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FEATURES

Spartan commits to wear Hogwarts attire until July for Tourette's

When Liz Riesterer was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of 12, the nervous tics and uncomfortable stares from classmates led her to become depressed, so she turned to Harry Potter for comfort. The theatre and media arts and technology freshman again is turning to Harry Potter for help to raise money for the disease that afflicts her by wearing only traditional Hogwarts clothing until the release of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” which comes to theaters July 15.

FEATURES

Alumna gains scholarship, friendship from Miss America pageant

As the stage lights dimmed and the judges’ scores were read at the Miss America pageant on Saturday in Las Vegas, MSU alumna Katie LaRoche could have been disappointed not to hear her name announced among the 15 finalists. Instead, LaRoche, who was named Miss Michigan in June 2010, was grateful for the experience and to represent her platform, which aimed to bring awareness to human trafficking.

FEATURES

Jazz orchestras, choirs celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. at concert

Kurt Trowbridge, a freshman in the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, played trombone in the 31st annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Celebration Sunday in Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. The show featured performances by Jazz Orchestra I, II and III as well as the MSU Children’s Choir and the Earl Nelson Singers.

FEATURES

Spartan to open for Wale concert at Wharton

Briana McKinnon, a self-proclaimed concertgoer, isn’t content to sit down during a performance. When the hospitality business senior goes to a concert, such as Friday’s show featuring Wale, she’s prepared to stand for the entire night. McKinnon will attend rapper Wale’s performance at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Auditorium’s Fairchild Theatre. The concert was brought to campus by the Residence Halls Association, or RHA.

FEATURES

Alumna's ad to compete for spot in Super Bowl coverage

MSU alumna and Santa Monica, Calif., resident Tynesha Williams is one of 10 finalists out of 5,600 submissions in the Doritos/Pepsi MAX “Crash the Super Bowl” challenge that pulls five advertisements for Doritos and five for Pepsi MAX made by consumers. Of the 10, six will be selected via fan voting to run during the Super Bowl on Feb. 6.

FEATURES

Six Spartans to be featured for first art exhibit of 2011

Jesse Howell, a fine arts graduate student, will have his work displayed from 6-9 p.m. Friday in “Six for Six: Six MSU Artists for Six Weeks,” the latest exhibition at (SCENE) Metrospace, 110 Charles St. The exhibition, which is free, will showcase work from six MSU artists and will run until Feb. 27.

FEATURES

Former drum major designs float

Twenty-three years ago Brian O’Connor fulfilled a personal dream of being the drum major who led the Spartan Marching Band in the Rose Parade in January 1988. More than two decades later, the MSU alumnus had another dream realized as he filled a different but integral role in the 2011 Rose Parade as a float designer.

FEATURES

Spartan uses Tower Guard to expand experiences, help disabled students

In between being a full-time student and pursuing the typical sophomore experiences, Cassandra Wieckhorst squeezes another 120 hours into the year to be part of a student group only available to sophomores. Wieckhorst, a math sophomore on a predental track, also has two jobs and is part of Lyman Briggs School. But the student group isn’t just to pad her resume — instead, Wieckhorst helps disabled students as part of MSU Tower Guard.

FEATURES

Community to celebrate photo campaign

T.J. Duckett is the honorary chairperson for the second annual Oldham Project Gala, which will present photographic images of women with breast cancer in the Be Bold, Feel Beautiful campaign. The gala also will kick off Courageous Kids, a campaign to photograph children with cancer. The gala will run from 6-9 p.m. Thursday at Eagle Eye Golf Course, 15500 Chandler Road, in Bath, Mich.

Josh Sidorowicz ·
FEATURES

Student moves cross-country for art

When studio art graduate student Steven Stradley came to MSU from Utah, he simply was looking to continue his education at a master’s level while studying in a different environment. But after participating in an art contest through the Main Library, a part of Stradley will live on long past his stay at MSU.

FEATURES

School of Music to hold business class

MSU is encouraging musicians interested in combining their talent with business aspirations to register for an eight-week course called Your Music Business. The course will meet from 6-8:50 p.m. Thursdays, from Jan. 13. until March 31.