The State News - December 6, 2022 - Semester in Review

CULTURE

Did you zone out this semester? Don’t worry, The State News has your back with this fall’s semester in review. PAGE 4-5

SPORTS What to keep an eye on from MSU football this off-season

Paulino, who plays Lila, holds the same beliefs on women empowerment and solidarity through sexuality and friendship, and uses her career to embody this belief.

CITY

How are East Lansing businesses preparing for winter break?

‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ star Ilia Isorelýs Paulino talks sex, women empowerment in the media

CONTACT THE STATE NEWS

(517) 295-1680

NEWSROOM/CORRECTIONS (517) 295-5149 feedback@statenews.com

GENERAL MANAGER Christopher Richert

ADVERTISING

M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University every other Tuesday during the academic year. News is updated seven days a week at statenews. com.

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.

One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community. Additional copies $0.75 at the business office only.

Copyright

SEMESTER IN REVIEW

RECORD NUMBER OF FRESHMEN MOVE TO CAMPUS

MSU’s residence hall movein, from Aug. 26 to 28, saw more than 9,800 students –the largest freshman class in university history.

QUEEN OF ENGLAND DIES

After reigning for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II died on Sept. 8 at the age of 96. Students on MSU’s campus mourned the loss of the British monarch as they found out about the news through widespread social media attention.

M.A.C. AVENUE SHOOTING CAUSES PANIC AT DOWN TOWN BARS

Witnesses recounted the scene of a shooting that left one person hospitalized on Sept. 11. Near the scene of the shooting, at Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub, the door was suddenly shut, lights were turned off and the music was cut. Thirty-one bullet casings from three different caliber firearms were found at the scene.

frustrated with dining halls only offering disposable plates, bowls, cutlery and cups. The usage varied dayto-day based on staffing shortages in specific locations. Many of the dish-washing positions were previously filled by students who decided not to come back to dining hall work after the pandemic, culinary services spokesperson Cheryl Berry said.

on defining the scope of Title IX and the timeline to file a lawsuit. MSU also signed this brief.

WINS BIG TEN CHAMPIONSHIP

spot after his 90-day resignation period ended during a special board meeting. Stanley’s resignation period was mutually cut short as Stanley announced to the Spartan community that his last day was Nov. 5.

STUDENTS STRESS OVER YEAR-OUT LEASE SIGNING

MSU DINING HALLS STAFFING SHORTAGES LEAD TO USE OF DISPOSABLES

The beginning of the semester left many students

PI

ALPHA

PHI FRATERNITY MEMBER’S CHARGES DROPPED

Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office dismissed former MSU student Hoang John Huu Pham’s charges on Sept. 15, which were filed following the death of MSU student Phat Nguyen. Pham and former MSU students Ethan Cao and Andrew Nguyen were charged with three misdemeanor counts of hazing resulting in physical injury and one felony count of hazing resulting in death.

NEW FASHION MAGAZINE AND ORGANIZATION BY AND FOR BLACK STUDENTS

Apparel and textile design juniors Takai Taggart and Damond Hardwick created a new fashion magazine, N Crowd. The goal of the organization is to offer opportunities for Black students to advance in fashion and create a safe space for people of color.

MSU GYMNASTICS’ GROUNDBREAKING NIL DEAL

Charitable Gift America contacted junior gymnast Baleigh Garcia about pursuing a Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, deal and soon awarded contracts to all 19 members of the Michigan State gymnastics team.

HIS 90-DAY NOTICE OF RESIGNATION

Former MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. announced through a video emailed to the MSU community that he would be resigning due to a loss of lost confidence in the Board of Trustees on Oct. 13.

“I cannot, in good conscience, continue to serve this board as constituted,” Stanley said in the video.

RAISING CANE’S OPENING HAS LINE OF CUSTOMERS WRAPPING AROUND THE BLOCK

Michigan’s first Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers restaurant opening had about 400 customers lined up, with 25 waiting overnight.

After defeating No. 17 Ohio State 1-0, for the first time in program history, the Michigan State women’s soccer team became the 2022 Big Ten Champions.

The Spartans went on to the Big Ten and NCAA Tournaments, where they fell to Penn State and TCA, respectively.

APARTMENT COMPLEXES SPRAWL ACROSS EAST LANSING

Developing new student housing downtown brings students in, but it also comes with considerable price tags attached. For residents of these complexes, maintenance problems, especially flooding, have posed challenges.

