An East Lansing man accused of assaulting an MSU student had a history of domestic abuse, according to police reports obtained by The State News in a Freedom of Information Act request.
When it comes to students studying abroad and international enrollment, the 2013 Open Door Report released by the Institute of International Education on Monday established MSU as a leader in international engagement, at least in plurality. MSU had the fourth most students sent abroad in the 2011-2012 school year, according to the report, with 2,380 students studying abroad. This equates to almost five percent of the university’s total enrollment.
Two weeks to the day before the annual Art for Charlie, things took a turn for the worse for the Waller family.
As the girls circled, the commentator’s mid-ranged drone echoed across the track, his words impossible to decipher from the near-hysterical screams of derby-girls melding with the referee’s periodic whistles. At times, the girls’ voices take on an almost religious, speaking-in-tongues-type fervor; the shrillness piercing fans’ ears with the fury and energy of the Almighty Himself.
The Department of Theatre housed its seventh annual Freshman Showcase this weekend with several showings of “Off With Her Head,” a play inspired by the classic children’s tale “Alice in Wonderland.” The cast, consisting of 17 freshman along with a production team, collaborated to devise a storyline, create a set and present an hour-long performance to introduce themselves to the faculty and staff of the MSU Department of Theatre.
About 70 members of the MSU community spent Saturday at the Impression 5 Science Center in Lansing to help cultivate a new generation of potential scientists. Volunteers educated children from preschool through fifth grade about the human body in an event called PhUn Day. MSU undergraduate, graduate and medical students, as well as staff and faculty, were present to help.
Veterans now can receive in-state tuition at Michigan’s public universities, the organization representing the state’s 15 public universities announced Friday. MSU joined the list of colleges offering the benefit of in-state tuition for all veterans about a week ago, said Mike Boulus, executive director of the Presidents Council, State Universities of Michigan.
The U.S. Department of Education is hoping to eradicate some of the misunderstanding around ways to pay back student loan debt with a new outreach program designed to teach graduates about more affordable options when paying back their loans. In a statement released this week, the department said it will be ?sending emails about loan payment options to about 3.5 million recent graduates.
Several environmental films will be screened at the East Lansing Film Festival, and MSU officials and local community members will be speaking about the films in a panel discussion on Saturday. The films being shown are “Trashed,” about the impact of littering; “More than Honey,” about the importance of honeybees and “Food for Change: The Story of Cooperation in America,” about food cooperatives.
Students might not to have to serve their jury duty during college semesters if the state Senate approves a new state bill the House OK’d last Wednesday. Rep. Kevin Cotter, R-Mount Pleasant, introduced the bill, which would let full-time college students postpone duty until the end of the school year.
As East Lansing Mayor Diane Goddeeris adjourned the city council meeting on Wednesday, the sun set on a city council that has had a varying legacy. On Wednesday, the council finished the mandatory five-year code review as part of the comprehensive plan, passing five ordinances to finish the process. It’s the group’s last meeting before newly-elected members Ruth Beier and Susan Woods fill the seats of Kevin Beard and Vic Loomis, both of whom chose not to run for reelection.
Okemos resident Connor McCowan was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison Wednesday morning for the murder of MSU student Andrew Singler. McCowan was convicted of second-degree murder last month for fatally stabbing Singler, his sister’s boyfriend, during an argument on Feb. 23 that came to physical blows. Singler, 23, was left with two wounds in his heart and arm. Defense attorney Chris Bergstrom asked Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Clinton Canady III to remain lenient on McCowan’s sentence. Bergstrom maintained McCowan acted in self-defense that night, fearing for his life after Singler struck him in the head.
If it wasn’t for Jeff Nardone, professional writing sophomore Emily Cervone would not have come to MSU. The MSU alumnus, also the adviser for Grosse Pointe South High School’s weekly student newspaper “The Tower,” saw Cervone’s writing abilities when she was a staff writer for the paper and encouraged her to study at MSU. “He was just so vibrant and passionate about not just teaching journalism, but life,” Cervone said. “I learned so much in that class — how to handle people, handling deadlines, just like a regular job.”
Following a second-degree murder conviction, Okemos resident Connor McCowan will be sentenced Wednesday morning. After an argument between two friends turned violent on the morning of Feb. 23, McCowan, 19, fatally stabbed MSU student Andrew Singler, 23. It is possible McCowan could receive life in prison. Given McCowan’s lack of prior offenses, his attorney, Chris Bergstrom, said he plans to ask the judge for the lightest sentence possible.
Lansing voters have approved a proposal to decriminalize recreational use of marijuana within city limits, according to unofficial election results from the Ingham County Clerk’s Office. With all 43 precincts reporting, about 63 percent of voters approved the initiative, which would allow the use, possession and transfer of less of less than one ounce of the drug when on private property for those 21 and older.
Ruth Beier and Susan Woods were victorious in their bids for seats on the East Lansing City Council, according to unofficial counts from the Ingham County Clerk’s Office. With all 17 precincts reporting, Beier took the lead and secured a spot on the council with 1,231 votes. Woods came in a close second to claim the other available seat with 1,085 votes, defeating candidates Ben Eysselinck and Sam Artley by more than 500 votes.
Student voter turnout in East Lansing local elections is historically dismal, and there’s scant evidence to suggest Tuesday’s East Lansing City Council election will be any different.
Legacies can be a tricky thing to discuss. It’s hard in a community of different viewpoints for a consensus of what a public servant means.
Many fall weekends are marked by the influx of cars onto MSU’s campus: tents are erected, grills fired up and tailgates opened. It’s an eagerly anticipated ?ritual close to the heart of MSU football. But many tailgaters might be unaware of the mark they leave on MSU’s landscape.
A committee of consultants working on East Lansing’s Comprehensive Plan update met with the public and officials on Monday evening to display potential future developments ?involving main attractions across the city. A few of the suggested changes included ?re-engagement with the Red Cedar River to make the walk more pleasant, larger senior community housing and increase in parking options.