SPARTAN SEND-OFFS
A Historic Look at MSU Graduations
RECORD-SPINNING
SPARTANS
Inside East Lansing’s DJ Culture
PRE-SLUMP TIPS FOR POST-GRAD LIFE
Taking Care of the Young You
APRIL
PLUS!
CURRENT TRENDS, ARTS AND CULTURE, AND MORE
To our wonderful readers,
“... we strive to produce content that reflects the community surrounding us ...”
Spring is a time full of new beginnings; yet for many, new beginnings mean letting go of the old.
To the graduating class of 2024, congratulations. You have come so far and are now equipped to show the world who you have become. No matter what comes next, wear your green and white with pride. You’ve earned it.
In this issue, we explore how we are all products of our surroundings. We touch on the rich history of MSU graduations, East Lansing’s vibrant DJ culture and the impact of AI use in the classroom. We suggest a new bar and places to be creative and recognize how the community can support all of us during this time of change.
As a group of creatives, we strive to produce content that reflects the community surrounding us, and we hope that is visible throughout this issue. As winter comes to a close, take time to reflect on the season that has passed while looking forward to the one to come.
Here’s to new beginnings, endless possibilities and a future filled with promise.
Best,
Mackenzie WestrickTiffany Dowling
tiffany@m3group.biz SENIOR EDITOR
Kathryn Houghton
Sophia Brandt
Hannah Jun
Emma Losey
Molly Melnick
Emily Paterson
Sydney Savage
Matt Williams
Mackenzie Westrick
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Sophia Straub
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Grace Carney
Kyle Dowling
Robert Fernandez
Gavin Herbert
Lilly Kowalczyk
Jenny Lane
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Christian Tibaudo
Tori Vanslambrouck
Rylee Warner
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221 W. Saginaw St. Lansing, MI 48933 P 517-203-3333 SUBSCRIPTION
4 Helpful or Harmful? Navigating Student Life With AI
7 Arbor Day 2024: Why Trees Are Key
8
10 Things Every MSU Student Must Do Before They Graduate
11 Spartan Send-Offs
14 Voices of Change: An MSU Student’s Journey in Reproductive Rights Advocacy
17 Pre-Slump Tips for Post-Grad Life
18 Dancing for a Cause
19 Unveiling the Spirit: East Lansing’s New Bourbon Bar
20 Beyond Campus: Art in the Area
21 Middle Eastern Food in an Intersectional World
22 Record-Spinning Spartans
24 Events
26 Campus Life
29
Top 5 Ways to Beat the Heat
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AI’s popularity is rising, with programs like ChatGPT gaining new users daily. How is this affecting students at MSU? I talked with data science senior Ashlin Riggs to get her perspective on the explosion of AI.
For a long time, artificial intelligence was something that was only seen in the likes of “Terminator” or Cleverbot if you were on the internet in 2010. These ideas of AI could be scary, and the infamous “robots are going to take over the world” mantra has been echoed online for years. As AI gets smarter, ChatGPT and other generative AI programs have exploded in popularity. This has expanded into so many places, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming.
But how is this affecting students at Michigan State University? Those who are on the ground, working with these programs and navigating the growing space they’ve taken up. Ashlin Riggs, a senior at MSU majoring
in data science, has a lot to share about her experiences with AI.
“I view AI as a tool. For example, ChatGPT allows me to translate code between languages, i.e., from Matlab to Python, without requiring that I be a master in both languages,” Riggs said. She asserted that AI is an “incredibly powerful tool when not abused.” It’s hard to deny the positive impact it can have on the student experience. Whether it’s code translation as Riggs described or brainstorming concepts, there are some real benefits to students.
AI is serving students best when it is being used as an assistive tool instead of as a homework answer generator. It’s also
frequently used for accessibility purposes, such as providing additional support to students who need translation services or auditory/ visual aids. It can also give students immediate feedback on work and provide critiques to help students improve. But while AI has a lot of positive uses, it can also be detrimental to students who do not know college life without it.
Emma Losey Professional and Public Writing
“For students younger than me who have never had a college experience without generative AI, I can see how it may become a crutch for them,” Riggs said, reflecting on her perspective as a senior. For her and other upperclassmen, student life before ChatGPT and other AI programs is easily imaginable. But as AI becomes more prevalent and technology rapidly improves, it’s difficult to imagine being a student without factoring in AI. Many more syllabi have incorporated sections referencing AI use, and the topic has inspired conversation between both students and professors.
“As it is only in the last year or so that generative AI has become mainstream, I was able to learn the fundamental concepts of my major on my own without AI learning tools,” Riggs said. “Now that I am a senior, AI is a helpful reference in my electives,” she said, stressing the importance of using AI as a tool, not as a way to fake assignments. However, student input only goes so far, as it is the professors who are responsible for setting the rules and regulations when it comes to AI usage in their classrooms.
