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MICHIGAN

East Lansing City Council approves same-sex couple registry

Geoff Preston
October 16, 2013

If they choose to do so, both straight and same-sex couples can now place their names on a city directory and be officially recognized by East Lansing, even if state laws prevent them from formally doing so. On Tuesday, the East Lansing City Council approved an ordinance allowing for the recognition of domestic partnerships by the city in a directory. East Lansing is the second city in the state of Michigan to pass such an ordinance. Ann Arbor passed a similar ordinance in the 1990s.

MSU

ASMSU close to allocating $300,000 for new scholarship

Nolly Dakroury
October 15, 2013

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, is working to create another academic financial opportunity for students by constructing a new scholarship program. At the most recent committee meeting, the finance committee approved a $300,000 allocation from its Special Projects funds to create an endowed scholarship. The bill will need to pass through the general assembly at Thursday’s meeting for the allocation to occur.

MSU

New health care plan was introduced during Faculty Senate

Justine McGuire
October 15, 2013

A new faculty health care plan, which will be the third option available to faculty members, was explained to members of Faculty Senate on Tuesday. The new plan is a “consumer-driven” option that has a high deductible and an option for a health savings account that will roll over year to year that the university will contribute to each year, said Renee Rivard, director of benefits for MSU Human Resources.

MSU

Student group teaches sex ed with skits

Celeste Bott
October 15, 2013

The In Your Face Theatre Troupe is going beyond the typical measures to engage students in learning about sexual health by performing skits with topics ranging from masturbation to condom use. The Troupe performs several skits about sexual health throughout the school year at residence halls and the organization took its talents to Holmes Hall on Tuesday night.

MSU

MSU study shows video games also create an unhealthy eating lifestyle

Irum Ibrahim
October 15, 2013

A recent study conducted at MSU shows that certain “advergames” not only promote an inactive lifestyle for children, but also contain content that promotes unhealthy eating habits. A team of MSU researchers looked at more than 100 websites that sported the advergames, or video games that advertise a product or brand, and discovered that many of them are promoting high-sodium, high-fat and high-sugar food products.

MICHIGAN

Connor McCowan found guilty of second-degree murder

Simon Schuster
October 15, 2013

A jury has found Okemos resident Connor McCowan guilty of second-degree murder in the stabbing of MSU student Andrew Singler. McCowan is accused of fatally stabbing Singler Feb. 23 after getting in a text messaging fight regarding Singler’s treatment of his girlfriend, McCowan’s sister Shay McCowan.

MSU

Officials to provide cash for student projects

Celeste Bott
October 15, 2013

The Office of Campus Sustainability is looking to fund student projects that could promote a greener campus. The Be Spartan Green Student Project Fund offers students up to $5,000 to develop a project that would improve campus sustainability.

MICHIGAN

Indigenous student group protests Columbus Day

Simon Schuster
October 14, 2013

Members of MSU’s North American Indigenous Students Organization, or NAISO, and other supporters gathered at the rock on Farm Lane on Monday evening to protest Columbus Day, a federal holiday to celebrate the explorer’s discovery of America. A drum group performed and supporters held signs with messages such as “Columbus was lost” and “We were already here.”

MICHIGAN

Face Time: East Lansing City Council candidate Susan Woods

Geoff Preston
October 14, 2013

Even though East Lansing City Council candidate Susan Woods has lived all over the world, she decided a long time ago to make Spartan territory her permanent home.? A 1975 graduate of the University of California at Berkley, Woods previously has lived in Spain, Austria, Boston, Washington D.C. and San Francisco.? After her husband got a job at MSU in the early 1990s, Woods and her family moved to the city’s Bailey neighborhood and have remained ever since.?

MICHIGAN

East Lansing event gives residents glimpse of future city development plans

Casey Holland
October 14, 2013

Members of the East Lansing community had an opportunity to get a glimpse at the “bigger picture” of what’s to come Monday evening during an event geared at advancing city goals 20 years into the future. Monday evening marked the beginning of the city’s Bigger Picture Plan and Design Week, which helped kick off the city’s public portion of its comprehensive plan. A comprehensive plan is a broad-based policy document for the physical, economic and social development of the city.

MICHIGAN

Closing arguments over, jury deliberations start in trial

Katie Abdilla
October 14, 2013

One side believes Okemos resident Connor McCowan stabbed and killed MSU student Andrew Singler to protect his own life. The other maintains the 19-year-old had plenty of chances to run away, go home or diffuse the situation, but chose not to out of intent to harm Singler. This week, the jury will decide who to believe.

MSU

ASMSU bill looks to engage more students in weekly meetings

Nolly Dakroury
October 14, 2013

A bill aimed at getting more students engaged with the undergraduate student government’s work could pass at ASMSU’s Thursday meeting. If passed, the bill would require ASMSU to start posting bills passed during committee meetings on its website one week prior to the organization’s general assembly meeting. ASMSU representative and public policy sophomore Evan Schrage introduced the bill because he felt students have not been sufficiently informed about the legislation being discussed by the organization.

MICHIGAN

UPDATE: Jury begins deliberation in McCowan case

Katie Abdilla  and  Simon Schuster
October 14, 2013

Both sides began presenting their closing arguments in the trial of Okemos resident Connor McCowan Monday morning in Ingham County Circuit Court. McCowan is accused of stabbing and killing MSU student Andrew Singler after a text messaging argument between the two escalated to blows on Feb. 23. The jury will deliberate over whether McCowan is guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder or manslaughter.

MSU

Renovated Multicultural Center opens in Union

April Jones
October 13, 2013

After years of student organizations pushing to get a free-standing multicultural building on campus, the Union welcomed the new Mosaic Multicultural Unity Center on Friday with a ribbon tying ceremony emphasizing unity. For the past 14 years, the Multicultural Center was in the basement of the Union, making some students, such as communication senior Luis Zarco, think the space was too small and cramped to fit everyone.

MSU

Alumni, students tour Beaumont Tower during Homecoming event

Justine McGuire
October 13, 2013

One of MSU’s most recognizable structures, Beaumont Tower, was opened to the public on Saturday in honor of Homecoming and to raise money for the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, or RCPD. Self-guided tower tours took place for six hours before and after the homecoming football game against Indiana.

MICHIGAN

McCowan's case focuses on blows to head in fight

Lauren Gibbons  and  Katie Abdilla
October 13, 2013

After reaching the door of MSU student Andrew Singler’s apartment on the morning of Feb. 23, Okemos resident Connor McCowan said his subsequent actions were a result of a series of blows to the head. Singler allegedly hit McCowan multiple times above his left eyebrow when McCowan saw a bright light and stumbled backward into the hallway, McCowan testified Friday in his trial in Ingham County Circuit Court.