Monday 12/01/14

State News The

‘Pack running’ The MSU women’s cross country team credits teamwork and running as a pack for their national championship victory. See page 4

TOP: The women’s cross country team competes during the Spartan Invitational Sept. 12 at Forest Akers East Golf Course, 2280 Harrison Road in East Lansing, Mich. PHOTO: AERIKA WILLIAMS BOTTOM: Senior Sara Kroll holds up the national championship trophy with teammates Nov. 22 at LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind. PHOTO courtesy of sami aziz

Holiday Shopping Guide See pages 7-12

M on day, D ec e mb e r 1, 2 014

@thesnews

stat enews .com

News

Simon Schuster and Merinda Valley Breaking news editor Trends and issues editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews

Math Learning Centers work to raise the bar Twenty years after the Math Learning Center’s inception, tutors work to make math courses less of a chore

By Brandi Scarber bscarber@statenews.com

In 1994 students on average received a 2.6 in a fall semester MTH 103 course and earned a 1.7 on average if they enrolled in MTH 114 during the spring semester.

Since MSU introduced the Math Learning Center in 1994, that grade gap has become smaller. On average, students who received a 2.9 in a MTH 103 course in fall 2013 received a 2.6 in a MTH 114 course in spring 2014.

“I wish I could sit here and act like math isn’t hard, but the truth is, it just is. And that is why we are doing everything we can to make it easier for students,” said Chair of the Department of Mathematics Keith Promislow.

One way in which the department is trying to help students is by providing one-onone tutoring through the MLC. There are six Math Learning Center locations on campus, with one in each residential neighborhood.

Associate Chair of the Math Department Jeanne Wald gathered student test score data collected from 1994 until the spring semester of 2013 to test the effect of the MLC on students’ scores.

The data shows that students enrolled in a MTH 103 course who received a 1.5 or lower on their first exam increased their

scores on the second exam on average 21 percent after visiting an MLC. Promislow said given test scores, it’s clear that the lecture setting of most mathematics courses is not an effective learning environment for many students.

“Clearly for some students, I would say the impact of the Math Learning Center shows that being in this more exciting setting where it’s more interactive clearly has a dramatic, night and day impact on the performance for some students,” Promislow said.

Promislow said the math department is continually trying to determine how to improve student engagement in lectures, but to foster learning outside of class the MLC provides personalized help from tutors like electrical engineering senior Trevor Dirheimer.

Dirheimer said his primary goal is making sure the students understand the basics of math and algebra.

“I try to go at whatever pace they want me to. The main goal is trying to help them understand how that math can also be applied to other parts of their education, like other math classes,” Dirheimer said. “We have a lot of different personalities, so we have that ability to reach, hopefully, all of the different kind of learning types.”

Music education freshman Anna Bolton said it is very dif-

From left, biosystems engineering sophomore Carly Daiek receives help on her Calculus 4 work from doctoral student Metin Ozsarfati on Nov. 24, at the Math Learning Center in Wells Hall. photo: raymond williams

21

Percent, the average improvement MTH 103 students see after visiting an MLC

ficult for her to be engaged with math because she views herself as a creative thinker. Bolton goes to the MLC every Thursday for help.

“People are nice here for the most part, and they’re really helpful and very encourag-

ing too,” Bolton said. “Once I applied myself and continued coming here, I definitely saw improvement.”

Executive Associate Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Mathematics Pavel Sikorskii said improv-

ing students’ math scores is not only the faculty’s responsibility.

Students also play an important role, he said.

“We’re building bridges with other programs and services too, but students also must show up,” Sikorskii said.

Campus water perfectly safe, although students remain wary of color, taste Full Council Meeting

Wednesday, December 3rd from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm Plant & Soil Sciences, Room A155

Applications

for the

Fall 2015

Social Work junior class

are now available on our website,

socialwork.msu.edu

If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Vasicek at 353-8616

2

The State N e ws

Applications Are Due On:

Feb 2

BY Jasmin Rojo jrojo@statenews.com

With more than 530 buildings on campus, there is a lot involved in ensuring that water flows smoothly through pipes and faucets.

The Power and Water department of MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities provides water and electricity to campus through the university’s power plant, wells and reservoirs. IPF Power and Water also provides water and electricity to Spartan Village and University Village.

Michael Tracy, an engineer in IPF’s Power and Water department, said water is pumped from campus wells to the reservoir through underground water mains.

“It then goes from the reservoir to the buildings on campus in similar fashion,” Tracy said.