Riggs added that “it is rare for one of (her) senior elective professors to explicitly forbid AI use.” Many of her professors have encouraged using AI, and she mentioned a time when her TA told her to “ask ChatGPT lol” in response to a Piazza post about a homework assignment. In fact, studies show that many students are using AI in the classroom, with Best Colleges finding that over 56% of college students report using AI for help on an assignment at least once. With more than half of college students using it, students like Riggs think it’s a futile effort to try and get rid of generative AI altogether.
“As a computational math science and engineering (CMSE) undergraduate learning assistant (ULA) myself, I see that educational staff are beginning to understand that protesting AI is a losing battle. Rather than try to stop students from using it, we must now focus on teaching students how to use AI ethically,” Riggs said.
By discussing with students what AI is and how it can be used, the door has been opened to honesty and academic integrity. Instead of taking a hard line and closing off
any communication about AI usage, consider having an open mind. Look at AI as a tool to be learned from instead of something scary to get rid of. Face it head-on, and there might just be more possibilities than imaginable.
AI is serving students best when it is being used as an assistive tool instead of as a homework answer generator.
Michigan State University is home to one of the largest ash trees in Michigan, towering at 123 feet tall. However, you won’t find any of that size in any Michigan forests. Since 2002, the emerald ash borer pest has destroyed over 40 million ash trees in Michigan. One tiny little bug has wreaked so much havoc on this ancient species.
Though they grow to unimaginable heights, trees can be vulnerable if one doesn’t know how to properly protect them. Arbor Day is about making the effort to learn more about trees and, of course, planting them. Christian Tibaudo, a forestry senior right here at MSU, spoke more on the topic.
“It’s important to understand that the ecosystem doesn’t stop when you enter or exit campus,” Tibaudo said. “There might be this sprawl of concrete and parking lots and garages, but at the same time nature is still going on, no matter what.”
It can be so easy to forget that nature is everywhere, especially here on campus. Many students, myself included, spend many hours inside isolated from what we consider to be nature. But nature is all around at MSU, from a breeze in the air to the thick forests in the woodlots. The trees within those woodlots and all around campus are not just pretty; they serve a great purpose.
“We all love the squirrels on campus; their home is the trees,” Tibaudo said, reflecting on how trees affect wildlife on campus. “Insects
also grow and feed off of the trees, which provides food for the birds.”
Tibaudo stressed the importance of native trees in an ecosystem. “Native animals can often only eat one type of plant, so even if there are a bunch of other (non-native) plants around, they would starve. Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink!” Non-native pests can also be a detriment to a species, like the emerald ash borers with ash trees in Michigan. Tibaudo suggested that tree diversity plays a big role in protecting against pests and diseases.
He used chess as an analogy for a forest, saying, “Would you play chess with only pawns? No!” Only having one or a few species of trees in a forest restricts the amount of growth possible. “You need all the complex pieces to make the whole game. They need (the) ability to move or modify themselves.”
But what can be done to help?
According to Tibaudo, the best thing to do is educate yourself! “(Learn) their names, more specifically their scientific names. You appreciate trees more when you know about them.”
A great resource for anyone at MSU is the Campus Tree Map, where every tree is represented by a green dot. By clicking on the dot, you can get a description as well as the scientific name of every tree at MSU. Next time you’re walking through campus, take a moment to look at all the trees around you, and you’ll find a living legacy of past and future generations.
Trees are an often overlooked part of nature, but on Arbor Day we should recognize their resilience. I talked with Christian Tibaudo, a forestry senior at MSU, about the trees on campus. He provides great information on the MSU ecosystem and insight into what we can do to help maintain its beauty.
Losey Professional and Public Writing
Congratulations to MSU’s 163rd graduating class! Dive deeper into our campus history and learn some of the lasting words of past commencement speakers.
As we eagerly await the sound of our name, signaling that transformative walk across the stage, we find ourselves becoming a permanently intertwined part of MSU’s storied history. For over 150 years, the end of the semester has been a time to celebrate the achievements of our graduates through an official commencement ceremony.
The first graduating class of Michigan State Agricultural College (MAC), the Class of 1861, consisted of seven eager young men
who were prepared to graduate at the end of November — until they were all excused to join the Union Army and fight in the Civil War. The Class of 2024, which is no stranger to historical events massively disrupting graduation plans, may extend a familiar affinity to MSU’s first class of Civil War veterans.
A year later, on Nov. 12, 1862, the first formal commencement ceremony took place. It featured music, a prayer and seven speeches for a graduating class of nine students. In the wake of this momentum, the following decades ushered in a number of unique graduation traditions that, quite frankly, we may want to consider bringing back.
