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MICHIGAN

Marijuana makes Lansing ballot for Nov.

Lansing residents will see a new ballot initiative to decriminalize recreational marijuana use in November, but it remains unclear whether visiting MSU students will be able to light up without fear.

MSU

Library Bootcamp helps grad students get comfortable

The Main Library is one of the largest buildings on MSU’s campus, but on Friday afternoon, librarians Ben Oberdick and Rachel Minkin tried to make it feel a little smaller. The inaugural Library Bootcamp aimed to showcase resources for graduate students and highlight interesting parts of MSU’s library system. Oberdick and Minkin spent an hour giving a tutorial-style lecture focusing on search engines, the library call system and other unique aspects of the library.

MICHIGAN

EL Council to discuss rental housing development proposals

East Lansing could have more student housing options in the near future if city officials approve two development proposals up for discussion Tuesday. The East Lansing City Council is planning to discuss whether to allow construction of a seven-bedroom apartment and a five-story mixed-use building at its Tuesday meeting.

MSU

Olin officials recommend pre-college immunizations

There are no immunization requirements to attend MSU, but with students returning to campus this past week, the University Physician’s Office still recommends certain vaccinations for the sake of students’ health. Many students have received immunizations before attending college, but they should know what vaccinations are available at the Olin Health Center, said Kathi Braunlich, communications manager for MSU Student Health Services. “Most immunizations are available by appointment at the Allergy and Immunizations Clinic at Olin,” Braunlich said.

MICHIGAN

Firehouse Subs set to spice up business downtown

A fiery, fresh sub shop with a mission to help local police and firefighters is rolling into East Lansing’s business landscape Friday. Jacksonville, Fla.-based Firehouse Subs is set to open a new location Friday at 245 Ann St. to welcome the new students. Franchised by brothers Steven and Anthony Karmo and cousin Marius Essak, the East Lansing Firehouse Subs will be the eleventh to open in Michigan.

MSU

New study shows professors ignore textbook costs

Hundreds of dollars were replaced by hundreds of pages of reading material with the swipe of a card when MSU students bought textbooks for the fall semester this week. Textbook prices rise about 3-5 percent each year, and this year is no different, said Tom Muth, manager of Collegeville Textbook Company, 321 E. Grand River Ave. Although they are more aware of prices than they used to be, according to a study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, or GAO, nationally, most professors are more concerned about the appropriateness of course materials than the price of them.

MSU

Freshmen engineering class largest in decade

The College of Engineering welcomed its largest freshmen class in more than a decade. The class is estimated at 1,284 students, an increase of more than 100 from last year. The number of incoming freshman has more than doubled since 2006, when the class was 640. Thomas Wolff, the college’s associate dean of undergraduate studies, said this year’s class is the largest in more than a decade.

MICHIGAN

Agriculture Hall rededicated in Morrill's name

Agriculture Hall was rededicated Thursday afternoon as the Justin S. Morrill Hall of Agriculture in an event that brought together members of the MSU community and the Morrill family. In a ceremony complete with hors d’oeuvres, a harpist and a ribbon cutting, the hall was renamed following approval from the Board of Trustees in April.

MICHIGAN

Putting in hours

With the start of the fall, students are moving across East Lansing focused on attending classes, making new friends, and most importantly, finding their niche in Spartan society.

MICHIGAN

New MSU bike garages offer repair tools, added security

To combat the all too common sight of weather-beaten, and rusty bikes on campus, the university is offering an alternative option to exposing bicycles to the elements. This year, MSU Bikes installed bicycle garages in parking Ramp 5, near Trowbridge Road, and Ramp 6, near Grand River Avenue. The garages offer improved bicycle racks, higher security and repair stands containing a host of tools for repairs on the fly.

MICHIGAN

MIPs lead Welcome Weekend crime, but citations down overall

With more than 20 years of patrolling East Lansing during Welcome Weekend under his belt, East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy said there aren’t many more surprises left in store for him. What he does find surprising, however, is an overall decrease in the number of alcohol-related citations issued in East Lansing during the students’ first weekend back at school.

MSU

MSU study shows trend of STEM fields raising world university rankings

Most students probably don’t pay attention to world rankings of universities, but they can be important to international students. Important enough that one MSU faculty member spent years researching these rankings. Yixuan “Shirley” Shi, an accounting graduate student from China, said she looked at world rankings as part of the decision process to come to MSU. She searched for a school ranked in the top 100 worldwide for her major.

MSU

Rolling back to the Red Cedar

The fall semester is underway, and with the start of a new semester comes a host of challenges for students and professors with new class schedules and a packed campus.

MICHIGAN

Chandler Crossings not so welcome first week

The main office of The Village at Chandler Crossings is spotless. Polished hardwood floors reflect the summer sunlight flooding in from the large windows that line the walls, and light bounces up towards its high triangular ceilings.

MICHIGAN

Snyder, legislators react to controversial Medicaid expansion bill passed in Senate

At first it failed, but then it passed. In a monumental vote, the plan that would extend healthcare to hundreds of thousands of uninsured Michigan residents passed the Senate after being initially shot down. “Healthy Michigan is an opportunity for all of Michigan to benefit (from),” Gov. Rick Snyder said in a press conference after the vote. “It’s about helping 470,000 Michiganders have a better life. Now we’re gonna have an opportunity, hopefully, with the House passage, to move forward in terms of taking care of many hundreds of thousands of Michiganders,” Snyder continued. But it’s not over yet.