In recent years, campus water facilities have improved in several areas, including water quality and reducing the amount of water waste. According to the 2013 IPF water quality report, MSU water meets or

Monday, D ecem be r 1 , 2 01 4

surpasses all federal and state drinking water standards.

Tracy said MSU water is regulated and monitored by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and is required to comply with all Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act standards and requirements.

The university is required to adjust operations after each amendment to the law, Tracy said.

“Examples of these adjustments include increased water monitoring and sampling, increased training and certification, etc.,” Tracy said.

Computer science senior Angela Sun doesn’t agree with statements about high water quality on campus.

“I live in Holden Hall, the shower’s iron-y and I wouldn’t drink the water,” Sun said.

“When you get out of the shower it tastes salty.”

Tracy said such concerns about the water on campus, including changes in water color, can have an aesthetic impact but is not a health or safety issue.

“Iron naturally present in the water will transform from a soluble state to an insoluble state,” Tracy said. “When it does, it settles in the water mains in the form of a rusty-colored sediment.”

Tracy said water within the mains also changes periodically in terms of direction flow rate. That stirs up sediment in the water main and can lead to discoloration in the water.

Narin Kruy, a Humphrey Fellow at MSU, lives in Spartan Village and said the water provided by the university has its pros and cons.

“All the water from the faucet can be drinkable, but I would not say it’s not safe,” Kruy said. “Sometimes it has some smell that is hard to take. Usually I would filter it or boil it first. I would say it is pretty good water for the most part.”

MSU water is continually monitored by Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality, and additional information about the water supply can be found in IPF’s water quality report.

Contents Read more

Hidden gems in East Lansing could be sources for one-of-a-kind presents

Men’s basketball loses to Kansas after poor shooting in second half

Follow just a few simple steps for a festive, DIY Christmas gift for loved ones

MSU football moves up to No. 7 in latest AP Poll after win against Penn State

Page 11

VISIT STATENEWS.COM

Page 12

VISIT STATENEWS.COM

MSU, East Lansing schools both faced violent false threats last week

By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com

After a shooting threat announced via social media app Yik Yak and a false bomb threat to all of campus, one MSU student is in custody and police are still investigating the bomb threat.

Last Monday police issued a lockdown for East Lansing schools after a vague shooting threat was reported on Yik Yak. On Tuesday, finance freshman Matthew Michael Mullen, 19, was arraigned in East Lansing’s 54-B District Court by Judge Richard Ball.

Mullen, a Northbrook, Illinois, native is charged with calling in a false threat of terrorism and was let out on a $10,000 bond. Mullen will appear in court again Dec. 4 for a pre-trial conference, and then on Dec. 5 for a preliminary examination.

On Tuesday police again found themselves dealing with a threat of violence, as a bomb threat was reported to campus. After the announcement, a secure in place order was issued for all campus buildings, although some buildings remained unlocked. Students on Twitter reported multiple buildings evacuated, like the MSU Surplus Store, while others, like the Eli Broad College of Business library, followed lockdown-type procedures.

The secure in place advisory was lifted after MSU police found the threat to be “a hoax,” and deemed campus safe. The entire ordeal lasted about a half-hour.

A s of Su nday, MSU police reported they had no new information to disclose regarding the bomb threat, saying the incident is still in the early stages of investigation.

10 da i ly N u m b e r

Senior forward/midfielder Tim Kreutz fights for the ball against Washington freshman Garret Jackson Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field. The Spartans tied the Huskies, 2-2, and advanced to the Elite Eight with penalty kicks, 4-3.

PHOTO: Aerika Williams

total wins for MSU football after Saturday’s victory against PSU

“To eat that extra slice of market share, more and more retailers are leaving the Thanksgiving table early to open their doors, to remain competitive with their rivals. These stores need to adjust their priorities.”

studyabroad.msu.edu (517) 353-8920

State News intern Anthony Herta, on shopping on Thanksgiving.

Read the full column on page 5

editorial staff (517) 432-3070 VOL . 105 | NO. 48

Contact The State News (517) 432-3000 Newsroom/Corrections (517) 432-3070 feedback@statenews.com General Manager Marty Sturgeon (517) 432-3000 Advertising M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(517) 432-3010 advertising Managers Alex Hubert Kelsey Taber Colophon The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday through Friday during the academic year.

Subscription rates: $5 per semester on campus; $125 a year, $75 for one fall or spring semester, $60 for summer semester by mail anywhere in the continental United States. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community.

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State News Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation. Its current 990 tax form is available for review upon request at 435 E. Grand River Ave. during business hours.