As only the second class to officially wear a graduation cap and gown, the Class of 1911 began the tradition of “The Senior Swing Out.” According to the MSU Archives, students would walk in their graduation outfits across campus and pose for a group photo, in which they would then line up to spell their class numerals. Another lighthearted tradition was the “Canoe Carnival,” first held in 1923. Similar to our Homecoming parade, this event would feature water floats decorated and operated by students as they set sail down the Red Cedar River.
Alongside the growth of these charming traditions, the commencement ceremonies
themselves grew more elaborate and prestigious. Most of the early commencement speeches were given by several “commencers,” or graduates, themselves; however, this tradition slowly shifted to feature only one graduating senior alongside other distinguished speakers from outside the university.
At the beginning of the 20th century, MAC welcomed Booker T. Washington, the African American reformer and educator, to speak to the Class of 1900. As the first president of historically Black Tuskegee University, Washington was invited to speak by thenMAC President Jonathan L. Snyder. The two presidents had formerly bonded over their commitment to land grant institutions as spaces for providing equal education to America’s working and minority classes.
“From the beginning of time, agriculture has constituted the main foundation upon which all races have grown useful and strong,” said Washington on June 13, 1900. According to the MSU Archives, his speech’s contents centered around the importance of agricultural education as a means for ensuring equal rights regardless of race or social class.
Not too long after Washington spoke, MAC invited another notable historical figure to give the commencement address: President Theodore Roosevelt. To a crowd of over 20,000 people, Roosevelt delivered the speech to commemorate MAC’s semi-centennial anniversary and awarded diplomas to the 99 graduating seniors
“It must be remembered that the ordinary graduate of our colleges should be and must be primarily a man and not a scholar,” said Roosevelt on May 31, 1907. “Education should not confine itself to books.”
MSU boasts a number of distinguished political speakers throughout the years, including five U.S. presidents (Roosevelt, Richard Nixon, Harry S. Truman, Gerald R. Ford and Bill Clinton), three U.S. vice presidents and seven Michigan governors.
When then-Vice President Nixon spoke on June 9, 1957, his speech became one of the earliest commencement speeches recorded onto motion picture film in MSU’s history. Only recently has this recording been digitized from its original 16mm film format and become available to the public.
Many of these formerly inaccessible commencement films have thankfully been brought to life again by Matthew Wilcox, an audiovisual archivist in the media preservation unit of MSU Libraries.
“I assist units within the MSU Libraries with preservation and digitization work on 16mm film on a scanner I use in the media preservation lab in the Main Library,” said Wilcox. “The scanner is connected to a Mac, which has capture software installed for me to convert moving image film to digital video files, providing greater accessibility to the content.”
Over the years, Wilcox has played a critical role in digitizing commencement speeches by influential figures, including musician Stevie
Wonder (fall 1989), civil rights activist Ernest Green (spring 1994) and Clinton (spring 1995) These speeches are now all publicly available for viewing on the MSU Archives website.
MSU alumnus Green was the first to graduate high school as a part of the Little Rock Nine, the first African American students to attend the desegregated Central High School in Arkansas in 1957. They faced extremely violent harassment from the white students, causing then-President Dwight Eisenhower to call in the National Guard to serve as their personal escorts to class.
In his now-digitized commencement speech, Green revealed his discovery of the identity behind the anonymous donor to his scholarship to attend MSU: former MSU President John A. Hannah.
“I’m grateful, but I must admit that I was a little worried,” said Green as he opened his speech on May 6, 1994. “I wondered how many times he wanted to take the money back when he peered out of his window and saw me leading student demonstrations and picketing his office.
“But, I’m sure that if he were here today, he would be as exhilarated as I am,” said Green. “He offered me a great opportunity at a time when those doors didn’t often open for an African American who couldn’t dribble, tackle or hit a baseball.”
His speech serves as a reminder for the great deal of progress that has been orchestrated by staff and students alike on this very campus. Whether it is voiced by any number of our past speakers, it is clear that you are undoubtedly deserving of your degree. It is something that nobody can ever take away from you.
A degree is not just a symbol of your dedication to “the books” but a reminder of how much you have grown as a person in the world. A relic to remind us of how much our school has grown. A reason to reflect on how far we have come and that there is still more to accomplish.
“You must pick up the torch,” said Green. “Be our guiding light through the future. And do not let anything push us back to the past.”
Rylee Warner is a fourth-year chemistry education major making waves in reproductive justice, education and accessibility on MSU’s campus.
Following the 2022 news of the ban on abortions after six weeks in Texas, hundreds of community members and volunteers rallied together all over the country. A mix of student volunteers and community leaders put together a rally at the Michigan Capitol. With speeches from student activists and politicians, the community protested the loss of reproductive freedom. One of these volunteers was Rylee Warner.