The high demand for student housing in East Lansing has found people in a last-minute crunch. Matt Hagan, an agent at Hagan Realty, said the timeline for signing leases has become earlier and earlier each year.

SINGLE LIFE IN COLLEGE

Broadcast journalism senior Hunter Gadwell,

senior Anna Traver and international relations senior Olivia Antal all talk about what it means to be a single college student and the self-love, positivity and independence that comes with it.

MSU AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES ATTEMPT TO STIFLE ABUSE SURVIVORS’ TITLE IX SUITS

Ohio State University appealed against a previous court’s decision to allow survivors to take the university to court in a brief filed on Oct. 7. The survivors and universities disagreed

Cane’s presented a check for $1,000 to MSU Athletics and said they look forward to continuing their relationship with the university.

RUFF UNANIMOUSLY APPOINTED INTERIM PRESIDENT

It was announced that Woodruff would fill Stanley’s

VICTORY

The State News attended Rep. Elissa Slotkin and Michigan Sen. Tom Barrett’s viewing parties on Nov. 8. Slotkin’s event was open and celebratory, while Barrett’s was more of a private affair with media not allowed inside. Slotkin was declared the winner of the 7th District race at 3:15 a.m. by the Associated Press with 50.9% of the vote.

Photo by Zari Dixson

Illustration by Madison Echlin LIVING A CONFIDENTLY

journalism

Photo by Zari Dixson

Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez PRESIDENT STANLEY GIVES

Photo by Olivia Hans MSU WOMEN’S SOCCER

Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez PROVOST TERESA K. WOOD-

Photo by Audrey Richardson MICHIGAN’S 7TH DISTRICT VIEWING PARTIES PORTRAYED DIFFERENT MOODS FOLLOWING SLOTKIN’S

Dina Kaur dkaur@statenews.com

The fall 2022 semester included changes in Michigan State University leadership, midterm elections, women’s soccer victories, Ticketmaster crashes and more. Read on for this semester’s biggest stories.

The MSU Marching Band march with their instruments at the MSU Homecoming Parade on Oct. 14. Photo by Sonya Barlow

Freshman Riley Dittmar moves into Akers Hall during fall 2022 move-In on Thursday, Aug. 25. Photo by Chloe Trofatter

The East Lansing community waits in line to cast their vote on Election Day at City Hall on Nov. 8. Photo by Audrey Richardson

MSU LOSES TO NO. 2

GONZAGA IN THE ARMED FORCES CLASSIC

After being invited back 11 years later to the Armed Forces Classic on the USS Abraham Lincoln, the Spartans were handed a 64-63 loss.

MSU led at the half 38-31,

and carried the momentum into the second half, ballooning the lead to 12 three minutes into the half. The teams traded buckets down the stretch, and a heave from sophomore guard Jaden Akins was off target as time expired.

MILLIONS SHOW UP TO BUY TAYLOR SWIFT’S ERAS TOUR TICKETS

On Nov. 15, many MSU students went on Ticketmaster to purchase pre-sale tickets to Swift’s 52-date North American tour, which kicks

off in 2023.

While searching for tickets, students waited in a virtual queue for hours. Those unable to secure tickets during the pre-sale could purchase them during the Capital One sale the next day. After that, the tickets were sold out, and no general sale was held.

MSU HOCKEY PLAYER FACES RACISM

Senior forward Jagger Joshua said he was called racist slurs by Ohio State hockey player Kamil Sadlocha. After an initial in-game penalty, the Big Ten didn’t issue any consequences,

but Ohio State released a statement that Sadlocha was “no longer with the team” after facing backlash.

SEVEN MICHIGAN STATE FOOTBALL PLAYERS CHARGED FOR TUNNEL INCIDENT

Following the Oct. 29 UM-MSU game, a physical altercation broke out in the tunnel of Michigan Stadium. The Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office issued charges to seven players: one felony and six misdemeanors Those who received misdemeanor charges were reinstated on the MSU football

team after missing the last four games of the Spartans’ 5-7 season, while redshirt sophomore Khary Crump remains suspended facing a felonious assault charge.

