MICHIGAN

State funding to Michigan universities could be rising

Kellie Rowe

January 28, 2013

After years of cuts, state funding to Michigan universities could be on the rise. A recent study shows Michigan universities received more state appropriations in the past year, but university officials doubt this trend will continue. This fiscal year, Michigan colleges and universities received a 3.1 percent increase in state funding compared to massive cuts in recent years, according to the Grapevine survey featuring research collected by Illinois State University. MSU College of Education Dean Donald Heller said state appropriations to higher education likely are increasing in correlation with Michigan’s increasing revenue. “When state budgets contract, higher education is generally one of the first parts of the budget to get cut,” he said.

MSU

College of Law students work to handle stress

Lilly Keyes

January 28, 2013

Even though law student Andreina Rosa is looking forward to the Barrister’s Inaugural Ball this weekend, she has more on her mind than the new gown she’ll be wearing to the “law school prom.” “It’s … gold,” she said as she pulled out her phone to show off a photo of the dress. “It looks kind of white, but it’s gold — here’s what the back looks like.” Soon after, thoughts of the responsibilities she’ll neglect while wearing the dress brought her back to reality. She’s one of many law students overwhelmed with stress from school. “We do have events to enjoy ourselves, but at the end of the day we (think) ‘Oh, I feel bad because I didn’t get this work done,’” she said, taking on a more serious tone. “Especially when the event is over.” Rosa, who noticed her stress heighten after starting law school, said she started the Wellness in Practice program to offer help to other struggling students. After their first semester of law school, the Dave Nee Foundation reported 27 percent of law students show signs of depression. After three years, this figure rises to 40 percent.

MSU

Smartphone app might prevent on-campus crime

Darcie Moran

January 28, 2013

While conversations on college campus safety have been ignited by recent attacks on campuses across the nation, some universities are turning to apps to improve safety. Several Big Ten universities, including Ohio State University, are discussing launching a pilot program of the Canadian-based application Guardly, which allows users to give specific incident information — including exact location and which authorities to send — without making a phone call, Guardly sales director Luke Slan said.

MSU

Students receive $5,000 grant to create route app

Michael Koury

January 28, 2013

The app, called Routebook, would gather information such as weather, live traffic and bus schedules and compile the fastest route.

MSU

Economy, employment gives college appeal to freshmen

Alex McClung

January 28, 2013

A record number of college freshmen think attending a university will help them get a better career, a recent survey shows. The results of the 2012 Freshman Survey were released Thursday by the Cooperative Institutional Research Program, part of the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California at Los Angeles. The 2012 survey, which nearly 200,000 freshman across the country participated in, found 88 percent of those surveyed said the ability to get a better job was a very important reason to go to college.

MSU

Butterfield renovations approved by MSU trustees

Samantha Radecki

January 27, 2013

At Friday’s MSU Board of Trustees meeting, the trustees unanimously approved a few construction, renovation and expansion projects on and off campus. Here’s a guide to what was approved.

MSU

Campus fitness centers reopening

Robert Bondy

January 27, 2013

Avoiding cold weather and saving a few bucks are a few of the advantages finance sophomore Collin Stauder listed when hearing the news of the neighborhood fitness centers reopening in the upcoming week. “I’d like it because in the winter I wouldn’t have to walk to IM West since its so cold,” Stauder said.

MSU

Spartasoft hosts annual Global Game Jam location

Alex McClung

January 27, 2013

While some gamers spent their weekend at home playing “Halo” or “Call of Duty”, some Spartans challenged themselves to create video games of their own. Spartasoft, an MSU student organization that develops video game software, hosted its own version of the Global Game Jam, or GGJ, this weekend in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building. Students created game concepts and designed their own video games with peers during the worldwide event, where teams challenge themselves to create a new video game based on a theme within 48 hours.

MSU

Miss Greek crowned during charity show for Lyme Disease

Simon Schuster

January 27, 2013

Under flashing lights and throbbing music Friday night, Miss Greek was crowned at Secrets Nightclub, 244 S. Washington St., during Sigma Pi’s annual charity event. Genomics and molecular genetics sophomore Chandler Stimach of Kappa Alpha Theta will hold the title for 2013 after facing off in a field of contestants representing 10 of MSU’s 13 sororities.