Warner is a fourth-year chemistry education major at Michigan State University who is extremely involved in the community. She is the president of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at MSU, co-founder and secretary of the East Lansing Free Emergency Contraceptive (ELFreeEC) program, president of the Chemistry Club, representative of the Chemistry Department on the Student Advisory Council for the College of Natural Science,
representative on the Gender Advisory Council for Student Life and Engagement, works two campus jobs, and has a full schedule of classes. Despite her busy schedule, Warner prioritizes advocacy in all that she does, focusing on reproductive freedom and education.
Her activism started before college; Warner was a part of the Sex Education Advisory Board in high school and helped change her district from abstinence-only to abstinence-based education, the difference being the ability to speak openly about condoms and birth control. She credited that experience to her desire to get involved on the MSU campus.
It was during the 2022 march that Warner learned about Planned Parenthood Generation Action (PPGA) at MSU. PPGA is an organization on campus that focuses on education and advocacy regarding reproductive justice.
Reproductive justice is much more than just abortion rights. Warner emphasized that PPGA works to educate students on the term as a whole: “Reproductive justice is an umbrella term for so many things. This work involves gender-affirming care, accurate sex education, accessibility to safe sex products and emergency contraceptives, family planning, and so much more. We strive to be inclusive in our language and conversations, as we know that it impacts people of all identities.”
Three months after the ban in Texas, the Supreme Court made the decision to overturn
Roe v. Wade. Following this, Warner became increasingly concerned about reproductive rights and access to emergency contraception at MSU.
Warner jumped into action and cofounded ELFreeEC once she realized there might not be help from the university. “It was the students that began to advocate, and the colleges and universities finally started listening,” Warner said. “I started getting involved in the advocacy around emergency contraceptives when I realized there was limited access on campus and the prices were outrageous.”
Emergency contraceptives, mostly known by the brand name Plan B, cost around $50 at CVS, Target, Walgreens and other pharmacies on Grand River Avenue. MSU’s pharmacy has emergency contraceptives available for $15, though the location was moved off campus in 2019, making it inaccessible for many students, especially those living on campus without a car.
Warner discussed finances on campus, stating, “To have a student have to choose between living conditions, such as groceries and rent, or bodily autonomy is a choice no one should have to make.”
ELFreeEC works to bring accessible and affordable emergency contraceptives to campus. “Within the first two months, we were able to hand out $20,000 worth of free Plan B, and as of Mar. 27, 2024, we have handed out over $53,000 worth,” Warner said.
Interested parties only have to fill out the Google Form on the group’s Instagram page,
... the colleges and universities finally started listening ...
and a student volunteer will contact them to facilitate a meetup. Students can also pick up free emergency contraceptives from multiple third-party locations on campus, such as the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center and Women’s Student Services. The entire process is completely confidential, and all remaining identifying information is deleted following pickup.
Warner credited her involvement with these student organizations for her understanding of intersectionality, which is the idea that overlapping identities can create specific and different disadvantages for certain groups of people. “Intersectionality is something that I learned about here at MSU in my classes for the education program. It is something that I will have to be aware of every day in the classroom” she said.
Through her advocacy work, Warner has found a special community. Fellow E-board members turn into friends, and seeing the impact that these groups have had both on campus and in the Greater Lansing area has been really special. Warner encouraged everyone to get involved. “It’s as easy as showing up to a meeting, playing games and learning about reproductive health.”
With a future in science education, advocacy could get put on the back burner, but Warner hopes to continue to incorporate this passion into teaching. With the epidemic of book banning and social justice concepts not being involved in school, jobs in education seem to be more restricted in ways of activism and beliefs. “It isn’t the beliefs of my students that I care about,” Warner concluded. “I care that they are good people and hopefully enjoy some chemistry in the mix.”
Mackenzie Westrick History and English
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How to face the challenges that follow graduation with grace and strength.
Recently, in a class I’m taking on career preparation, the professor posed the practice interview question: What is your proudest college accomplishment?
After sitting on it for a while, the idea I kept coming back to was clear: My proudest college accomplishment is my friends.
I know my professor was looking for answers pertaining to class projects or internships; but at the end of the day, the people I met are my greatest personal success. I’ve become a better person through those relationships and the experiences that come with growing together. They constantly surround me with support and goodness.
When the time comes to graduate, I know that my support system will significantly change. For many, myself included, this is what makes the idea of post-grad life so incredibly daunting. The next chapter is unclear, both professionally and personally
All at once, you are in a new place, with a new job, far from family and college friends. It feels insurmountable, like all those memories you built in the last four years were nothing but a blip in time.
However, this feeling of change and uncertainty is both completely normal and manageable. If anything, this change can be a fresh start. Use this time to reflect on your goals and aspirations.
During these periods, be sure to exercise and eat a balanced diet. The National Institute of Health reported that regular exercise can help reduce depression, anxiety and negative moods, as well as boost self-confidence.
Form a routine that feels comfortable but also allows you to step out of your comfort zone if needed.