Editor-in-chief Celeste Bott managing editor Anya Rath BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Simon Schuster TRENDS AND ISSUES EDITOR Merinda Valley SPORTS EDITOR Omari Sankofa II FEATURES EDITOR Emily Jenks Opinion editor Casey Holland PHOTO EDITOR Erin Hampton COPY CHIEF Elena Cronick Copyright © 2014 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.

PROGRAM INFORMATION MEETINGS

On l i n e MSU police report they have taken two men into custody for the recent theft of laptop computers and other electronics from multiple residence halls on campus.

Read more on statenews. com

SPAIN, GERMANY A Creative Journey: From Barcelona to Berlin Summer 2015 Tuesday, December 2nd • 4:30 pm 341 Communication Arts and Sciences

SOUTH AFRICA

Research and Action in the New South Africa Summer 2015 Tuesday, December 2nd • 5:00 pm C616 Wells Hall

Explore upcoming study abroad programs Office of Study Abroad 427 N. Shaw Lane, Room 109 Phone (517) 353-8920 | http://studyabroad.msu.edu

M on day, D e c e mb e r 1 , 2 01 4

Th e Stat e N e ws

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Spotlight

Omari Sankofa II Sports editor osankofa@statenews.com @thesnews_sports

Pack mentality helped women’s cross country win championship On Nov. 22, the women’s cross country team won the NCAA championship for the first time in program history. The championship caps off a season of triumph that saw the Spartans earn a No. 1 overall ranking and an automatic bid to the championship game

Freshman Allison McGinn, Spartan Invitational, Sept. 12

Redshirt Freshman Rachele Schulist, Spartan Invitational

Junior Emma Drenth, Spartan Invitational

By Katie Winker

junior Lindsay Clark said. “Without having the other person there that has the same goal and same mindset as you, you wouldn’t be able to accomplish the things you do. That’s how (cross country) is a team sport.”

“It was an amazing performance led by son, where they would run against U-M during (Schulist),” Drenth said. “I’m really humbled to the Big Ten and regional championships.

When they headed into the represent these women on their Big Ten championships, U-M quest to winning the national “Without having looked to be their biggest championships. I don’t think competitor, but it turned into I’ve ever been more proud of the other person a race against Wisconsin’s Sara group of people.” there that has the ah Disanza when two U-M runDuring a press conference same goal and same ners were unable to compete following nationals, Drenth because of injuries. There, talked about the bus ride back mindset as you, you O’Connor finished first with to East Lansing, saying the wouldn’t be able a career-best and course-rewomen were loud and full of to accomplish the cord 6K time of 19:26.30. This energy as they celebrated their things you do. That’s year’s conference title was the victory on the five-hour ride.

“It’s exciting for our team to how cross country is second consecutive victory of four total coached by Drenth know that all of our hard work a team sport,” of the five in program history. has paid off and that we can do Following the conference it,” Schulist said. meet, Drenth sat down with Lindsay Clark, basketball head coach Tom Road to Nationals Redshirt junior Izzo to get insight on how to The Spartans started the seamove forward into the rest of son back in August ranked No. 6 in the USTFCCCA NCAA Division I National championship season.

“He reinforced a lot of things in terms of tryCoaches Poll, and climbed to No. 1 by mid-October. Since then, they have gone undefeated, win- ing to keep things calm and make sure you have ning against the top teams in the country during fun with it because it doesn’t happen very often,” regular and championship seasons including Drenth said. “There was a lot of great perspective the Big Ten championships and the Great Lakes that I really valued.”

In Madison, Wisconsin, they finished the Great Regional Championships before their ultimate Lakes Regional Championships scoring two points national title.

“We all got this momentum going and it nev- higher than their Big Ten scores with 28 points. er really stopped … it’s what fueled the fire for This gave MSU an automatic bid to nationals.

“We’ve done a really good job all year of doing nationals,” Clark said. “We were ready to run fast what we’re supposed to do and managing the variand it all came together on the right day.”

When MSU was ranked No. 2, their Big Ten ables we have control over — there aren’t many, opponent, Michigan, was No. 1. Drenth said the frankly,” Drenth said. “We have trained well, we rankings early on proved that the women would rested and we were ready to run.” have a difficult and competitive end of the seaSee statenews.com for the full story

kwinkler@statenews.com

For the MSU women’s cross country team, it wasn’t just one runner who brought home the Division I NCAA championship. Or even a few.

Finishing strong It was the whole pack.

