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In case you missed it: a recap of winter break happenings

Just because you were on break doesn't mean the news stopped. Read on to find out what you missed

January 11, 2015
<p>Sophomore forward Thomas Ebbing, left, celebrates a goal by senior forward Brent Darnell, right, during the game against Ferris State on Dec. 27, 2014, during the 50th Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Spartans defeated the Bulldogs, 2-0. Danyelle Morrow/The State News</p>

Sophomore forward Thomas Ebbing, left, celebrates a goal by senior forward Brent Darnell, right, during the game against Ferris State on Dec. 27, 2014, during the 50th Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. The Spartans defeated the Bulldogs, 2-0. Danyelle Morrow/The State News

Photo by Danyelle Morrow | The State News

We hope these weeks off have been restorative and relaxing, and that you made it back to campus safely despite the recent snowfall.

The first days back at MSU always mean there’s some catching up to do. And if you didn’t follow the headlines religiously over your winter vacation, don’t worry. We did. Here’s a quick recap of the stories you might have missed.

In memoriam

He wasn’t at MSU very long, but was no less beloved. During break, students mourned the loss of theatre professor Greg Reuter, a 20-year Broadway veteran.

He was 43 years old. The cause of his death is unknown and has not been released by the family.

Some students used Indiegogo, a fundraising website, to raise money to help the family with funeral costs. They raised $665 for a $500 goal.

Two students also lost their lives during break in a fatal car accident Jan. 2 on a highway when two cars collided on the icy US 131.

Sophomore Carolena Elowsky and sophomore Maura Brandi, both 20, died when their car heading northbound lost control and hit a car driving south, according to a report from upnorthlive.com. Both girls were pronounced dead on scene.

Both Elowsky and Brandi were from Charlevoix, Michigan, according the report.

The State News learned of Elowsky’s death first when her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, released a statement.

“Today we lost such a beautiful and amazing sister,” the statement said. “Our hearts are all very heavy and we loved you so deeply, Carolena. You will be missed tremendously and we know we have a gorgeous angel watching over us.”

Sexual misconduct policy is updated

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon announced the finalization of the new Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Policy in an email over break. The new policy took effect Jan. 1.

The aim, Deputy General Counsel Kristine Zayko said in an interview in September, is to ensure MSU complies with the newest iteration of the Violence Against Women Act, a federal law that includes new requirements with its renewal.

“Comprehensive training for faculty and staff will be announced during the spring semester. Current training for students will be enhanced to include information about the new policy,” Simon said in the release.

The revisions come in the midst of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into whether MSU may have violated guidelines for the federal law Title IX, which was revealed last February by The State News.

The Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives revealed its own report from their investigations of sexual assaults on campus earlier this month.

It revealed that the office, known as I3, had received 81 student claims of sexual misconduct in the 2013-2014 school year, out of which 21 received a formal investigation.

The report also revealed that since August 2011, 174 reports of sexual misconduct involving students were filed to I3. Only 47 of those cases underwent investigation, and the other 127 did not undergo formal investigation due to either a claimant not being able to participate or no jurisdiction in the matter.

MSU hockey takes on U-M for the 300th time

MSU hockey (7-10-1, 1-2-1 Big Ten) made its 26th appearance in the Great Lakes Invitational title game Dec. 29, facing off against UM for the 300th time in the programs’ storied rivalry. The Wolverines came out on top at the end, winning by a score of 2-1.

“They started with a lot of jump,” head coach Tom Anastos said. “We played hard the entire 60 minutes but I thought we played uptight the first part of the game.”

MSU will resume its Big Ten schedule Jan. 16 when they travel to take on Penn State.

Cotton Bowl, goodbye Narduzzi

The clock read 4:03 remaining in the third quarter when 390-pound lineman LaQuan McGowan scored on an 18-yard touchdown reception to give Baylor a 41-21 lead in the 79th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

That was enough for MSU. They decided to do something about it.

Twenty-one unanswered points ensued, including the go-ahead touchdown with 17 seconds left on a 10-yard pass from junior quarterback Connor Cook to senior wide receiver Keith Mumphery. After that, all that was left was the confetti.

“I really can’t put it into words,” head coach Mark Dantonio said. “We knew they had a good football team. And when they made a play, we regrouped and kept trying to play.”

It was the largest bowl comeback under Mark Dantonio.

The moment many people latched on to after the game was an image of defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi and Dantonio sharing a tearful embrace after the win. Narduzzi is leaving following this game to become head coach at Pittsburgh.

“You want the best for your people,” Dantonio said. “To win the last game like that for coach Narduzzi was something that will be a memory for life.”

Snyder’s inauguration

Gov. Rick Snyder was sworn in for his second term as Michigan’s 48th governor on New Year’s Day, where he gave a speech about his goals for his remaining time in office.

“This isn’t about me,” Snyder said to the crowd gathered at the Capitol. “This is about building that foundation for a better and brighter future.”

Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, Attorney General Bill Schuette and Secretary of State Ruth Johnson also took their oaths of office.

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan was the emcee of the inauguration ceremony. Also sworn in were members of the Michigan Supreme Court, the State Board of Education and three university boards, including MSU’s newly re-elected Trustees George Perles and Melanie Foster.

Ferguson elected president of Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees re-elected chairman Joel Ferguson during their brief meeting this past Thursday.

During the meeting, Trustee George Perles voiced his opposition to having Ferguson go unopposed. Ferguson will serve for another two years as chairman.

“I need a voice,” Perles said. “I need a chance to say what I want to say and the person I think would be best.”

Perles then nominated both Trustees Brian Breslin and Brian Mosallam. They subsequently declined the nominations.

Perles said that despite feeling like the vote for chairman was wrapped up before the meeting started, he would continue to be a “team player” for the board.

Trustee Mitch Lyons was nominated as vice chairman.

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