Reach out to friends and family. Talk to them about how you’re feeling. Journal your experiences and update the people that care about you. You don’t have to go through these new changes by yourself.
And finally, go easy on yourself. Don’t put pressure on a timeline that does not really exist. The only person you have to please is you. Remember: If your situation isn’t making you happy, you always have the power to change it.
Don’t put pressure on a timeline that does not really exist. The only person you have to please is you.
So, yes, post-graduation life will be difficult. All change is difficult. But at the end of the day, change is going to happen anyway. In your early 20s, nothing is really permanent. And honestly? Thank goodness for that. I’m kind of counting on it.
Molly Melnick English and Professional and Public Writing
by Sophia Brandt
This piece is about a campus organization, MSU Dance Marathon (MSUDM). For this Rotation article, I talked with club co-President Olivia Householder and committee Chair Bri Klopp about their experience in the club, the importance of MSUDM and how students can get involved in this organization.
Michigan State University Dance Marathon is a student-run organization that works to raise money and awareness for Sparrow Children’s Center. Through the Children’s Miracle Network, MSUDM partners with Sparrow to advocate for the children, known as champion children, being treated there. The club works yearround hosting events and meetings and working to organize its large end-of-year event, Spartython.
Spartython is a one-day event where teams composed of other student organizations, fraternities and sororities, and even groups of friends come together to dance, play games, meet families of children supported by Children’s Miracle Network and continue to fundraise. Last year’s event raised $44,713 for Sparrow Children’s Center.
For this year’s event, on March 9, over 200 participants gathered together in the IM West gym for eight hours. During those hours, they watched performances from the Spartan Marching Band, MSU Dance Club, campus a capella groups and met some of the children they are supporting.
“Interacting with (champion children) and being inspired by them just makes all the hard work so worth it,” public relations committee Chair Bri Klopp said.
The money raised by MSUDM goes toward supplies for the hospital and support for the families. Having a child in the hospital is a difficult time for both the children and their families, so MSUDM aims to support them in any way it can.
Co-President Olivia Householder said the club is important to her because of the personal connection she has to Dance Marathon.
“I was a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) kid when I was a baby, and my younger brother has had to go to the children’s hospital for the past five years,” Householder said. “My family always really liked to support the Ronald McDonald Foundation, and I think I always wanted to work in this type of realm to pay back what was given to me and my family.” Householder talked about her hopes for the club’s future. She wants it to continue to grow and become a larger event. Growing up close to Penn State University, Householder
always knew of THON, PSU’s Dance Marathon, which raises millions of dollars yearly. She said she knows the event can reach a larger audience.
“I just want it to keep growing. My sophomore year, I think we had about 100 people sign up; and today we just broke having 200 people signed up for this year,” Householder said. “We could be (a much) bigger event if we push our name out there more, and that’s what I want.”
To get involved and be a part of the growth of MSUDM, students interested in the club can follow along on social media for information about next year. MSUDM is active on Instagram and Facebook. It posts frequently about meetings and events. There is always time to get involved with the club because “Kids Can’t Wait!”
Sophia Brandt Journalism
I often try to think of some of the best spots around East Lansing to visit, whether it’s just to relax by myself, hang out with old friends or introduce new friends to fun spots they might have never been to. One of these spots is the newly opened bar Mash.
As I walk into Mash, I’m met with an overwhelming atmosphere of excitement from its patrons. There’s a stage front and center, and decorative wooden barrels add to the bar’s warm aesthetic. Soon, the assistant general manager, Rudy Richmond, approaches me to talk about the new event space.
We talked a bit about Mash, its grand opening and what makes it so unique compared to other bars around the area.
Mash, as Richmond described it, is a “woodsy, bourbon live music event space” that gets quite busy on the weekends especially. I asked Richmond what kind of people came
to Mash. Nodding, he replied, “Because of the live music, we have been getting more of the older crowd, which is what we wanted. We wanted to give people in East Lansing a more sophisticated bar that they could actually go to at their age group.” He then went on to mention how the bar had an Irish band play on the stage for St. Patrick’s Day.
Curious to know more, I asked for a favorite memory since the bar opened. “One time, a guy here played ‘Freebird,’” he reminisced. “I’ve never actually seen a guy in a band play ‘Freebird,’ so that was kinda cool.” I recognized the oldie right away; and in that moment, appreciated the fact that there was such a unique variety of music played at this bar. It truly felt like a different experience to go to right here in East Lansing, whether after school or work.
Mash is a lively, musical, rustic bar that gets so busy sometimes that lines that form outside of the bar, consisting of people waiting to get a taste of the atmosphere, drinks and live music. One thing is for sure: I’ll definitely become a frequenter here.
Hannah Jun Digital Storytelling
Immersing yourself in creative endeavors can be a fun way to connect with art. This spring, try out these locations to find fulfilling experiences for the soul!