What helped the Spartans take the national title The women’s cross country team won the Divi— the first won by a women’s team at MSU — sion I NCAA championship in Terra Haute, Indiwasn’t the running of individuals on the team, ana on Nov. 22, finishing with 85 points, above but running as a team for each other. Head coach second place Iowa State by 62 points.

“I’m in awe. It has less to do with the fact that Walt Drenth and assistant coach Lisa Senakiweich emphasized “pack running” all season, in which they won. It has more to do with how they conteammates ran together to motivate one another. duct themselves,” Drenth said. “To me, when I “I think when you have a good team, you have see them, I see a phenomenal group of students, people with better abilities, so you see the pack athletes and leaders. From my standpoint, I was running,” Drenth said. “I think they really took just impressed with how they were and how they behaved and supported each their obligation to each othother. My sense of pride in er seriously, by that I mean, if them couldn’t be higher.” someone was struggling, they Schulist led the Spartans, did their best to get with and finishing in fourth place run with a teammate. When (19:54.3), followed by Clark in they were running by some11th (20:26.0), O’Connor in 17th body, they did their best to (20:20.8) and redshirt senior pull them along.”

Julia Otwell in 21st (20:29.5).

Throughout the season, red“I love nationals. I love the shirt senior Leah O’Connor and pressure of big meets. It’s fun redshirt sophomore Rachele Points scored by MSU in the and it’s what I look forward to Schulist ran together and championship game, 23 more and what the team looks forpushed each other to become than second place Iowa State ward to all year,” O’Connor the best runners they could be. said. “It’s when things really These two were friends, roommates and had comparable talent so they were able start to matter and it tests you as a competitor.”

This year marks the women’s 14th consecutive to have this type of bond, Drenth said.

“Our success has come from our pack running. appearance at nationals of 16 total, with their I think in my head that I don’t know what I would highest finishing score since placing fourth in 1981. do if I didn’t have the girl next to me running Of about 250 athletes competing at nationals, MSU — we are what keep each other going,” redshirt had four among the top 21 and six of the top 70.

85

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The State N e ws

Monday, Decemb e r 1 , 2 01 4

Junior Leah O’Connor, Spartan Invitational

Crossword

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

Opinion

Casey Holland Opinion editor opinion@statenews.com @thesnewsopinion

Deon howard

Across

1 Greenhouse growth 6 Condescending one 10 Take wing 13 Andrea __: sunken ocean liner 14 “So I was wrong!”

15 Actor Stephen 16 *Mark of a hothead 18 “A mouse!”

19 Remain fresh 20 North African port city 22 Regret one’s 32-Acrosses 25 Cavs, on scoreboards 26 Blurt out 27 Figure skating jump 28 NYC airport named for a mayor 30 One of two matching beds 32 Admission in a confessional 33 Hotelier Helmsley 35 Lady’s title 38 *”This space available,” in a Pennysaver box 41 Peddles 42 Fight mementos 43 Crunched muscles 44 Dog who reveals the Wizard 46 Netherlands airline 47 Those, to Pedro 48 Procedure: Abbr.

49 Stamp sellers, briefly 51 Ancient scrolls 53 Takes over, like termites 55 Menu item 56 Baseball’s “Iron Man” Ripken 57 Foot-operated mechanism on a motorcycle, and what the first word in each answer to a starred clue can be 62 Pitcher’s stat 63 Online letter 64 Accord automaker 65 Brain scan, for short 66 Put on notice 67 Being hauled to the garage

Down

1 ASAP cousin 2 Baseball’s “Iron Horse” Gehrig 3 Tycoon Onassis 4 Five-cent coin 5 Unavailable 6 Total 7 Himalayan country 8 Brunch order 9 Arctic hazard 10 *Relaxed 11 Suspicious 12 Chews the fat 14 Back-to-school mo.

17 Lipton shelfmate 21 Basketball Hall of Famer Thomas 22 Filing tools 23 Formally banish 24 *A football referee may throw one 25 Vancouver NHL team 29 Baby talk syllables 31 Alleged Iraqi arsenal, for short 33 “__ we forget” 34 Sea divided by shrinkage 36 Leafy recess 37 FC Barcelona soccer star Lionel 39 Nearby 40 Deodorant spot 45 Kia sedan 47 “Sleepless in Seattle” director Nora 48 Game trap 50 “The Odd Couple” slob 52 Japanese beer brand 53 Slurpee alternative 54 Distort 55 Broadband letters 58 Family 59 Blasting material 60 Tokyo, long ago 61 Like unprocessed data58 TV schedule abbr.