MICHIGAN

Art museum hosts yoga class, other outreach activities

Christine LaRouere

January 27, 2013

Sinking into a yoga pose on a colorful crocheted rug next to 20 other people, looking up into the high ceilings and listening to indie music brought a new feeling into the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum for Sarah Tomlinson. While other museum visitors walked by admiring paintings on the walls, Tomlinson, a music education senior, relaxed and admired the museum’s atmosphere by participating in a community yoga class at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the education wing.

MSU

Hundreds of students attend comic hypnotist

Isabella Shaya

January 27, 2013

Amy Savoie named an imaginary bluebird Wiz Khalifa — a rapper she never listens to — and laid on two strangers’ laps because she believed she was a seat belt. She barely remembers a thing. For more than an hour, the animal science sophomore fell under the spell of comic hypnotist Daniel James on Friday at the International Center. More than 500 students and guests filled the room to see James perform hypnosis on about 20 student volunteers.

MSU

ASMSU votes in support of adding fitness access fee to tuition

Christine LaRouere

January 24, 2013

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, voted in support of a fitness plan fee included in students’ tuition, with an opt-out option, at its general assembly meeting Thursday night.

MICHIGAN

The finishing touch

Julia Nagy

January 24, 2013

After Charlie Nguyen lost his job at General Motors Corp., or GM, he found the cure for his unemployment — manicures and pedicures. Nguyen, who worked for GM for 30 years, was asked to take an early retirement. Work was hard to come by in the passing months and his children’s college funds were dwindling, so Nguyen began nail technician classes with his wife.

MICHIGAN

STEM students hope for more visas

Kellie Rowe

January 24, 2013

Iranian native Iman Barjasteh said if he wanted to make it big in electrical and computer engineering, he had to come to the U.S. “Usually in these countries like America, you can find good opportunities to stay there and get a job,” he said. Barjasteh, a graduate student, said he plans to use his student visa to stay in the U.S.

MSU

‘The League’ live show to come to wharton

Robert Bondy

January 24, 2013

Fantasy football and plenty of laughs will be on tab for MSU students this weekend, courtesy of the Residence Halls Association or RHA, and FX’s “The League Live.” RHA booked FX’s “The League Live” to come at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Cobb Great Hall at Wharton Center. Tickets for the event went on sale Friday, Jan. 18, with student tickets going for $17 and $27 for non-students. Students are limited to two tickets per MSU ID. Tickets were still available for purchase as of Thursday night and also will be available for purchase at the door, if the event does not sell out, RHA Director of Public Relations Abigail Bhattacharyya said.

MSU

Board of Trustees considers upgrades to campus

Samantha Radecki

January 24, 2013

Many campus construction projects top the list to be discussed and voted upon by the Board of Trustees at its 9:30 a.m. Friday meeting in the boardroom at the Administration Building.

MICHIGAN

Planning commission discusses proposal to ease parking restrictions

Michael Koury

January 24, 2013

A public hearing was held to discuss changes to an ordinance that could pave a way for the development on the property formerly planned for City Center II. The planning commission decided to defer the ordinance to the Feb. 27 meeting in order to discuss the issue more.

MICHIGAN

New roads could mean increased cost at pump

Kellie Rowe

January 23, 2013

Driving over potholes and broken concrete on the way to class could become a thing of the past, but it might mean increasing fuel taxes or raising the state sales tax to 8 percent. During his State of the State address last week, Gov. Rick Snyder announced his goal for 2013: reconstructing Michigan’s roads. But Snyder admitted fixing roads, as well as bridges and harbors, will come at a cost.

MICHIGAN

MSU email not covered by privacy act legislation

Kellie Rowe

January 23, 2013

Although new legislation protects students from nosy employers demanding passwords to their social media and email accounts, students’ MSU email passwords still can be accessed by university officials.

MSU

Mich. schools help boost economy with research

Samantha Radecki

January 23, 2013

According to the 2012 Economic Impact Report of the URC, the universities generated $15.5 billion toward Michigan’s economy — a number URC Executive Director Jeff Mason said is spread throughout the state in company development and the growing number of working professionals.