Have you been looking for places to celebrate and practice art close to home?
The Greater Lansing area is full of artistic endeavors that can serve you with fun and inspiring experiences. If you’ve been itching to participate in drawing or painting classes, open mic nights, or studio time, then these artistic spaces are for you.
REACH Studio Art Center is a nonprofit run out of the REO Town district in Lansing. Located only eight minutes from MSU’s campus, REACH offers a variety of art classes for all ages, including ceramics, painting, drawing, sewing and more. This lively studio provides a creative and new way to interact with friends and new members of the community while bonding over the arts.
Some of the unique opportunities offered at REACH include Walk-in Wednesdays, a free or donation-optional space to participate in a new activity, and My Art Studio Hub (MASH), an open studio time with a fee of $12 per session with supplies provided. Both can be registered for on its website
“The projects we do are very familyoriented and all-age projects,” said incoming REACH Executive Director Melissa Keely, who highlighted the family-friendly feel that REACH brings to the table. Keely added that some of the opportunities REACH has to offer can be very relaxing, even if you’ve never drawn before.
If art classes are not your jam, and you’re looking for a place to listen to and watch an eclectic collection of performances, then the Robin Theatre is for you.
The Robin Theatre, located in the heart of REO Town, is a performance hall and community space founded in 2015. The hall has between one and two events a week, including monthly open mic sessions and live music. Further ticket and date information can be found on its calendar.
“Lansing has so many talented people; we needed to cultivate opportunities for them to pursue their passions professionally. The Robin is a place for poets, puppeteers, folk artists; a space a ton of people needed,” said
Dylan Rogers, co-owner of The Robin. Rogers added that the theater started as a response to the lack of listening spaces in Lansing.
The Robin also has a bookstore, Robin Books, that opened in 2021. The shop is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers a wide range of books and gift items within the heartwarming atmosphere of the theater.
Immersing yourself in artistic environments can be a great way to connect with art. This spring, visit these locations to gain new and exciting experiences for the soul.
You try out a new Mediterranean restaurant around campus. You love the food, but it’s easy for the cuisine to get stuck in the labyrinth of homogeneity. It’s easy to attribute one restaurant to all the flavors of an area, forgetting many of the cultural and geographical layers that make up a region’s cuisine. History and culture of the past are examined, and their impact is reflected in the present. Camelia Suleiman, a professor at MSU teaching a women and gender studies course about women writers in the Middle East, understands the necessity for considering these historical, cultural and social layers of Middle Eastern food before you determine the authenticity of a restaurant.
These many layers all intersect with one another, and every area of the Middle East has its own unique experiences with foods; even areas with similar foods can have differences. “To use the term intersectionality,” Suleiman elaborated, “it intersects with the Mediterranean. Historically speaking, these cuisines have developed over millennia.”
Suleiman described how the Fertile Crescent, a crescent-shaped region including Mesopatmoia, now Iraq; Syria; Palestine; Egypt; and the great rivers; was the beginning of agricultural cultivation. With such a vast expanse of area, the culture of eating culture traveled, and therefore, doesn’t have only one place of origin. Cookbooks date back to the 13th century when the empire was about to fall to the Mughals. These medieval cookbooks are what have identified Syria as being the origin of hummus, a dish made of chickpeas, olive oil, lemon, garlic and tahini that many people eat today. Documenting food recipes was a way to keep the empire alive.
That being said, there is a certain order to Middle Eastern mealtimes that transcends
the diversity of origin. Soups are served first; then the main meal; followed by a light supper, sweets, and nuts.
In addition, there are social factors that coincide alongside order, social factors that aren’t mutually exclusive. Suleiman identified an important social factor associated along with eating in the Middle East: never eat food alone. It’s something that was a personal struggle for her when she came to the U.S. She said, “The major meals are always shared, eaten with family, eaten with friends.”
Suleiman also talked about how foods that are served may differ within the same country, depending on the geography. For example, in Palestine, if you grow up on the coast, the cuisine has more fish; whereas people in the more mountainous regions of Palestine rely more on meat.
Religion is yet another factor that impacts the foods in the Middle East. With Islam as the main religion in the region, pork, alcohol, meat of a dead animal or meat of a predator are off limits, creating a vast cultural array of Halal meals.
With these cultural considerations in mind, Suleiman recommended Woody’s on campus as a good introduction to Middle Eastern food. “It’s not the entire cuisine, and doesn’t take in consideration the variety,” but she said the restaurant offers about five to six traditional dishes to introduce Mediterraneanstyle cuisine to patrons.
If you are interested in learning more, reach out to Suleiman at csuleima@msu.edu. April is Arab American Heritage Month, meaning it’s a good time to do more than just eat Middle Eastern foods; it’s a time to learn more about the context behind them.
