For the first time in 141 years, MSU officials formally recognized the Greek community as student organizations during a relationship statement signing.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Computer science junior Jordyn Castor can’t learn the concepts of physics the same way her MSU peers do. Castor has been blind since birth after being born 15 weeks premature.
MSU English professor William Penn will return to teaching next semester despite his widely publicized alleged anti-Republican rant during the first week of classes.
From flags of all colors to custom music featuring Korean hit “Gangnam Style,” Brody Complex Neighborhood was the home of the annual Global Festival on Sunday, weaving MSU into a cultural interactive melting pot. Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., approximately 3,000 attendees ranging from infants to students came out to the free festival, which dates back to the 1940’s.
ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, passed a resolution supporting the creation of an Office for Veteran’s Affairs on-campus during its general assembly meeting on Thursday. ASMSU President Evan Martinak announced at the start of the meeting that the office was inaugurated on Thursday and is located in the basement of the Student Services basement. “I’m glad we’re moving in the right direction,” Martinak said, noting that ASMSU has been previously advocating and supporting the establishment of the office. Introducer of the bill Evan Schrage said the office is still empty and in need of furnishing, adding that it still needed a lot of help to function. The general assembly also passed a bill to support and advocate for House Joint Resolution W, which would increase the Michigan sales tax by one percent. Schrage, who is the seconder of the bill, said the resolution is a chance for students to have lower tuition. “We’re here to advocate for students and (the resolution) is clearly directed towards benefitting students,” Business College representative Christie Teske said. Alliance of Queer and Ally Students representative Colin Weidbrecht was against the bill and said his main concern is the negative effect the tax increase would have on low-income families. “Sales tax is regressive, so it’s going to affect lower income families the most,” Weidbrecht said, explaining that the one percent increase would take up a large portion of their income. Schrage said the increase would on the long run have lesser effect on low-income families, since, if their kids go to college, they would graduate with a large student debt. The bill was introduced and initially passed during the ASMSU policy committee meeting on Oct.
The annual Global Festival will return to MSU Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at Brody Complex Neighborhood, giving the greater Lansing community a chance to discover cultures from all over the world. The free festival will feature more than 30 student groups who will exhibit their fashion and musical talents. Children who attend can receive a blank passport, travel to each country’s table, get their passport stamped and learn about each culture in an authentic way, said Amber Cordell, an international student advisor at the Office for International Students and Scholars.
The Turkish Student Association will be celebrating their culture with a concert this evening at 7:30 p.m. in the Kellogg Center Auditorium entitled “Turkish Classical Music Concert: Heritage of Thousand Years.” Among the performers is the renowned Murat Salim Tokac, who plays the tanbur, a long-necked guitar-like instrument, and ney, which is similar to a flute. Tokac, who is the general director of fine arts at the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is often referred to as one of the best tanbur performers of all time.
If students were roaming the halls of the Natural Science Building late on Wednesday evening, they might have come face-to-face with the fearful surprise of a five-foot-long alligator or a boa constrictor as part of Herpetology Night. The MSU Herpetology Club event provided students and community members the opportunity to interact with snakes, tortoises and an alligator.
Opening with the black national anthem, MSU’s Black Student Alliance, or BSA, kicked off the 41st annual Black Power Rally Wednesday evening — an event featuring with dancing, singing, poems and keynote speaker Michael Eric Dyson, a Detroit native. The BSA annually hosts the rally, giving students a chance to learn and celebrate black heritage, culture and pride while keying in on controversial topics such as political injustice and racism.
Navigating the tricky landscape surrounding law enforcement often can leave some students stumbling in the dark, but a Wednesday night event looked to shed some light on proper policies and conduct. A presentation and discussion looked to inform students on their individual legal rights when dealing with law enforcement while educating attendees on various academic and property rights as students and tenants. The event was organized in part by ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, and James Madison College Student Senate, among others. Social relations and policy senior Max Olivero organized the “Know Your Rights” event for the second year in a row and partnered with ASMSU to broaden the program’s educational reach. Olivero, a James Madison College Student Senate member, said the forum aimed to inform students about medical amnesty a relatively new law that protects minors from receiving minor in possession charges if they call 911 for medical assistance. “We are giving this presentation as a simple what to do and what not to do when stopped and questioned by law enforcement,” Olivero said.
The Council of Graduate Students, or COGS, approved the creation of the application for the new COGS Professional Development Grant, which will be offered by the Graduate School at Wednesday’s monthly meeting. Students can get up to $300 of funding, totaling to a $10,000 fund per academic year. The grant is supposed to be piloted in the spring semester.
The Wharton Center is expected to bring in thousands of students tonight for MSU’s Black Student Alliance’s 41st annual Black Power Rally. The Black Student Alliance, or BSA, hosts an annual evening rally with presentations for students to learn about issues often faced in the black community. This year, Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson, a radio host, author, and Detroit native, will be the keynote speaker.
A new report ranks MSU in the top 10 for international study and engagement, but the ranking didn’t hold much significance to Brett Berquist, who led a discussion Tuesday at the Faculty Senate meeting about the purpose of the ranking in terms of the value of the university and future study abroad programs. The Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors Report released on Monday ranked MSU in the top 10 for international study and engagement.
The relocation of Summer Circle Theater to the soon-to-be-renovated Kresge Courtyard will improve performances and decrease the chances of cancellation, officials said. Summer Circle Theater performances are often plagued with rain. Performances take place outside along the Red Cedar River and shows are sometimes canceled due to flooding, leading to the creation of the new permanent venue in Kresge Courtyard.
From students devouring falafels to Israeli folk dances, the MSU’s Union Ballroom was the scene Tuesday night of Israel Fest: Israel at 66 and Still Sexy, an annual event where students and faculty members come together to experience multiple aspects of Israel’s culture in a light and festive atmosphere. ASMSU hosted the event with help from the MSU Hillel and the Jewish Student Union and Team Israel Programming Committee.