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MSU

Divine Nine preparing for Friday step show

April Jones
October 9, 2013

Members of The Divine Nine fraternities and sororities have been putting in hours of training with one goal in mind — stepping their way to first place this Friday night. MSU’s Divine Nine organizations, which are primarily made up of African American students, will step up to the challenge 7 p.m. Friday at the East Lansing High School auditorium for its annual step show contest, expected to reel in hundreds of attendees.

MSU

Council of Graduate Students moves funds to on-campus accounts

Nolly Dakroury
October 9, 2013

The Council for Graduate Students, or COGS, approved a resolution Wednesday to move the group’s funds to on-campus based accounts, thus aligning with the university policy. COGS President Stefan Fletcher said the group’s executive board has had extensive dialogue with Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Denise Maybank and Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Mark Haas. “We’ve had a fairly robust dialogue, because I don’t think any of (the executive board members) wanted to present something to the (council representatives) that was not a good deal,” Fletcher said. The resolution was put to a vote in a previous COGS meeting on Sep.

MSU

MSU alumna wins prestigious artwork award

Nolly Dakroury
October 9, 2013

MSU alumna Ann Loveless took home a special prize this past week, literally. Loveless won first place based on public voting at the 2013 ArtPrize, which ran from Sept. 18 until Oct. 6 in Grand Rapids. Loveless, who has been creating art quilts for 10 years, entered the competition with a five-by-20 foot long art quilt mounted on four panels showing the shoreline of Lake Michigan.

MICHIGAN

Oswald Scott Wilder waives arraignment in sexual assault trial

Lauren Gibbons
October 9, 2013

A man accused of sexually assaulting four female MSU students waived his scheduled arraignment in Ingham County Circuit Court Tuesday. Vernon, Mich. resident Oswald Scott Wilder Jr., 26, recently was charged with one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of assault with intention to commit sexual penetration, one count of gross indecency and three counts of unlawful imprisonment.

MICHIGAN

University officials: Future of Spartan Village area remains unknown for time

Justine McGuire
October 8, 2013

The fate of Spartan Village, an apartment complex close to campus that houses a combination of graduate students and families with ties to the MSU community, remains up in the air at this point, officials said. The strategic plan for Residence Education and Housing Services, or REHS, slates the apartment complex for demolition as early as 2017 or as late as 2020 because the buildings are deteriorating.

MICHIGAN

Campaign finance spending limits challenged in U.S. Supreme Court

America’s most wealthy citizens could use more of their affluence to support politicians and political parties if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of scrapping certain limits on campaign contributions, and many advocates in Michigan are outraged over the possibility. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard the case of Shaun McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission. McCutcheon, a conservative Alabama businessman, challenged the limit on aggregate contributions to politicians and fundraising groups.

MICHIGAN

New bill could ensure pints are filled to brim

Derek Gartee
October 8, 2013

A bill going through the Michigan legislature could give bar patrons throughout the state a few more drops of beer in their mug. The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Knezek, D-Dearborn Heights, would mandate that all bars selling pints must serve patrons a full 16 ounces.

MICHIGAN

Screen printing business sets up shop in East Lansing

Derek Gartee
October 8, 2013

Screen printing business Michigan Shirt Works hopes to capitalize on the hustle and bustle of East Lansing with a new location on Grand River Avenue. Michigan Shirt Works, located at 1385 E. Grand River Ave., is a screen printing and retail company that now will call East Lansing its primary home. In addition to screen printing, the store also serves as a local retail outlet.

MICHIGAN

Pre-Medical Association collects books, funds to benefit needy kids

Simon Schuster
October 8, 2013

MSU’s Pre-Medical Association, or PMA, is hosting a book donation and blanket-making event Wednesday night in order to benefit underprivileged children in the Lansing area. From 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 111 in Erikson Hall, PMA will be accepting gently-used books during its Curl Up and Read event, while members of the organization make blankets to give to homeless and underprivileged children.

MICHIGAN

Albert Avenue closes for construction again

Geoff Preston
October 8, 2013

A portion of Albert Avenue that stretches from Gunson Street to Durand Street will be closed between about 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Wednesday while city crews repair a sewer. City officials say a detour is in place that will include Gunson, Ann and Durand streets.

MSU

One year later, new fraternity begins to flourish

Brian Palmer
October 8, 2013

While most incoming freshmen were preoccupied by the?hassle of moving into a cramped dorm room and leaving their homes behind last fall, a few students were thinking of adding their own spin on the MSU fraternity scene. Now, the 11 founding fathers of the Zeta Beta Tau chapter at MSU have established themselves in a small house on the northwest outskirts of campus and amongst greek life.

MSU

John Gaboury to take over as Associate Provost for Academic Services

Justine McGuire
October 8, 2013

A leadership position that touches the academic lives of MSU students will change hands officially on Nov. 1, with the transition process already beginning. The post of Associate Provost for Academic Services will be taken over by John Gaboury who already spends two days a week at the university while he wraps up his duties at the University of Toledo.

MICHIGAN

Connor McCowan trial continues with testimony from father, crime scene investigators

Katie Abdilla
October 8, 2013

The father of Okemos resident Connor McCowan continued his testimony during his son’s murder trial in Ingham County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. On the morning of Feb. 23, Randy McCowan said his son woke him at about 4 a.m., seeming “frantic and upset.” Connor McCowan then told his father about a scuffle with MSU student Andrew Singler, his sister’s boyfriend, saying he “feared for his life” and “cut” Singler.

MICHIGAN

Alleged murderer's sister, dad take stand as trial goes on

Katie Abdilla  and  Simon Schuster
October 7, 2013

To Okemos resident Shay McCowan, her little brother is her best friend. She said her brother Connor McCowan, 19, became close with MSU student Andrew Singler after she began dating him in 2010. The group maintained a steady companionship until the early morning of Feb. 23, when an argument between the couple led to confrontation, culminating in Connor McCowan allegedly stabbing Singler to death.