‘THE SEX LIVES OF COLLEGE GIRLS’ STAR ILIA ISORELÝS

PAULINO TALKS SEX, WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN THE MEDIA

Liz Nass lnass@statenews.com

When actress Ilia Isorelýs Paulino read the script for “The Sex Lives of College Girls,” on HBOMax, she knew she had to play Lila – the confident and witty barista that works with Kimberly at the campus coffee shop.

She wanted to be part of a series that was funny, smart and depicted women at the forefront of the show.

Paulino sat down with The State News in a press junket over Zoom to discuss her career leading up to this point.

Recently graduated from the graduate program at Yale University’s School of Drama, Paulino could relate to making dumb mistakes and learning from them on a regular basis like the students in the show. She wanted to be a self-assured role model, showing that these decisions are not bad ideas, but opportunities to grow.

While she was more of a supporting character in season one, fans of Lila are excited to see her have more screen time in season two.

Paulino believes that love for her character stems from young women wanting to emulate Lila’s unapologetic nature, in which she loves herself out loud.

“More women look like me than they look like Gigi (Hadid) … so to see someone that looks like me and say, ‘She can just be herself,’ I think, gives them permission to be for them to be themselves,” Paulino said.

Paulino said people walk through the world needing permission to feel good about themselves because society conditions people to act that way. The show is about giving yourself that permission to feel good and explore your sexuality, she said.

Paulino said now that more shows depict

women’s issues in love and sex, society can do away with the shame around female sexuality that is ingrained into girls when they are young.

“There are a few things that really connect us no matter where you are in the world, for better or for worse,” Paulino said. “I think that there’s this running theme with women and sexuality all around the world.”

Throughout time, Paulino said, women

Ilia Isorelýs Paulino Actress

have been bonded with the idea that they can only talk about sex in hushed rooms, repressed to only speak of it in secrecy while men are empowered for it. She said her show is exploring the positive effects of leaning into your sexuality while growing up, rather than shying away from it.

“I don’t think this show is setting out to solve any problems,” Paulino said. “I think it’s just providing a safe place for women to live and to

explore without shame. To be able to be a part of a show that does this so that other young women can … explore something in a way that makes them feel safe, I think is amazing.”

Paulino’s dad is a pastor. This, combined with the societal norm for women, means she is still figuring out the ins and outs of her own sexuality, and she wants viewers to have the same continuous inner monologue with themselves, she said.

Overall, she wants female solidarity and friendship to be the theme of importance to women tuning in to the show.

“I think that’s the crux of the whole show,” Paulino said. “I think if we don’t have the women friendships, we won’t have a show.”

Paulino said that a high percentage of women are happier when they have more fulfilling female friendships, rather than male relationships, painting the picture of what “The Sex Lives of College Girls” wants to depict underneath the hilarious sexual experiences the characters go through.

To find these themes outside her own show, Paulino said she wants Hollywood to approach all their shows, especially around women, love and sex, to come from a place of vulnerability and honesty – as women have bonded over the emotions that come with love for centuries.

“It’s such a unique experience to go through this world as a woman,” Paulino said. “Trauma is a horrible thing, of course, but trauma does bond. To be able to talk and have these tough conversations to someone that I don’t have to necessarily explain the ins and outs of everything to because I know you know what I’m talking about (is important).”

Paulino closed with a summary of what she wants women to take away from “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”

“Go to the club. Shake that a--. Come home. Eat that ice cream,” she said.

“There are a few things that really connect us no matter where you are in the world, for better or for worse... I think that there’s this running theme with women and sexuality all around the world.”

Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez

Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez

“Vote” is painted on The Rock. Photographed before the Democratic GOTV Grand Finale Rally at MSU’s Auditorium Field on Nov. 7. Photo by Sonya Barlow

Redshirt senior running back Elijah Collins, 24, soaks in his final moments of the Spartan’s last game at home against Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Spartan Stadium. Indiana ultimately beat the Michigan State 39-31. Photo by Chloe Trofatter

Photo courtesy from Warner Bros TV.

Michigan State celebrates their B1G Championship with the fans after their win over the Rutgers on Sunday, Oct. 23, at DeMartin Stadium. Photo by Chloe Trofatter

By Jenna Malinowski JMalinowski@statenews.com

After a spectacular 2021 season that saw the Spartans as College Football Playoff contenders, Michigan State football took a step backward this year.

Finishing with a 5-7 record, the team will need to make some serious adjustments during the off-season if they hope to become competitive again.