59 Actor Holbrook

Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1

2

3

4

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

SOLUTION TO SOLUTION TO TO SOLUTION SATURDAY’S PUZZLE TUESDAY’S PUZZLE FRIDAY’S PUZZLE

12/1/14

© 2014 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Thanksgiving should be spent with family, not pre-Black Friday

By Anthony Herta aherta@statenews.com

Black Friday — the day when shoppers lose all sanity to get the best bang for their buck.

A lthough I think the behavior displayed on Black Friday is ludicrous in itself, the thing I find extremely frustrating is that retailers are opening their doors the day before, on the holiday of Thanksgiving. According to CBS News, retailers opened as early as 5 p.m. this Thanksgiving.

This is absolutely ridiculous.

When I was younger, I thought people were crazy to go shopping before the sun rose on Black Friday — it was almost humorous to me. Now that this shopping holiday is starting to overlap a holiday based on the principles of spending time with close friends and family, retailers are beginning to go too far.

To eat that extra slice of market share, more and more retailers are leaving the Thanksgiving table early to open their doors to remain competitive with their rivals. These stores need to adjust their priorities.

As a result of these stores opening on Thanksgiving, many people will now have the urge to leave their Aunt Gail’s a little early to get in line at their favorite store.

At my Thanksgiving dinner, two of my cousins left early just so they could go Black Friday shopping.

Now with the availability of

shopping on Thanksgiving evening, family time has a sense of urgency. Thanksgiving is especially important to me now that I’m away at college where I don’t get to see my extended family very often.

Leaving Thanksgiving dinner early appears selfish to me. I didn’t realize getting a shirt half off was more valuable than spending quality time with your family.

Not only does pre–Black Friday shopping encourage more people to go shopping on Thanksgiving, but it takes workers away from their families whether they like it or not.

Because retailers obviously need a working staff, many people had to leave their Thanksgiving festivities prematurely.

But the problem is, people aren’t taking action to stop this nonsense.

Because more than enough people are participating in Black Thursday, retailers don’t see any logical business reason to not open their doors a day early.

Although it may make business sense, it fails in any moral sense.

This activity encourages people to put a greater importance on material objects.

Next Thanksgiving, I hope more people choose to avoid shopping before Black Friday. Stick around for that crazy story from your Uncle Jim or that slobbery kiss from your grandma because that could be taken away from you in a second. Spend your next Thanksgiving with your family, not shopping.

Anthony Herta is an intern at The State News. Reach him at aherta@ statenews.com

Mon day, D e c emb e r 1 , 2 01 4

Opinion Po ll M o n day ’ s r e s u lt s

Do you agree with the grand jury’s decision not to indict Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson?

34%—No way. Justice has not been served for Michael Brown and his family.

66%—Yes, if the jury says the hard evidence in the case shows deadly force was justified.

Total votes: 153 as of 3 p.m. sunday

To day ’ s q u e s t i o n

Did you go Black Friday shopping?

To vote, visit statenews.com

To read a column about autonomous vehicles, visit statenews.com on Tuesday.

Th e Stat e N e ws

5

Sports

Omari Sankofa II Sports editor sports@statenews.com @thesnews_sports

Men’s soccer defeats Washington at home to advance to Elite Eight by matthew argillander margillander@statenews.com

The men’s soccer team (12-4-6 overall, 4-2-2 Big Ten) is headed to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year after tying with the Washington Huskies (12-5-3 overall, 5-4-1 PAC12) 2-2, advancing with a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks on Sunday.

The first half of the Sweet Sixteen matchup was much like the majority of Spartans’ games this season — a mostly defensive battle in which neither team could score in the first 45.

MSU looked to be in control early in the first half. Junior midfielder Jay Chapman had an opportunity, but couldn’t get the shot off after sneaking behind the Washington defense in the opening minute of the game.

The Spartans finished the first half with six shots and two corner kicks, compared to eight shots and one corner kick by Washington. After

the Spartans came out of the gate strong, the Huskies looked the better team offensively later in the first half.

Washington redshirt senior goalkeeper Spencer Richey was forced to make four first half saves, compared to just two by MSU junior goalkeeper Zach Bennett.

The second half was a different story. The Huskies took the 1-0 lead at the 65:12 mark on a goal by junior midfielder James Moberg with an assist from senior forward Darwin Jones.

Washington wasn’t done either. The Huskies took a 2-0 lead on a goal by sophomore midfielder and forward Steven Wright with an assist coming from redshirt sophomore defender Justin Schmidt at the 72:55 mark.