I sat down to talk with MSU professor Camelia Suleiman, who currently teaches WS 491, a special topics women’s studies course that covers women writers of the Middle East and applies conceptual tools when studying them. With experience living in the Middle East, Suleiman discusses the history and social context behind Middle Eastern foods and compares MSU's local Middle Eastern restaurants to authentic restaurants in Middle Eastern countries.
When you see the word “DJ,” one is likely to picture a sweat-laden, 20-something person wreaking some boots-and-cats havoc on an absurdly large stage. These are your David Guettas, your John Summits and – fun fact – Idris Elbas. With names like these soaking up most of the limelight, it’s hard to imagine the life of a DJ being anything other than globetrotting fun, 24/7. But the reality of DJ culture, beneath all its infectious panache, isn’t as glorious as it may seem.
Michigan State University criminal justice student Roberto Fernandez, who DJs and produces music in his free time, is a strong proponent of this idea. “DJing is very competitive,” Fernandez said. “You may not have to work as much as some people, but there are always guys who’ve been out here longer than you. At the start, you’ll probably be playing a lot for free to just get your name out there.”
And the threat of competition is nothing to take lightly.
In a densely populated college town like East Lansing, many students look to dip their toes into DJing. However, with scarce opportunities making it difficult for student DJs to accelerate their careers, the odds are almost certainly stacked against them, no matter which way it’s sliced.
Even if one manages to snag their first gig, most likely at one of the local bars or frat houses, their chances of future success aren’t guaranteed. Fernandez attributed this to East Lansing’s somewhat nondescript presence amid the more routine DJ hotspots. “You don’t really see a lot of artists coming through here, so it’s hard to branch out,” Fernandez said.
MSU psychology student Simran Panjwani, who started her DJing journey by working house parties in East Lansing, isn’t a stranger to the challenges that competition
... with scarce opportunities making it difficult for student DJs to accelerate their careers, the odds are almost certainly stacked against them ...
presents. For her, knowing what to play and when to play it is what separates her from everyone else. “If I’m somewhere that prefers rap, I’ll try and incorporate throwback rap into the stuff I already have prepared,” said Panjwani. “It’s important to think about what people like and what’s trendy, but make sure the setlist is balanced. People are going to remember good music.”
Contrary to what is shown on social media, a vast majority of DJs aren’t regularly playing sets at the most popular venues, or even making enough to get by on DJing alone (the average rate for DJs is a measly $13.27 per hour). Many are two-job weekend warriors, or full-time students like Fernandez and Panjwani, who are eager to secure any gig they can. But when carving out time to DJ and making it to class are both high priorities, this can be quite demanding.
“Working such late nights can get tiring after a while, and you can pretty much kiss morning classes goodbye,” Fernandez said. “I have an 8 a.m. class on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So it kind of sucks to DJ until 2:30 a.m., then get up at 7 the next morning.”
Lack of sleep is something many DJs have to endure if they want to continuously get work, even more so than the average college student. Compound that across multiple days, or sometimes weeks, and pursuing a largely nocturnal passion like DJing can present a real struggle. Even Fernandez’s occasional four hours of sleep makes the six-hour average for college students seem like a gift. Who knows, maybe that’s why some DJs choose to endorse energy drinks.
The idea that 10,000 hours of practice are required to master something is said to apply to any skill, and, according to Fernandez, DJing is no exception. “Once you learn the hows, you have to keep practicing so you don’t sound off-beat or off-key.” Becoming fluent in using turntables, curating appropriate setlists and fueling a crowd’s energy are just a few parts of DJing that demand constant dedication to be successful. But if you ask Panjwani, that job description only scratches the surface.
“I’m practicing any time I don’t have school or work,” Panjwani said. “It’s more than just pressing play and having the aux. You have to think and prepare. Do the beats per minute of this song match the previous song? You have to be aware of transitions, too. If anything, you show up, zone in and go home. It’s more like a job in that way.”
Panjwani, who taught herself how to mix after buying her first turntable, started DJing because she “didn’t like” what was being played at the parties she attended. Connections made through her friends eventually led her to her first gig at one of these parties, where she finally got to take charge of the music. While pursuing her passion is still a nonstop grind, Panjwani insisted that there are just as many rewards as there are obstacles.
“Just being in control of the music is what motivates me,” Panjwani said. “I like it when people are having a good time, and that keeps me going every gig.”
This picture of DJ life may feel somewhat discordant with what pop culture and social media shows, but Fernandez and Panjwani’s experiences hold integral information for any neophyte looking to get serious about the craft. They also offer a peek behind the curtain of what it takes to be a successful creative,
which is increasingly rare in a time where many fixate on results more than processes. And while no one can necessarily blame performers for veiling the blood, sweat and tears of their art behind an image of glitz and glamor, it certainly doesn’t hurt to remain aware of it.
