Recently, violent acts have plagued the front page of The State News, gaining the attention of the East Lansing community, and, in some cases, international attention. There is no doubt that crime likely will happen on any college campus, but the severity of these crimes being committed by MSU students is tainting how the university is viewed across the world.
On Aug. 27, The State News published an article detailing the events of a victim of an alleged hate crime, Zachary Tennen. He reported while at a party, he was assaulted because of his religion, further reporting that the students who assaulted him were self-proclaimed members of the Ku Klux Klan and began making Nazi gestures. Later reports found Tennen’s story to be inaccurate. Witnesses told police Tennen had been sexually assaulting girls at the party, causing a male to intervene.
A few days later, the East Lansing Police Department began investigating an alleged assault on Brandon Carmack, who claimed he was attacked by a group of men who he believed to be members of MSU’s hockey team. But much like Tennen, it was found that Carmack’s story didn’t exactly paint him in a positive light. Witnesses from a party he attended said Carmack sought out and choked his ex-girlfriend, as well as assaulting many others. Carmack has since been charged with one count of filing a false police report, one count of stalking, two counts of assault and battery and one count of domestic assault and battery.
Then, on Sep. 17, an alleged 40-person fight broke out near the corner of Coolidge and Lake Lansing roads among what is believed to be mostly international students. Ultimately, Yanlin Li, a Chinese international student, faces three felony charges after allegedly stabbing three international students during the brawl.
In two of these instances, victims lied to authorities and utilized media outlets to spread false details and get attention. Tennen and Carmack’s stories gained international recognition by news outlets, allowing these “victims” to receive praise and compassion from citizens across the U.S. for their supposed tragic stories. But these two students abused the media, spreading lies about their assaults and effectively disgracing the university’s reputation.
Other universities have faced similar image problems, burdened by the actions of a few reckless students or faculty who tainted the name of the entire institution. Will MSU soon be known as an institution that promotes a culture of violence within its student body?
MSU is an excellent institution that provides its students with opportunities and a welcoming community. But these three students have diminished the school’s reputation nationally, branding MSU as an unwelcoming institution that exudes a violent nature.
The actions of these students do not reflect the university as a whole, as many students and faculty members are honest, caring people who are welcoming to a diverse student body. These three students have brought shame to this university, selfishly abusing the system by lying to authorities and the media, and dragging our institution down with them.
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