MSU scored a few minutes later to make things interesting scoring on an own goal by the Huskies defense, making it 2-1 at the 75:43 mark.

“Luckily we were fortunate enough to get that

Senior midfielder Fatai Alashe reacts to the win after scoring the winning penalty kick on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.The Spartans tied the Huskies, 2-2, and advanced to the Elite Eight in penalty kicks, 4-3.

PHOTOS: Aerika Williams

first one, and that really just gave (us life),” Bennett said. “I gotta give it up to the guys.

(That) was the guttiest performance I’ve ever been a part of.”

As time was winding down in the game and on the Spartans’ season, MSU equalized making it 2-2 at the 87:56 mark on a goal by redshirt senior midfielder and forward Tim Kreutz with an assist from senior forward Adam Montague. The late goal by the Spartans sent the game into extra time.

“We had no doubt we were going to win that

game, even when we were down 2-0. Thats a dangerous lead for any team, and we’ve had that lead before and given it up,” Kreutz said.

“We’ve been in those games and we knew that it was possible.”

After neither team could score in extra time the game came down to penalty kicks. After the two teams were tied through four rounds of PKs, MSU senior midfielder Fatai Alashe converted giving MSU the 4-3 advantage. That is where it would stay as Huskies senior forward Darwin Jones’ PK attempt hit the cross bar and missed.

Senior midfielder Fatai Alashe goes up for the ball against Washington forward Josh Heard on Sunday at DeMartin Stadium at Old College Field.

6

The State N e ws

Monday, D ecem be r 1 , 2 01 4

OH WHAT FUN

IT IS TO

SH P

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A gift guide for all your loved ones What to buy parents, significant others and siblings — pages 8-9

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Monday, De c e m b e r 1 , 2 01 4

Th e Stat e N e ws

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Holiday Shopping Guide

What to get your...

Buying gifts for different people can be stressful and picking something they will like can seem impossible. The State News has compiled a list of general, popular gift options to give everyone on your list something special this holiday season.

— MEAGAN BECK, photos: jessalyn tamez

Mom

Dad

Tech items — Is mom buying him an iPad and he needs a case for it? Does he need a new Kindle? If your dad is into tech accessories or wants the latest technological item, collaborate with a sibling to give him a more expensive gift on his wish list.

Tickets to a sporting event — The MSU vs. U-M basketball game in East Lansing is Feb. 2. If your dad is a sports fan, treat him to a day of hanging out with you and watching the Spartans take on the Wolverines.

Jewelry — Whether your budget is under $25 or above $50, you can buy your mom a special accessory that will make her think of you when she looks at it. A recent trend is the Alex and Ani bracelets, which are about $30 each. Every bracelet has a charm attached with either a gemstone or phrase to fit her personality.

Candles, lotion or perfume — if you’re having a hard time picking a gift for any female, you can’t go wrong with stuff that smells good. Many department stores carry gift sets with perfume and lotion around this time of year. Bath & Body Works also offers great deals, including buy three bath items, get two free.

MSU COMPUTER STORE HELP AND REPAIR

Future In-laws Gift cards — If your significant other’s parents go out to dinner often or are avid coffee drinkers, treat them with a gift card to one of their favorite restaurants.

Alcohol — A present for your significant other’s parents does not have to be huge, just enough to show you care about them during the gift-giving season. If you are of age, a nice bottle of wine or a pack of their favorite beer is a perfect gift for them to enjoy.

Treat

yourself!

Sports team apparel — An MSU sweatshirt, Detroit Lions hat or Detroit Red Wings gloves are inexpensive gifts to give a brother who is also a big sports fan.

Video games — If your brother has a gaming console or is getting a new Xbox or Playstation from your parents, give him a new game to play.

“Far Cry 4,” “Halo: The Master Chief Collection” and “Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare” have all been released recently and would make a great gift for any gamer in your family.

(Or someone you love...)

5

ITEMS FOR

45

$

00

Choose from earbuds, cases, chargers and MSU branded items to create a one-of-a-kind gift.

On Facebook facebook.com/msucstore

On Twitter @TechAtMSU

8

Brother

The State N e ws

COMPUTER CENTER 1ST FLOOR 7:30 A.M. - 5:30 P.M. MONDAY - FRIDAY

Monday, D ecem be r 1 , 2 01 4

Sister

Sister date — Spend quality time with your sister by taking her out to dinner, a movie or — if you’re also a female — treat the both of you to a manicure. Another great option is hitting up the theater; “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” and “Horrible Bosses 2” are all coming out soon. “Mockingjay Part 1,” the third movie in the popular “Hunger Games” series, will also still be in theaters around the holidays.