If this season proved anything, it’s that the Spartans have to be ready for anything. Here are some key aspects of the team to keep an eye on as they enter the offseason.

QUARTERBACK COMPETITION?

Redshirt junior quarterback Payton Thorne got the start in all 12 games this season, but didn’t bring the same level of production he brought in 2021. After setting the school record for most touchdown passes in a single season with 27, Thorne finished this season with 19 and didn’t throw more than two touchdowns against a Big Ten opponent.

Despite the less than stellar finish from the team this year, Thorne believes he still learned a lot from the season.

“As you guys saw, we threw the ball over the top quite a bit and obviously that had a lot to do with us having the best player in the country in the backfield,” Thorne said. “This year teams are playing deeper. They’re taking the deep ball away.”

Because of these defensive adjustments, he’s been forced to work on improving a different aspect of his game.

“For me, I’ve been able to get a lot of work at throwing the ball in the intermediate stuff and over the middle and I feel like I’ve really progressed well in that throughout the season and that’ll definitely be something that’ll carry over,” Thorne said.

Although Head Coach Mel Tucker made it clear throughout the season that he has complete faith in his starting quarterback, the Spartans could open up competition for the starting job, depending on the progress of redshirt sophomore quarterback Noah Kim and freshman quarterback Katin Houser.

Kim served as the backup quarterback this season and Houser is a four-star recruit who enrolled early at MSU to get a jumpstart on his playing career. While it’s unlikely either of them will get the start over Thorne, it will be interesting to see if they open up the spot for competition

come spring.

SECONDARY SWITCH UP

The secondary has been a weak spot for the Spartans. Even during their breakout 11-2 season, their secondary was a big part in what held them back. Coming into 2022, the biggest unknown was if it could improve to a competitive level.

Amongst other aspects of the team, the secondary proved early on that they weren’t ready to take it to this next level. Defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton addressed the issue following MSU’s second straight loss against Minnesota in which sixth-year quarterback Tanner Morgan threw for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

“Is it a personnel problem? No,” Hazelton said. “We have players in the room that are tough, that are physical. They work like crazy. Those guys work at an exceptional rate and they grind everyday at practice.”

The Spartan secondary will have to find a way to improve this off-season without veteran leader, fifth-year safety Xavier Henderson. Although Henderson’s shoes will be hard to fill, the return of junior linebacker Darius Snow from injury could provide a wellneeded boost to the defense as a whole. Assuming he’s physically able to return to the field, he’ll likely play a big role this off-season.

It’s also not a bad idea to keep an eye on the transfer portal to see if Tucker will find talent there as MSU attempts

to reach a competitive level once again.

RUN GAME IN NEED OF REVITALIZATION

While it’s unfair to expect the same level of production following star running back Kenneth Walker III’s departure to the NFL, MSU’s ground game still needed some work this season.

The trio of running backs, redshirt senior Elijah Collins, fifth-year Jarek Broussard and redshirt sophomore Jalen Berger were able to string together scoring drives, but just not at the level of production needed to be competitive.

Tucker addressed the run game following a 49-20 loss at home against Ohio State.

“The vast majority of runs that we call and run are efficient,” Tucker said. “We do have plays that everyone does in college football now that is a run-pass option and it’s based upon what you see if you actually hand the ball off or you do throw the pass option. We may call more runs that are just call it and run it.”

Out of the trio, Berger could be the only one still with the team next season, as Broussard and Collins have yet to announce if they will utilize their remaining eligibility. Likely, Tucker and his staff will have to go into the transfer portal for a running back and hope to have the same luck they had with Walker if they hope to give the offense a much-needed boost during the off season.

MSU redshirt sophomore running back Jalen Berger (8) makes his way down the field during season opener at Spartan Stadium on Sept. 2. The Spartans beat the Broncos with a score of 35-13. Photo by Audrey Richardson

MSU football celebrates after winning a game against Akron at the Spartan Stadium on Sept. 10. The Spartans beat the Zips with a score 52-0. Photo by Audrey Richardson

The Board establishes the policies and budget of The State News. Members attend monthly meetings during the academic year and serve two-year terms.

Professionals, MSU students, faculty and sta are encouraged to apply

“I joined the board as a freshman at MSU. I am glad to be a part of an organization that touches the lives of all MSU students. Providing a unique voice and perspective is important to me.”

Nama Naseem State News Board of Directors