anger toward the decision.

It’s unclear whether or not Muck was expelled from MSU. OCTOBER 2017 A student reported discovering a noose hanging outside her dorm room in Holden Hall. MSU Police reported that the noose was a leather shoelace lost by a student who happened to live on the same floor.

Police believe someone found the shoe lace and put it on the stairwell door.

The student was not disciplined for the incident.

Professor of Plant Soil and Microbial Sciences Eunice Foster speaks at a BSA Community Forum at Akers Hall on Oct. 22. PHOTO BY ANNIE BARKER

BY SAMYA OVERALL SOVERALL@STATENEWS.COM

Two racial bias incidents have occurred on Michigan State’s campus this week.

A toilet paper noose was taped to an African American student’s door and a Sona research survey containing racist, xenophobic and homophobic language was released to students.

On Friday, psychology sophomore Iyana Cobbs reported that she received a picture of a toilet paper noose hanging from her dorm room door in Bryan Hall.

“It’s sad that STUDENTS feel like this is ok,” Cobbs wrote in a Facebook post.

“There are only 4 black people on this floor. And yes, our door is the ONLY door that had this on there.”

Originally, Residence Education and Housing Services, or REHS, said the incident was not meant to be a “symbol of hate or discrimination” and was just a “Halloween prank” after other residents admitted to causing the incident.

“Students have reported it was a random Halloween prank that caused unintended harm to members of our Bryan Hall community,” REHS wrote in a statement. “We will be following up with those students per University process.”

However, REHS clarified that it will be taking action to “create and maintain an environment that is physically and emotionally safe, respectful and inclusive,” Dr. Ray

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Gasser, executive director of REHS, said in another email.

Just days after this incident, a Sona research sur vey was released to students and circulated around the campus community. The survey was on the official MSU Qualtrics site.

It was supposed to be a psychology experiment, according to the survey description. Its goal was to “evaluate the level of aggressiveness for some statements that have been taken from the popular social media platforms,” but t he sur vey was laced w it h stereotypes against minorities.

Since 2016, three different incidents at MSU have been reported that have had racist undertones.

In October 2016, MSU student Reyna Muck posed with someone in a gorilla suit in an Instagram post. The post was intended to mock female African American high school kicker Ashton Brooks.

Another incident occurred a year later in October 2017, in which a student reported a shoelace noose hanging outside her dorm room in Holden Hall. Yet another incident happened when MSU student Jillian Kirk made racist remarks on her Snapchat in March 2018.

None of the students involved in the incidents were expelled from MSU, though Muck was removed from her sorority, Delta Gamma.

In t he wa ke of t hese event s, concerned MSU students met at a forum on Tuesday to discuss these

THURSDAY, OCTOB E R 24, 2 01 9

issues on campus.

There will also be a protest before the MSU Board of Trustees meeting Friday at 7 a.m. and a peaceful protest Sunday at 11 a.m. to bring these issues to light. Both protests will be outside of the Hannah Administration Building.

MSU is investigating the incidents and working to avoid incidents like this in the future.

“I am terribly sorry for the pain that this has caused to members of our community,” Gasser said in an email.

“I have been meeting with student leaders on campus to express my remorse and make amends. We are beginning to work with student leaders to put together a comprehensive action plan to help better manage and communicate situations like this in the future.”

At the forum, students expressed their concerns and spoke about their experiences with discrimination and racism on campus.

Students said they believe the university shouldn’t wait until an incident happens to tr y to enact change.

“This needs to be taken just as serious as sexual assault on campus,” attendee Shenia Cocks said. “We do not have the same resources as they do to help us get through these difficult situations.”

READ MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY FORUM AT STATENEWS.COM.

MARCH 2018 MSU sophomore Jillian Kirk made racist comments on her Snapchat, regularly using the N-word and bragging about “bullying r------” (a slur aimed at people who are developmentally disabled) at her school.

After backlash, Kirk issued an emailed apology.

She was never expelled from MSU. OCT. 18, 2019 Iyana Cobbs received a text message with a picture of a toilet paper noose attached to her door in Bryan Hall.

She is one of only four black students on the floor. Other student residents came forward and admitted the toilet paper was supposed to be a “Halloween prank” and was not intended to resemble a noose.

The investigation is still ongoing.

OCT. 21, 2019 A Sona survey was released on the MSU Qualtrics site using slurs and stereotypes against minority groups.

The survey stated it was intended to “evaluate the level of aggressiveness for some statements that have been taken from the popular social media platforms.”

Students took to social media to criticize the university for allowing the survey to happen. The issue is still ongoing.