Scarves — During the winter, scarves are a girl’s favorite accessory. Buy your sister one in her favorite color or pattern. There are even scarves with a Spartan design on them, if your sister is a Spartan too. Most scarves are inexpensive so feel free to add in a matching hat to go with it.

Holiday Shopping Guide

Boyfriend DIY gifts — For the crafty girlfriend, make your boyfriend something handmade. Tie blankets or a piece of art for his place are gifts made to fit his personality and taste.

Clothes he would never buy himself — Most guys don’t enjoy shopping and would rather spend money on anything else before clothes. Buy your boyfriend a nice sweater, a pair of jeans or that new pair of shoes he has been eyeing.

Girlfriend Jewelry — Depending on the budget set between you and your girlfriend, earrings are usually less expensive than a necklace, bracelet or ring. But if your budget is a little higher, monogram and name necklaces are trendy this year. A ring with her birthstone is also a thoughtful gift she would enjoy.

Victoria’s Secret yoga pants or sweatshirt — Lots of girls love yoga pants, so giving your girlfriend another pair won’t be a mistake. If your budget is a little higher than the approximate $35 for a pair of yoga pants, buy a matching T-shirt or sweatshirt so she can have a complete outfit for those cozy evening dates.

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Holiday Shopping Guide

Gift-giving on a broke college kid’s budget

By Kayman Whaley kwhaley@statenews.com

It can be hard to find Christmas gifts for your friends and family when you’re strapped for cash.

Here are a few gifts that will ensure you can still pay December’s rent.

Give & receive the

GIFT OF GREEN

Fuzzy Socks Comfortable fuzzy socks are perfect for keeping one’s toes warm in the upcoming Michigan winter. Fleece-lined socks can be found at Target ranging from $2 to $10. Polka dots, loud colors, low cut or ankle high options provide you with a variety to choose from.

Photo illustration: erin Hampton

Nail Polish Nail polish is a perfect go-to item to complete a look. Maybelline Nail Lacquer offers colors under $5. NYC In a NY Minute has polishes for only $1.99.

Higher quality polishes, like OPI, run a little pricier but will last longer. These items can be found at Walgreens and CVS.

this holiday season

Visa Gift Card Looking for the perfect gift?

MSUFCU’s Visa Gift Card is a great option and is sure to bring joy to the person who receives it! Purchase MSUFCU Visa Gift Cards at any branch for just $4 per card.

Cookies Cookies are great, but not many people have the time to make them from scratch or even store-bought dough. Ordering your friends a surprise Insomnia Cookies delivery during finals week is a great gift idea, and shows that you’re thinking of them — just make sure to enter their phone number and location, not yours.

Platinum Plus Visa Get 1% back on purchases and save your points to redeem them for cash, travel arrangements, merchandise, and more.1 Reward yourself while you shop this holiday!

Ties For a little more than $10, you can give a gift to your brother, dad or boyfriend to help them achieve a classier look. To find the cheapest ties, Amazon is the website to visit. Shoppers can find other inexpensive ties at Sears, JCPenney and other department stores.

Start your holiday shopping today. www.msufcu.org • 517-333-2424 Not an MSU student or employee?

There are many ways to join and save!

Basketball A guy (or girl!) in your life might love shooting hoops with friends.

Since basketball season has presented itself, a basketball can be perfect for a cheap, yet thoughtful gift.

It’s getting cold outside, but anyone with their own basketball won’t have to borrow one from IM Sports-West anymore when they go to play ball.

These can be found at Dick’s Sporting Goods or Kmart.

Campus Branch Locations MSU Union, 49 Abbot Rd., Rm. #108 523 E. Grand River Ave. 4825 E. Mt. Hope Rd. 3777 West Rd.

Federally insured

by NCUA

1

Visit www.msufcu.org for full terms and conditions.

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Holiday Shopping Guide

Sometimes, the very best gifts are the ones you make yourself 1.

3.

2.

4.

permanent marker.

By Jasmin Rojo jrojo@statenews.com

If you want to give a great holiday present while sticking to your budget, here is an easy do-it-yourself gift tutorial perfect for spreading some seasonal cheer.

5.

What you’ll need: • Porcelain ornaments: You can find many types of porcelain ornaments for less than a dollar at Meijer, WalMart or local department stores.

• Sharpies • A template: Inexpensive holiday templates are available at most craft stores.

