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MICHIGAN

Connor McCowan trial continues with testimony from father, crime scene investigators

Katie Abdilla
October 8, 2013

The father of Okemos resident Connor McCowan continued his testimony during his son’s murder trial in Ingham County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. On the morning of Feb. 23, Randy McCowan said his son woke him at about 4 a.m., seeming “frantic and upset.” Connor McCowan then told his father about a scuffle with MSU student Andrew Singler, his sister’s boyfriend, saying he “feared for his life” and “cut” Singler.

MICHIGAN

Alleged murderer's sister, dad take stand as trial goes on

Katie Abdilla  and  Simon Schuster
October 7, 2013

To Okemos resident Shay McCowan, her little brother is her best friend. She said her brother Connor McCowan, 19, became close with MSU student Andrew Singler after she began dating him in 2010. The group maintained a steady companionship until the early morning of Feb. 23, when an argument between the couple led to confrontation, culminating in Connor McCowan allegedly stabbing Singler to death.

MSU

MSU Surplus Store hosts weeklong Community ReUse days

Celeste Bott
October 7, 2013

Students planning to throw away anything from textbooks to old furniture can look to the MSU Surplus Store for a more sustainable alternative. The store’s Community ReUse Days allows MSU students, faculty and alumni to haul in their unwanted household items, which are then resold in the store or recycled.

MICHIGAN

UPDATE: Stabbing victim's girlfriend, Connor McCowan's father testify in murder trial

Katie Abdilla
October 7, 2013

The autopsy and toxicology reports of MSU student Andrew Singler, as well as testimonies from Singler’s girlfriend Shay McCowan, were brought forward Monday morning in the trial of Okemos resident Connor McCowan. McCowan is on trial in Ingham County Circuit Court for allegedly stabbing and killing Singler on the night of Feb. 23 after a disagreement between the two went awry. He was charged with open murder and could face life in prison if convicted.

MICHIGAN

Improved safety to be focus of officials

Geoff Preston
October 6, 2013

As East Lansing moves toward a new phase of comprehensive planning and development, city officials are striving toward creating a safer and more diverse downtown that will entertain and retain students while they are at MSU and after they graduate.

MSU

Males sport high heels in anti-domestic violence event

Celeste Bott
October 6, 2013

MSU fraternity brothers stepped outside their comfort zone for a good cause by strapping on high heels Sunday for a walk dedicated to raising awareness about harassment and sexual assault. The “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event is a national awareness campaign brought to MSU by the greek community.

MSU

Locals clear pathways for recreational use in Red Cedar River

April Jones
October 6, 2013

Chainsaws, canoes and cleaning crews filled the Red Cedar River Saturday afternoon to clear pathways to maximize the river’s full potential for local residents. For the past 12 years, the Lansing Oar and Paddle Club has organized a team to clear log jams, hanging trees and pollution that often makes the river unusable.

MSU

MSU engineering hosts recruiting event for potential students

Nolly Dakroury
October 6, 2013

The College of Engineering hosted its annual Spartan Future Engineers Preview Day, a recruitment event for high school juniors, seniors and prospective transfer students, on Saturday. During Preview Day, prospective students experience lab tours and attend two faculty and student-led information sessions about the different academic departments of the college, said Drew Kim, assistant to the dean for recruitment and K-12 outreach.

NEWS

Murder trial continues, lawyers argue testimony

Katie Abdilla
October 4, 2013

Hours of police questioning had passed since MSU alumnus Tyler Aho rushed his roommate, nutritional sciences senior Andrew Singler, to the hospital after he was stabbed on the evening of Feb. 23 — and Aho still had no idea his friend had died. It took him about ten minutes to drive Singler to Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, with Singler fading in and out of consciousness, groaning in pain and holding a towel to his chest.

NEWS

Unreported

Katie Abdilla
October 3, 2013

It happened before she knew what was going on. On a rainy football weekend last September, Residential College in the Arts and Humanities senior Kary Askew went to a fraternity to watch the game on television and visit with friends.

MICHIGAN

Portion of Albert Avenue to temporarily close for construction

Simon Schuster
October 3, 2013

A portion of Albert Avenue will be closed from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday for construction, East Lansing officials said in a statement. City employees will be repairing sewer lines underneath a portion of Albert Avenue encompassing Gunson, Ann and Durand streets, according to the East Lansing Department of Public Works.

MICHIGAN

University Student Commission discusses couch burnings, party litter

Derek Gartee
October 3, 2013

MSU and East Lansing has had a bad reputation for couch burnings in the past, so this year, the University Student Commission plans to put in extra effort to eradicate the issue. The University Student Commission is a commission of MSU students who make proposals and suggestions to the East Lansing City Council addressing the problems students face. Their second meeting of the school year was Oct. 1, when members met to outline their initiatives for the semester. Issues included the rise in tuition costs and the continuation of party litter policy, but the main topic of conversation was couch burnings.

MSU

University officials look to address cheating methods in online courses

Justine McGuire
October 3, 2013

Offering online courses is relatively new at MSU, and the campus community still is working toward the best solutions for academic problems that can arise, officials said. Online courses generate increased complaints of academic dishonesty that warrant different kinds of investigation and communication, University Ombudsperson Robert Caldwell told the Steering Committee earlier this week.

MSU

Living City-Inside the fish bowl

Margaux Forster
October 3, 2013

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in your own personal aquarium? Welcome to the life of fisheries and wildlife junior Heather Burke. She has a concentration in fisheries biology, and it shows. Burke comes home everyday to more than 40 fish tanks that are tucked away into every free corner of the small house she shares with her younger sister.

MSU

Divine Nine fraternity hosts week of events highlighting African-American history

April Jones
October 3, 2013

In an effort to bring together MSU’s student community to address problems often associated with African-American heritage, MSU’s Alpha Phi Alpha designed a full eduactional week informing students on various issues. Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity created a week of events, with a theme of “We the People.” With only 16 active undergraduate members, Keyon Clinton, chapter president and electrical engineering senior, said the events were focused on redefining themselves in the African-American community, with programs explaining African-American worth in the U.S. and establishing an agenda to become a proactive race.