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MSU

Salsa Club holds benefit night for Philippines

Olivia Dimmer
November 20, 2013

Nestled in a far corner of the Plant and Soil Sciences Building, the MSU Salsa Club slowly transformed room A149 from a classroom to a ballroom, complete with decorations to fit the winter wonderland theme of their dance class. The makeshift classroom was momentarily adorned with snowflakes, tinsel and candy canes. Although the decor was whimsical, the cause was serious: raising money for the benefit of the people in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

MSU

Students participate in vigil for transgender day

April Jones
November 20, 2013

Students and faculty gathered Wednesday night at the Rock to celebrate Transgender Day of Remembrance and recognize the deaths of transgender individuals through a candlelight vigil. The national annual event brought out students and faculty members to show their support on issues faced in the transgender community and remember those were killed for being transgender.

MSU

Black students tweet out positive, negative experiences at MSU

April Jones
November 20, 2013

A new Twitter hashtag has opened the doors for a slew of comments providing an honest, uncensored look at how black MSU students view their university experience. The hashtag “BBMSU,” short for “Being Black at MSU,” recently was created to publicize both positive and negative experiences and aspects of the university that black students have noticed.

MSU

New student organization focused on community service is "on the rise"

Nolly Dakroury
November 20, 2013

A new student group on-campus has been “on the rise” lately, promoting social involvement and community service. On The Rise was formed through a casual conversation between social relations and public policy junior K’Lynn Victoria Thomas and Joshua Gillespie, assistant director at Residence Education and Housing Services, or REHS.

MICHIGAN

New H&M, retail expansion on horizon for Meridian Mall

Geoff Preston
November 19, 2013

Swedish clothing retailer H&M will be a part of the Meridian Mall, taking the space currently occupied by Abercrombie and Fitch, according to Meridian Township Community Planning Development director Mark Kieselbach. H&M filled out a redevelopment permit that recently was approved by Meridian Township. Kieselbach said the timeline of the project redevelopment is up to the mall and has not yet been announced.

MSU

MSU budget feels impact of federal sequester

Olivia Dimmer
November 19, 2013

The 2013-14 budget update was presented at Tuesday’s University Council meeting, with the report stressing the estimated impact of the federal budget sequestration, or series of federal spending cuts, that took more than $16.7 million out of MSU’s research budget alone. “This represents the sequester as it is currently implemented,” MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon said during the meeting. “There is another fear of the sequester that if there is no budget deal, there will be a 12 percent decrease effective in the January or February timeframe.”

MSU

Sikh Student Association hosts Turban Day at MSU

April Jones
November 19, 2013

For physiology senior Mohkam Singh, every morning is somewhat the same. The alarm wakes him up about an hour before class; he showers, eats, then begins to get ready for the day. Singh picks out what he will wear without forgetting to add a very important final touch — his turban. “It takes me about 5-10 minutes to tie my turban in the morning,” said Singh, who’s been wearing a head turban since childhood.

MSU

Dawkins named as next Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities

Justine McGuire
November 19, 2013

A pool of 100 candidates for MSU’s new Vice President for Strategic Infrastructure Planning and Facilities, or VP for SIPF, was narrowed down to one today when the recommended candidate was announced. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon recommended Kemel Dawkins to be the next VP for SIPF. The announcement comes more than two months after Dawkins was named as one of the three finalists for the position.

MSU

MSU study shows classes influence friendships, academic performance

Celeste Bott
November 19, 2013

The academic courses young adults take have a large influence on the friendships they form in both high school and college, according to a national study conducted by an MSU professor. The study evaluates high school students, but the same principles carry over to students when they eventually go to college, said Kenneth Frank, a professor in MSU’s College of Education and the study’s leader.

MICHIGAN

Politicians: Road funds unlikely to come through

Simon Schuster
November 19, 2013

At his State of the State address in January, Gov. Rick Snyder called for a $1.2 billion increase in funding to repair and maintain Michigan’s roads. But after a meeting last week between Snyder and legislative leaders, that goal seems no closer to completion than the day it was proposed. According to a Michigan Department of Transportation report released in May, the conditions of Michigan’s roadways will begin to decline without a significant increase in funding. To measure the condition of Michigan roads, the state surveys the roads and rates their condition on a scale of “good,” fair” and “poor.” According to data from the Transportation Asset Management Council collected between 2011 and 2012, 13.77 percent of roads in East Lansing are classified in good condition, 57.46 percent are in fair condition and 28.77 percent are in poor condition.

MICHIGAN

Insurance company opens on Grand River Avenue

Geoff Preston
November 18, 2013

One of East Lansing’s largest downtown business spaces is officially filled once again as Jackson National Life Insurance Co. opened its doors for business Monday, redesigning and taking over the former Barnes and Noble location at 333 E. Grand River Ave.

MSU

Fencing club works year-round, grabs laughs

Olivia Dimmer
November 18, 2013

Despite having the youngest team in decades, the MSU Fencing club is looking to their upcoming competition with confidence. Meg Green, the women’s sabre captain, described the season so far as “fantastic” despite the large amount of young players.