University administration pushed back spring classes at Michigan State to Jan. 19 at the end of December, following state government orders about the start of in-person instruction. According to the order, universities and colleges are allowed to resume in-person instruction but were required to not start classes until Jan. 18.

MSU’s 400 in-person spring classes will begin online and transition to in-person Jan. 25.

For financial aid purposes, the semester still began on Jan. 11 with a “Reading, Reviewing and Reflection” period for any online or in-person class, allowing students to review and plan their syllabi and course schedules.

The rest of the spring semester remains the same, with wellness days on March 2-3 and April 22-23 where there will be no classes to provide students with a break from their studies.

Michigan Court of Appeals denies Nassar request for new hearing

A panel from the Michigan Court of Appeals denied convicted sex offender and ex-MSU doctor Larry Nassar will of a new sentencing hearing in Ingham County.

Nassar argued in his plea that he should be sentenced under a different judge because Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina was biased while sentencing him.

In January 2018, Aquilina sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing hundreds of women and girls over several decades.

COVID-19 vaccines arrive in Ingham County

COVID-19 vaccines began to roll out to priority groups throughout the country, including those in Ingham County.

Ingham County was hoping to triple the number of COVID-19 vaccinations given to those in the open priority groups, Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail said in a media briefing Jan. 5. 

Vail said they were hoping to provide 3,000 vaccines in  a three-day span. The country was provided with 1,950 of the first dose plus an additional 975 second doses for those who were vaccinated three weeks prior.

In previous weeks, the department had received 975 doses a week.

Michigan enters new COVID-19 vaccine phase

Local health departments began vaccinating Michigan residents 65 and older on Jan. 11, according to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's COVID-19 update Wednesday. 

According to Whitmer, 90% of vaccines are expected to be used within seven days of receiving them.

Michigan has recorded over 570,150 COVID-19 cases as of Jan. 12. At this time, more than 14,200 Michiganders have died from COVID-19 complications. 

Rioters swarm US Capitol, open carry guns banned from Michigan Capitol

The House of Representatives and Senate met on Jan. 6 in a joint session to certify the results of the Electoral College ballots for president and vice president in the 2020 election but were met with several hundreds of protesters supporting President Donald Trump who swarmed the U.S. Capitol building, putting those inside in danger.

According to an NPR report, there will be no Capitol access for the public Jan. 20 for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Following the insurrection, Twitter and other social media sites said Trump’s account was “risk of further incitement of violence” and permanently suspended him from the platform. 

On Jan. 11, a state panel banned the open carry of guns in Michigan’s Capitol, following the U.S. Capital riots and incidents from last year, including when protesters against Whitmer’s COVID-19 restrictions entered the Michigan Capitol with weapons demanding to be allowed onto the floor of a legislative chamber, and a plot to kidnap the governor. 

House Democrats revealed an article of impeachment against Trump on Jan. 11. and voted to impeach on Jan. 13.

MSU celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

Michigan State will hold their 41st week-long celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. beginning on Jan. 17, featuring a number of virtual events.

MSU Jazz Orchestras will feature memorable Motown tunes by Detroit’s very own Aretha Franklin in the Jazz, Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 17. 

The event will include remarks by Deborah Johnson of MSU’s Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives.

The fourth annual Diversity Research Showcase will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Jan. 22 and will feature oral and poster presentations from undergraduate students presenting their work on issues of diversity that advance inclusion.

“Anti-bias Training: Moving Dr. King's message forward in a 2021 platform” will be held at noon on Jan. 21. The training is designed to explore differences and work to be more inclusive in local associations, worksites and with students and colleagues. Those interested can attend the training online.

This article is part of our MLK Day print issue. Read the full issue here.