• Ribbon Directions: Step 1: Find a clean surface to work.

You don’t want to smudge your holiday message or design, especially when using

Step 2: Write a message.

“Seasons Greetings,” “Happy Holidays,” “Merry Christmas” and “Let it Snow” are all appropriately festive!

Step 3: Trace your design.

Using your template, transfer your chosen design onto the ornament.

Step 4: Let it dry and bake it.

Once you’re done, let it dry for several minutes to prevent the design from smearing. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake the ornament for 30 minutes.

Step 5: String a ribbon and give the ornament to a loved one!

String your ribbon through the hole at the top of your ornament, and make a tag for the intended recipient, if you so choose!

Photo Illustration: Erin Hampton

Classified To place an ad …

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Your campus marketplace! statenews.com/classifieds deadlines lIner ads 2 p.m., 1 business day prior to publication (includes cancellations) classIfIed dIsplay 3 p.m., 3 class days prior to publication

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Employment

Employment

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Houses/Rent

Textbooks

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Apts. For Rent 1 & 2 BDRM APTS Across from MSU! www. cronmgt.com. Call for a tour! (517) 351-1177.

AUG ‘15, Studio Apts. Heat/ water/parking included.

Great location,top cond. hudginsrealty.com 517 5750008, no pets.

ABOVE AVERAGE 575 Cornell. 2015 - 2016. Lic. 4, Eamon Kelly 714.654.2701 or enkellyjr@gmail.com

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W/D. Large parking lot. Pets okay. Call 517-331-3018

‘15 AUG. Only two houses left. Prices reduced. Great location. Bairdrentals.com 517-481-6313.

AUGUST 2015, 508 Virginia, Licensed for 4, 4 bedrooms, 517-202-0920, msurentals@ gmail.com

HOME/RENT- spring term 2015. 544 Virginia Ave. Licensed for 2, 3 bdrm, 2 bath, w/d, $1,000 per mo + utilities. Call 269-377-2361.

HOMES FOR rent. Aug ‘15. lic. 3,4, 6. www.rentmc.com or call 517.655.5941 for more info.

Rooms/Rent

Business Ops.

CURRENTLY 1 bdrm left for individual lease in 4 bdrm home. On Spartan Ave. Close to campus and bus route. 517-332-8600.

Monday, D e c e m b e r 1 , 2 01 4

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Holiday Shopping Guide Lesser-known East Lansing destinations for Christmas gifts

BUSINESS IS EVERYWHERE YOU ARE

BY LAUREN OWINGS lowings@statenews.com

It’s that time of year again — the season of gift-giving. For Spartans who have decided to get a head start on their holiday shopping, the stores of Grand River Avenue may not be enough. Many have exhausted the wares of the Student Book Store, Urban Outfitters or Moosejaw. But there is a variety of stores in East Lansing that a lot of people don’t know about. And some unconventional destinations downtown can be treasure chests of holiday gifts, with a store for anyone on your list.

Mackerel Sky Gallery of Contemporary Art For the artsy types on your list, look no further than Mackerel Sky Gallery of Contemporary Art, located just beyond Grand River Avenue on M.A.C. Avenue. Mackerel Sky is a gallery of contemporary arts and crafts. They sell crafts made by artists across the U.S. and Canada, from mobiles to vases to scarves. Mackerel Sky is perfect for those who enjoy unique or handmade gifts.

Mad Eagle For anyone with a passion for fashion, try Mad Eagle, located at the corner of M.A.C. Avenue and

Albert Avenue. Mad Eagle has a variety of eclectic and affordable jewelry, including pieces available to mix and match to create a personalized necklace. They also feature clothing by Free People, Alternative Apparel, Billabong and Element. If the clothing and jewelry isn’t original enough, there is a wide selection of purses, hats and accessories.

Fortress Comics & Games For the gamers in your family or circle of friends, try Fortress Comics & Games, located on Albert Avenue between Charles Street and Division Street.

They offer a multitude of cards, miniatures, comics and more. Fortress has games including “Warhammer” and “The Lord of the Rings.” Paints and tools for miniatures are also available, as well as books and magic sets.

The Record Lounge For the music lovers, The Record Lounge on Division Street is the best place to go. The Record Lounge is the only all-vinyl store in mid-Michigan, so it’s a great place to look for gifts for those who are more eccentric and enjoy old-fashioned records. They have the largest music selection in the region, along with posters, collectibles, T-shirts and vintage stereo equipment. Get to the store early to place a special order.

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Learn more at gmat.com/msu2 12

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