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MSU

Songwriting course to conclude with Thursday concert

April Jones
December 4, 2013

As the semester comes to a close, 20 students enrolled in an MSU song writing course will have a chance to display their musical skills during a live concert. The students come from diverse musical backgrounds, said professor John Kratus, who teaches the course. From rapping to heavy metal, the students touch almost every genre of music, then compose and perform their pieces for classmates.

MSU

Four candidates in running for ASMSU presidency

Nolly Dakroury
December 4, 2013

ASMSU will be witnessing a new transition going into the spring semester following current ASMSU President Evan Martinak’s resignation on Jan.1, 2014. Four students are running for president, including current Vice President for Governmental Affairs Jessica Leacher, former Vice President for University Programming Christopher McClain, Supply Chain Management freshman Bridgette Mack and history senior Jordan Zammit. Zammit and Mack have not previously been involved with ASMSU. Chief of Staff Kiran Samra said each candidate will have to give a five-minute speech during the next general assembly meeting Thursday, followed by a five-minute question and answer period, which will include questions formulated and agreed on by the general assembly in a closed session.

MSU

University policy provides leeway for students to declare majors

Olivia Dimmer
December 3, 2013

University officials are reviewing a proposed change to academic policy that would allow students to officially declare a major a full year earlier — at the end of their freshman year instead of sophomore year. The proposal allows, but does not require, students to declare a major at 28 credits instead of 56 credits, as the current policy mandates. Traditionally, all students with fewer than 56 credits are considered no preference majors. Although they might know what major they want to declare, they cannot technically do so until they reach 56 credits. The new policy would have colleges assume responsibility for students at the end of their first year rather than their second.

MSU

MSU to focus on civil rights

Simon Schuster
December 3, 2013

Next year will mark two historic anniversaries in U.S. civil rights, and MSU wants to makes sure they don’t go unobserved. Marketed as “a year-long community conversation on civil and human rights,” Project 60/50 was announced Tuesday in an email from MSU President Lou Anna K.

MSU

MSU College of Engineering looking to add new department

Justine McGuire
December 3, 2013

A new department could be on the horizon for the MSU College of Engineering, and would be a home for faculty and students with biomedical engineering interests. The proposed Department of Biomedical Engineering would help the university recruit exceptional students and faculty in the field and give a more relevant home for those who are already doing research in the area, said Acting Dean of Engineering Leo Kempel.

MSU

Jewish students, faculty celebrate Hanukkah privately with friends

April Jones
December 3, 2013

As the eight nights of Hanukkah continue throughout the week, MSU students and faculty join together each night to participate in the holiday tradition of lighting the Hanukkah menorah. Historically, Hanukkah is meant to celebrate two miracles, Rabbi Hendel Weingarten of MSU’s Chabad said. The first is the victory Jewish people had over the Syrian-Greek persecutors, and the second is the ability of a small flask of oil to remain lit in the menorah in the Temple for eight days.

MSU

Vienna Boys' Choir to perform at Wharton Center tonight

Micaela Colonna
December 3, 2013

Active for more than 500 years, the Vienna Boys’ Choir is one of the most renowned boys’ choirs in the world, and will perform “Christmas in Vienna” on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Wharton Center. Tickets range from $15 to $47. Until the early 20th century, the group originally sang for the imperial court, the mass, for private functions and state occasions. Today, the choir is divided into four touring sub-groups, each named after famous Austrian composers — Bruckner, Haydn, Mozart and Schubert — who were at one time associated with the choir.

MSU

Journalism students help write international student guide

April Jones
December 2, 2013

MSU journalism students have created a book to help answer some of the questions international students have once they arrive on the banks of the Red Cedar River. For the past semester, MSU journalism students in JRN 492, Seminar in Journalism, have been working to help generate conversations among the growing crowd of international students.

MSU

Student Health Services begins handing out flu prevention packs

Celeste Bott
December 2, 2013

Students looking to stay healthy through the end of the semester can find new resources in their dorms, neighborhood clinics and recreational sports facilities. MSU Student Health Services has begun to distribute 20,000 Cold and Flu Packs throughout campus, communications manager Kathi Braunlich said.

MSU

ROTC giving back to community through Toys for Tots Foundation

Nolly Dakroury
December 2, 2013

Holiday season might be to a great extent about shopping, but a lot of people still are holding on to the tradition of helping out the less fortunate during this time and brightening up their holidays, including members of MSU’s Spartan Battalion. The Spartan Battalion, Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, is helping the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve collect toys for its Toys for Tots Foundation.

MSU

OCAT continues tradition of hosting Thanksgiving dinner for students left on campus

April Jones
November 28, 2013

What began in 2003 as a Thanksgiving dinner by a starving MSU undergrad who didn’t have the funds to go home or buy food when the university closed down for the holiday now has expanded to a huge on-campus event and tradition ten years later. “I didn’t have any family around so I stayed in the dorms and I didn’t know what to expect so I kind of starved for those days,” said Felipe Lopez-Sustaita, who graduated MSU in 2005.

MSU

Hanukkah to fall on Thanksgiving for first time since 19th century

April Jones
November 27, 2013

What do you get when Thanksgiving falls late and the Jewish calendar is in a leap year? The result is a collaboration of two major holidays known as Thanksgivukkah. Hanukkah officially began at sunset on Wednesday, and this the first time since the late 19th century that Hanukkah and Thanksgiving overlapped. Experts say it’s something that won’t happen again for about 70,000 years.

MSU

MSU student group to send medical goods to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan

Micaela Colonna
November 25, 2013

A student group is teaming up with the MSU’s Institute of International Health to pack and send supply boxes to those in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan. The boxes will contain medical supplies donated by local hospitals, and include but are not limited to gowns, syringes, catheters and surgical equipment. The effort is being headed by Generate Help 2 Heal Generations, a student-founded nonprofit that provides aid to people in poor countries, is heading the effort. Marco Botros, the group’s president, said it’s important to give these resources to those in need, especially after the wake of a natural disaster.

MSU

Impact 89FM partners with local business in Socks for Lansing project

Nolly Dakroury
November 25, 2013

With the holiday season just around the corner, individuals and organizations are keener on reaching out to give a helping hand to the less fortunate, including MSU’s Impact 89FM. Impact 89FM is assisting with the Socks for Lansing project, initiated by the Rizzi Family of Businesses, to collect brand new unwrapped socks for donation.

MSU

License plate logo change sparking discussions among MSU officials, alumni

Olivia Dimmer
November 25, 2013

As part of a rebranding effort over the years, MSU’s Communications and Brand Strategy, or CABS, department has been making the shift from the historic block “S” logo to the Spartan helmet logo.The new logo has found its way onto the basketball court, the center of the gridiron, on MSU clothing and beginning Feb. 1, on the fundraiser license plate in place of the block “S.” Although the change is spreading throughout campus, MSU Trustee George Perles believes the new logo is less inclusive and does not represent the history of MSU.

MSU

MSU English Language Center students teach second graders

April Jones
November 25, 2013

Second graders at a local elementary school were given the rare opportunity of interacting with people from all over the globe through a Monday festival that featured international students from the MSU English Language Center. Kristen Casby, who teaches at East Lansing’s Marble Elementary School, teamed up with MSU’s English Language Center to welcome 12 international students with backgrounds from South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Angola and Turkey. The international students taught the elementary students their world cultures through interactive activities and displays in the second grade classroom.