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FOOTBALL

Spartans hoping to avoid letdown versus Purdue

Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.

FOOTBALL

Spartans hoping to avoid letdown versus Purdue

Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.

FOOTBALL

Spartans hoping to avoid letdown versus Purdue

Every game counts. That’s the message of the weekend as the MSU football team(5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten) welcomes Purdue (1-5, 0-2) to Spartan Stadium (noon, Big Ten Network) to open up the second half of the regular season. Although the Spartans have started to hit their stride on offense, the Boilermakers come into the matchup touting the worst offense in the Big Ten, led by true freshman quarterback Danny Etling, who picked up his first career start in a 44-7 drubbing by Nebraska last week.

MICHIGAN

Former Barnes & Noble spot has new tenant

A new addition to downtown East Lansing is bringing more than 100 insurance jobs to the city, a move local officials hope will encourage more students to stay in the area after graduation. Jackson National Life Insurance Company has a new office in downtown East Lansing, at 333 E. Grand River Ave., in the space formerly occupied by Barnes & Noble. The company is set to open formally in November.

NEWS

Moped stolen at University Village

A student’s moped was stolen between 3 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 14 in University Village, according to police. A 19-year-old male told police he parked his moped, a black and silver Tmec valued at $500, at a bicycle rack on the southwest corner of University Village, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said.

NEWS

A towering legacy

When Alex Dunn kissed his girlfriend in the shadow of the Beaumont Tower, the MSU alumnus said to her, “You know what they say, right?” The couple shyly laughed off the long-standing romantic legend that surrounds the tower — sweethearts who kiss in its shadow are destined to marry. Sure enough, two years later, with snow falling lightly around the couple, Dunn got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, in the place he had kissed her in the beginning of their relationship.

MSU

Student Organic Farm raises $80,000 through gala event

This year’s Hoophouse Gala raised more than $80,000 to support MSU’s Student Organic Farm. The gala is an annual fundraising event during which guests enjoy a seven-course meal prepared by MSU chefs using ingredients from the Student Organic Farm and other local Michigan farms and wineries.

MICHIGAN

East Lansing officials host Brew & Do event at Dublin Square Irish Pub

LEGOs, chicken wings and beer are not the kinds of items likely to be found at most city government functions, but the Brew & Do event held at Dublin Square Irish Pub Thursday night featured all of the above. The event was part of the city’s weeklong comprehensive plan review initiative, centered around the idea of having an informal atmosphere to encourage participation from citizens of all walks of life. About 40 people were in attendance.

MSU

ASMSU passes slew of bills including $300,000 scholarship allocation

MSU’s undergraduate student government, ASMSU, approved a bill to allocate $300,000 to create an endowed scholarship for students, amongst many others at Thursday’s general assembly meeting. “We want to enrich student experience,” said Michael Mozina, ASMSU vice president for finance and operations. “It is through things like these scholarships that we can show that we are giving back to students in the most meaningful way possible.”

MSU

ISP dean finalists named Thursday

MSU officials announced Thursday the three finalists for the open International Studies and Programs, or ISP, dean position. Three finalists for the ISP dean position are DeAndra Beck, program director in the National Science Foundation’s Office of International and Integrative Activities; L. Van Crowder, senior director of education, health and community development in the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which is part of the U.S. State Department; and William Fisher, associate provost and dean of Graduate Studies and a professor of international development and social change at Clark University.

MSU

Living City- Parkour warrior

For biochemistry and molecular biology junior Chris Porzondek the art of parkour isn’t a dangerous stunt. It’s a return to his childhood.? “It’s something that we had when we were kids,” he said. “We would climb on stuff, and now I always say, ‘you did do parkour when you were little, but you kind of forgot it as you got older.’” ?

SPORTS

Field hockey confident after unbeaten Big Ten start

One word has been circulating the women’s field hockey locker room and has made its way out onto the field: Destiny. “One of our team goals was to win against the Big Ten from the start of season,” head coach Helen Knull said. “In non-conference season we didn’t get the result we wanted. But now we’re far more focused on the process, which is practice Monday through Thursday, and taking care of business on Saturday … But win or loss, on Saturday, our destiny is still in our hands.”

COMMENTARY

Marriage, parenthood fundamental right

Whether or not marriage equality has popular support does not make it any less of a right. It was not the constituents’ place to make a blanket judgment in part implying same-sex couples are inherently worse parents, and it is irresponsible for the state to defend that decision.

FOOTBALL

Football midseason awards

The 2013 football season is halfway over for MSU (5-1 overall, 2-0 Big Ten), and things appear to be looking up for the Spartans heading into tomorrow’s matchup with Purdue (1-5, 0-2). Since its season opener reminded everyone another dismal season wasn’t out of the question, MSU has reshaped its image and emerged as a Legends Division favorite. Sophomore Connor Cook has taken the reins at quarterback and his supporting cast has improved each game while getting multiple players involved. Here are the most notable players and events from the season’s first half.