As for Fernandez, Panjwani and the rest of East Lansing’s student DJs, the hurdles they continue to face may be plentiful indeed; but through their grit, resilience and love for being the ones who get a crowd moving, they’ve managed to keep their culture thriving one fiery beat at a time.
Matt Williams Digital Storytelling
Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall | Various times Tue. - Sun.
Bringing Baz Luhrmann’s iconic 2001 film to the stage ‘Moulin Rouge! The Musical’ imagines a Bohemian world filled with truth, beauty, freedom and love! MSU students can purchase tickets starting at $29; tickets for non-students start at $45.
https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/moulin-rouge
Various locations | Various times
The MSU College of Music presents its annual three-day spectacular featuring exceptional jazz performances, a swing dance, a regional high school jazz band competition and a wrap-up concert. Student tickets are free for all performances except the wrap-up concert, which is $15.
https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/moulin-rouge
Broad Art Museum & MSU Museum | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m
From behind-the-scenes tours to art making, enjoy a night of art and science activities in celebration of the MSU Science Festival. The event is free, but advanced registration is encouraged.
https://broadmuseum.msu.edu/events/night-at-the-museums-04192024/
Wharton Center, Cobb Great Hall | 7:30 p.m.
The Lansing Symphony Orchestra presents a journey through the iconic music of a galaxy far, far away. Featuring a selection of pieces from film composers John Williams and Michael Giacchino, this performance has ticket prices starting at $30.
https://www.whartoncenter.com/events/detail/pops-3
Downtown East Lansing | 10 a.m - 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
The 61st annual East Lansing Art Festival will be filled with performances, learning experiences, food and, of course, beautiful art! Around 200 local artists will come to perform or share their work with the community. The festival is free to attend.
https://www.elartfest.com/
Track and Field, Spartan Invite
Apr. 5
TBD | TBD
Men’s Tennis, MSU vs. Purdue
Apr. 6
TBD | 12 p.m.
Women’s Tennis, MSU vs. Nebraska
Apr. 20
TBD | 11 a.m.
Women’s Softball, MSU vs. Oakland
May 1
Secchia Stadium | 5 p.m.
Men’s Baseball, MSU vs. Michigan
May 3
McLane Stadium at Kobs Field | 6:05 p.m.
Women’s Golf, NCAA Regionals
May 6-8
Forest Akers Golf Course | Various Times
All sporting events listed are home games, this list does not include all events.
@b_mulls25
MSU Vs UMich – Men’s Basketball, Feb. 17, 2024.
@ryleejo0903
Beaumont tower looking festive!
@creativewritingmsu
MSU Creative Writing Club’s open mic night. A room full of talent, acceptance and love for our campus.
@lifelettersmi
An inside-look into MSU senior Grace Carney’s nonprofit, Life Letters, and what she posts regularly for mental health awareness. Submit a letter to us today.
@jlane1127
Gigi’s cupcakes
@hcmichiganstate
@mattxstephn
@gavinherbert__
@torivanslam
Me and Bookie Bear <3
@lilly_kowalczyk_
Fantastic turnout for the menstrual product drive for women and girls in Gaza!
Located right on E. Grand River Ave., Tasty Twist is the perfect pit stop close to campus. It offers a variety of options, from classics to soft-serve favorites, including popular toppings. It also has sundaes, shakes, twisters, smoothies and slushies, which all hit the spot on a humid day. Tasty Twist opens at noon, just in time for you to grab an affordable, cold, sweet treat after or during your lunch break!
Looking for somewhere to take a dip? Be sure to check out Lake Lansing, the largest lake within 30 miles of Lansing. Featuring a sandy beach and four acres of green grass, Lake Lansing Park South is a great outdoor space for easy-going fun with friends. Visit to enjoy a day of picnicking, swimming, fishing and more!
Hammocks provide a comfortable way to enjoy the Michigan sunshine, whether you’re looking for a relaxing place to read, taking a quick break before your next class or just admiring the verdant spring scenery. Hammock posts can be found all over campus, from the Shaw Hall lawn to the shady trees behind Wells Hall. Just make sure to snag one when you get the chance – students tend to fill them up as soon as the sun peeks out!
The Lansing Lugnuts are a minor league baseball team located at Jackson Field in the heart of the Lansing area. They offer many attractions for students, including $5 admission with a valid student ID, and several affordable meal and beverage deals, such as $2 beverages on Thursdays. Tickets can be purchased online or in person for anyone hoping to spend a warm evening under stadium lights.
Anything from fresh strawberries and corn to exotic mushrooms and sprouts can be found at our local East Lansing Farmer’s Market. The market runs every Sunday, starting June 2nd, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and is located just off campus at Valley Court Park. Remember to grab a flakey Kouigh-Amann from Stone Bakery and a frozen apple cider to cap off the perfect trip to the farmers market!
Staff
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