Taking the plunge
MSU takes down GVSU at home
ROTC cadets take water test
Freshman guard Alvin Ellis III.
Criminal justice senior James Starkey & criminal justice junior Josh Favaloro
statenews.com | 10/30/13 | @thesnews Michigan State University’s independent voice
ACADE M ICS
U-M pres. will speak at MSU fall graduation
Julia Nagy/The State News
Khoa Nguyen/The State News
campus+city, pG. 3
sports, pG. 6
Watching the throne Biochemistry and molecular biology senior Jeff Fisher, left, and social work freshman Ben Thompson, right, guard the Sparty statue Monday. Members of the band took turns to sit through the night to protect the statue.
By Justine McGuire jmcguire@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
With a football showdown looming bet ween MSU and the University of Michigan, it was announced on Tuesday that U-M President Mary Sue Coleman will become a Spartan — sort of — when she receives an honorary doctorate of laws degree at a December commencement. Coleman will receive the degree after she speaks at MSU’s advanced degree commencement this semester — MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will receive the same degree from U-M in December. MSU’s advanced degree ceremony will take place 3:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Breslin Center. “Coleman has a very highprofile reputation nationally for her leadership. I think it’s a good choice,” said Stefan Fletcher, MSU Council of Graduate Students president. “We share a storied history in rivalry and partnership, and this is another chapter in that.” He said although there is a healthy and robust rivalry in sports, U-M and MSU have several key partnerships in terms of research. MSU partners with U-M in the University Research Corridor, along with Wayne State University. Despite beneficial partnerships, the intense rivalry might be too much for some Spartans, such as advertising senior Kaylee King, to welcome a Wolverine to campus. “I would respect her opinion and speech but, deep down inside, I still wouldn’t want her as my speaker,” said King, who will receive a bac helor ’s deg ree in December. “A lot of Spartans believe that, I bet.” The U-M Office of Public Affairs did not respond to a See COLEMAN on page 2 u
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a U-M fan wielding a dildo. Johnny Spirit came to the rescue, shoving the assailants away. The pack THE STATE NEWS of Wolverines scampered off into the night. Like Spartan warriors from the s the temperature continued to fall toward movie “300,” the musicians stood tall. There would be no spray paintfreezing Monday night, ing tonight. members of the Spartan Nights like Monday, where stuMarching Band who guarded the dents sat through nearly belowfreezing temperatures to protect bronze Sparty statue found themthe statue from any wrongdoselves outnumbered. ing, make up the Spartan MarchTwenty Michigan fans dressed in ing Band’s annual event, known as Sparty Watch. maize and blue hockey jerseys warily Dating back as early as approached the intersection the 1970s, Sparty Watch of Kalamazoo Street and is the annual weeklong Chestnut Avenue, and event preceeding the were met by half as More online … MSU-U-M football many green and white To view a video weekend where memvarsity jackets. from Sparty Watch, bers of the Spartan Two of the Michigan visit Marching Band gathfans asked permission statenews.com/ er to protect Sparty for a group photo with multimedia. throughout the night. Sparty. Skeptically, the The vigil is perhaps the band members said yes. greatest representation of the What followed was a haze of fists beating on bronze, and what fierce rivalry between the the two one band member perceived to be schools, aiming to guard against By Robert Bondy
rbondy@statenews.com
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Bill looks to clarify usage of medical pot
PRETRIAL OF E.L. MAN in alleged assault moved
By Michael Gerstein and Simon Schuster mgerstein@statenews.com and sschuster@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Medical marijuana patients and their suppliers have operated under inconsistent enforcement and unclear legal boundaries since voters approved the drug’s medical use in 2008. A new bill from Reps. Eileen Kowall, R-White Lake, Sam Singh, D-East Lansing and 14 other sponsors could make at least one matter clearer, amending the definition of usable marijuana to allow patients more ways of using the medicine under state law. A July opinion from the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that edible products made from extracts are not protected under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act. The ruling has been submitted for appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.
MSU football head coach Mark Dantonio hands pizza boxes to journalism sophomore Nathan Kujacznski Tuesday at the Sparty statue.
Spartan Marching Band stands guard over iconic statue in run-up to U-M game
The act states only the “dried leaves and flowers” of the plant can be used for medical purposes. The bill would add “plant resin or extract” to that definition, potentially letting patients consume “medibles” (marijuana edibles) as well as topical ointments. It was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
A summer ruling from the state Court of Appeals on the matter has been submitted for appeal to MI Supreme Court Lawmakers contend that many who are prescribed the drug, such as cancer patients and epileptics, can’t smoke or are unsure of whether they’ll See MARIJUANA on page 2 u
The pretrial of the man accused of assaulting an MSU student has been postponed until December. East Lansing resident Samuel Roberts, 22, was arrested in the early morning of Oct. 19. The charges he faces include assault against his ex-girlfriend, holding her in his apartment against her will and preventing her from alerting authorities. Roberts appeared in court for his scheduled pretrial Tuesday morning in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court before Judge Richard Ball. His pretrial was rescheduled to Dec. 3, with a preliminary examination following Dec. 6, Ball said. At his arraignment Oct. 21, Roberts was charged with unlawful imprisonment, assault with a dangerous
Georgina De Moya /The State News
Wolverines who have looked to tarnish the iconic landmark that represents more than 49,000 students and countless alumni who identify as Spartans. Each night, there are planned events involving anything from football head coach Mark Dantonio and the team bringing the watchers pizza to a live DJ dance-off. “We get a lot of band members to come out here to guard him,” said Becca Imthurn, history education senior and MSU Marching Band member. “Basically, the general idea is to hang out by Sparty, make sure there is no vandalism, (and) there are a few of us
that spend the night every year.” On guard Since its origin, Sparty Watch has transformed into more than simply preventing vandalism during the rivalry-fueled week, with events bringing in hundreds of band members on some nights. “In the beginning, protecting Sparty was making sure there wasn’t any vandalism, but it has become more than just security,” MSU Alumni Association Executive Director Scott See SPARTY on page 2 u
East Lansing resident Samuel Roberts walks into the courtroom Tuesday at 54B District Court. The pretrial for the alleged assault of an MSU student was postponed until Dec. 3, 2013. Danyelle Morrow/The State News
weapon, interference with electronic communication and domestic violence, according to court documents. East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy said the alleged victim told police she and Roberts had gotten into an argument at his apartment when he suddenly became violent. She told police during the argument that Roberts
began grabbing her by her arms, and throwing her into walls and chairs. When she tried to call the police, she said he took her cell phone. She attempted to escape the room when Roberts threatened her with a knife. The victim told police she eventually was able to get close enough to the door to escape quickly. The victim alerted
authorities to the situation after she returned to her dorm in Yakeley Hall. Murphy confirmed the victim was a student. He could not do the same for Roberts. Roberts had a blood alcohol level of .10 when he was arrested and tested by police. The victim was left with minor injuries. KATIE ABDILLA