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MSU

Initiative to track graduation rates of transfer students

Olivia Dimmer
December 4, 2013

A new initiative will offer a more detailed picture of students at MSU by tracking them throughout their college career. The Student Achievement Measure, or SAM Initiative, will collect graduation information about students who transfer from other schools during their college career to track data and uncover graduation trends. In previous graduation measures, only students who started and stayed four years at an institution were counted.

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.

MICHIGAN

Michigan taking steps to create veterans benefits

Veterans are beginning to see the results of state efforts to make Michigan a more veteran-friendly place after condemnation from both public agencies and citizens. Experts say the state has struggled to provide benefits for veterans in the past, but Michigan is beginning to surge with a collective, if somewhat decentralized effort to address the influx of post-9/11 veterans and accommodate them.

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.

MICHIGAN

Police investigating on-campus robbery

Katie Abdilla
December 3, 2013

Police are investigating a robbery that occurred on campus at about 8 p.m. on Sunday. According to a police statement, an 18-year-old male student was standing near a bus stop on Wilson Road near West Akers Hall when an unknown male approached him, asking to use his cell phone.

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.

MICHIGAN

Pro-life group sends petition on abortion insurance to legislature

Katie Abdilla
December 2, 2013

A petition that would require women to purchase health insurance for abortions could soon head to the state legislature. Legislators have 40 days to act on the petition, which potentially could amend available coverage through the Affordable Care Act in Michigan, which would require women to pay an optional rider ahead of time for abortion coverage, including instances of rape, incest and unwanted pregnancies.

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.