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MSU

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

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

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.

FEATURES

Students fight for 'Hunger Games: Catching Fire' tickets

For weeks leading up to Tuesday, social media was peppered with pleas to vote on a website which promised an advance screening of the movie “Hunger Games: Catching Fire” to the college with the most votes. The website was cryptic and provided little information about the contest’s organizer, Cross Culture Marketing Group; yet MSU students appear to have flocked in droves to the poll, winning the contest by more than 4,500 votes.

MSU

MSU budget feels impact of federal sequester

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

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

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

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

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.

BASKETBALL

Stricter ticket policy enforces student-only transfers

Spartan fans in their respective football, basketball and hockey student section seats will no longer be seeing individuals from outside of MSU filling the bleachers around them. Recent attention toward the revamped student section ticket policy, which allows student section ticket holders to transfer their tickets to the ID cards of other students without a fee, will make it much harder for non-students to attend games in student-specific seats.

MICHIGAN

Insurance company opens on Grand River Avenue

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

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.

MICHIGAN

CD and record show draws music lovers to Lansing

Upon arriving at Lansing’s CD and Record Show, Andrew Moore had no intention of leaving empty-handed. Saturday’s free show was the fifth time the MSU College of Law clinician has filtered through the tables of CDs and vinyls throughout the years, and for him the adventure never gets old. His choices for the day included Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin and David Bowie.