Week in Review: Jan. 15, 2016

Welcome back Spartans and here are this week’s top stories.

MSU police respond to assault, thefts and marijuana possession

MSU police responded to an assault early Jan 13. Around 1 a.m. MSU police was dispatched to Williams Hall, where a boyfriend and a girlfriend had gotten into an argument, MSU police Capt. Doug Monette said. The subject scratched the victim in several places including the arm, neck and face and was arrested. It was unclear in the report which individual was the victim. 

CDC shows increased rate of STDs reported from college-aged population

The number of reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases and/or infections (STDs/STIs) in the United States are on the rise, and some are rising at an alarming rate, according to a report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report also shows that the portion of the population that is most at-risk to contracting STDs is still those between the ages of 15 and 24, i.e. high school and college students. The report, released in November of last year, shows among the nationally notifiable STDs, the two that affect young people the most are gonorrhea and chlamydia. The reported cases of the two diseases each increased by 5.1 percent and 2.8 percent, respectively, since 2013.

Students struggle to eat healthy during first weeks of spring semester

Endless heaps of food in the various dining halls can put students with ambitious New Year's resolutions behind schedule. With 2016 in its opening stretch, eating healthy is something many students have set as their goal. “I want to eat healthier in 2016," premedical freshman Emma Osterholzer said. "I'm trying to stay away from the desserts in the caf.”

MSU's first black president reflects on his life

To describe someone as “larger than life” usually carries with it the unintended result of instilling doubt in peoples’ minds about the person’s actual accomplishments.

MSU masters program first of its kind developed after Sept. 11

Unbeknownst to some, a thriving program at MSU was the first to be developed after the terrorism attacks on Sept. 11. Director of Intelligence Program and professor David Carter said MSU’s own Law Enforcement Intelligence and Analysis, or LEIA, degree program was an addition to an existing program.

Looking back at local, state and national laws during civil rights era

With the approach of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, The State News looked back on the impact Dr. King and the civil rights movement had on laws in East Lansing, the state of Michigan and the nation.

Malcolm X connection extends beyond MSU campus

As Martin Luther King Day approaches, many on MSU’s campus wish to honor not only MLK but his less heralded peers in the Civil Rights movement such as Lansing’s own Malcolm X.

Legacy of civil rights movement lives on in Black Lives Matter

The racist legacy of the past is something the black community still deals with.

Steps to follow to stay digitially safe when using MSU's WIFI

Students utilizing MSU’s digital and Wi-Fi services could be at risk of numerous security threats. “MSU typically sees thousands of attempted network intrusions per day and hundreds of millions of attempted malware attacks on the network each month,” MSU Information Technology Services spokesperson Beth Bonsall said. There are a number of steps individuals can take to ensure they don’t fall prey to one of these attacks.

Policies for police oversight rarely followed, not advertised

This is part three of a series on dysfunction in the MSU Police Oversight Committee. Part one gave a general overview of the committeeand covered how little it had met in the last three years. Part two noted how any complaints forwarded to the committee were reviewed by only one person. This part looksat the Secretary of Academic Governance and other concerns about the committee.

Personal stories of racism on campus

Last suspect pleads no contest in 2014 murder of MSU student

A fourth suspect has been convicted in the robbery and killing of Dustyn Frolka, an MSU student in Clinton County nearly two years ago, according to a Lansing State Journal report. 

Life in Color coming to Lansing

The World’s Largest Paint Party is coming to East Lansing for the first time ever, and MSU students say “it’s about to be lit.” This event, called “Life in Color," attracts students who will be pelted with paint while dancing to electronic-style music.

Ancient elk bones brought to MSU Museum

An ancient elk bones that were stolen from a paleontology sight in Shiawassee county more than 30 years ago were put into the hands of the MSU Museum just before Christmas.  MSU Museum communication manager Lora Helou said an anonymous person dropped the bones off just before break and gave no information with the bones. The rare bones included an elk’s skull and antlers.

Complaints against MSU police first reviewed by only one person

This is part two of a series on dysfunction in the MSU Police Oversight Committee. Part one gave a general overview of the committee and covered how little it had met in the last four years. This part looks into the type of complaints heard by the committee and how state law plays a role. According to the MSU Police Oversight Committee's Statement of Purpose, "Complaints credible in nature will require the Chairperson to contact the complainant to confirm the details of the complaint, and subsequently notify and forward the complaint to all Committee members." Council of Graduate Students member Robert Vankirkch, who sits on the oversight committee, said this is a concern as it gives the power to one individual, the chair of the committee, to determine if a complaint is credible or not before the whole committee has chance to hear it. Vankirk also noted the current chair of the committee has "connections to the university."

MSUPD report several instances of theft over break

MSU Police are reporting three instances of stolen items — two of which occurred during break.

Valley Court Park to get ice skating rink after fundraising goal was met

Valley Court Park will be getting an ice skating rink for East Lansing residents to use after all. In a release sent to media on Tuesday afternoon, the Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Management Board announced the installation of the ice rink and thanked generous East Lansing businesses and groups for their donations to the community outreach and engagement program.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow announces program to relieve student debt

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) announced an initiative aimed at reducing the cost of going to college and making student loan debt more manageable during a media conference call on Tuesday morning. Titled #InTheRed, the effort has a three-fold plan to tackle the student debt issue. The first measure aims to refinance student loans down to the lowest rate from the previous academic year, the second part includes increasing Pell Grants, adding in cost of living as a major factor in financial calculations for the grants and the final component will utilize a partnership between state and federal government to provide two free years of community college education to students who qualify.

Students sign petition asking for Gov. Rick Snyder's resignation

In light of the recent controversies affecting Gov. Rick Snyder, state-appointed officials and officials from the city of Flint, some students are calling for Snyder's resignation regarding the water issues in Flint. After a cost-saving strategy of moving water utilities in Flint area homes and schools to the Flint River as opposed to the Detroit, Great Lakes system, high concentrations of lead and other corrosive materials were found in the water.