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A group of Michigan State University Alumni pose for a photo at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing, Michigan, July 12, 2024. Beginning their friendship in Holden Residence Hall during the 1973-1974 school year, they decided to have a reunion at Michigan State to commemorate 50 years of friendship. Photo by Brendan Mullin.
MSU students share dos and dont’s with freshman
Hannah Locke hlocke@statenews.com
The frst year of college is getting closer and closer for Michigan State University’s incoming freshman. With this milestone, it’s important to keep the “dos” and “don’ts” in mind.
Psychology sophomore Elizabeth Antrassian said one of her most important “dos” was to set boundaries.
“Set good boundaries with roommates,” she said. “I had a really bad roommate, and she just did not respect… any of the (rules) we put in place.”
When boundaries are violated, Antrassian emphasized how important it is to stand up for yourself.
“Speak up and don’t let someone walk all over you,” Antrassian said. “If you’re having issues with someone, speak up, because it will make things, like, a lot better.”
She also encouraged incoming freshmen to utilize their resident assistants.
“I defnitely recommend getting a good relationship with your RA because most of them are really nice,” she said. “We got along really well with both of them, and it defnitely helped us out a lot.”
Utilizing resources can help freshman make the most of their frst year socially, academically and fnancially. Genomics and molecular genetics sophomore Graham Jackson, who is an out-of-state student, said being fnancially responsible was a big do for him.
“Take advantage of everything that’s included,” he said.
The combo exchange system at MSU is a signifcant resource that on-campus students have access to. 12 combos are included with every dining plan. Antrassian said stocking up on snacks by using your combos is a great way to save money.
“Use up all the combos and just keep them in stock in your room,” she said. “I kind of, I did it more at the end, where I would just kind of stock up on chips and stuff, like basic stuff just to keep in the
room…so, you don’t have to spend money on snacks in your dorm.”
Jackson also witnessed an alternative use for combos when his friend saved up bottled water, snacks and even cups of ramen throughout the entire year, and then donated it all to the MSU food bank in Owen Hall.
Another important do for budgeting is making sure you are not paying for stuff that you don’t need, Antrassian said.
“Save money and budget — I spent way too much money my freshman year, and I went through, like, most of my savings,” she said. “I’m going to try not to do as many impulse purchases on Amazon and only buy stuff that I need.”
Another inevitability that comes with freshman year is meeting new people. Biomedical laboratory science sophomore Savannah Phillips said that putting herself out there made a big difference.
“In high school, I wasn’t one to really reach out…but I kind of started doing that my freshman year, and it caused
me to have a ton of cool experiences, meet a lot of cool people,” Phillips said. “That really made it easier to transition from my life leaving behind my family and friends.”
While it can be intimidating, Phillips said, telling herself that everyone is in the same boat was a comfort.
“Everyone is on the same playing grounds (and) you’re all very new to this,” she said. “They’re all thinking the same thing you are. Everyone is just looking to make connections, build a group of people. And the absolute worst someone could say is, oh, no, thanks, I’m busy or I can’t make that. It’s not anything detrimental.”
A do that largely affected Antrassian’s social life was joining groups on campus.
“Get involved,” she said. “I am in a sorority and two clubs on campus, and I’ve met so many people.”
Another thing freshman have to adjust to in college is the course load. Phillips said it’s important to do your coursework
as it comes.
“Don’t procrastinate,” she said. “A lot of reasons professors give you so much time to do work is they’re kind of hefty assignments, and it’s not benefcial to try to rush through an assignment because you waited till the day that it’s due.”
The preparation for tests was also something she noted as a big change.
“I had to change my learning style completely,” she said. “In high school, I was able to make a set of fashcards, studied a couple of times and I would ace all my tests. That was not the case when I started MSU, because everything was pretty much application based.”
Phillips suggested doing practice problems as well as going to offce hours and getting help when you need it.
“That’s another big one: meeting your professor and establishing a personal connection with them,” she said. “You’re also getting that additional help, and you can ask for exam questions.”
Beal Gardens staff talk difficulties of summer season
Anish Topiwala atopiwala@statenews.com
Although many people leave campus once the spring semester concludes, the work only begins for those at the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden.
Bethany Troy, lead gardener and botanical technologist of the garden, recently adopted the title in February, previously working at the Horticulture Gardens for eight years.
“I was just looking for a change, and this position opened up,” Troy said.
“When I interviewed with Beal, they talked about their community emphasis, that meant a lot to me.”
Troy said typically, spring and fall sees more cleanup around the garden, whereas in the summer the real maintenance begins.
Troy and her two other gardeners spend time suppressing weeds, deadheading and taking diligent notes for plants which may not be properly growing due to a lack of resources.
“Summer’s a perfect time to notice any holes in the garden,” Troy said. “Some-
times things are late to come up in spring, but in summer you really know if it’s alive or not.”
Troy is the one to manage these priorities, which can change on a daily and hourly basis.
Water is a vital element gardeners must pay attention to in the summer, she said.
“Our irrigation was not working, and when we weren’t getting rain that was what we considered an emergency so we had to fnd some creative ways to work around that,” Troy said.
However, when it does rain signifcant-
ly, problems can arise.
“We are in a foodplain, right along the Red Cedar river,” Troy said. “That makes maintaining plants a challenge.” Because of this location, she said, the positioning of plants is important, as the diverse collections of plants all require unique care. The toughest collection for them to maintain is the Injurious collection, which includes plants like Poison Ivy, Rue and others that may cause toxic reactions.
Illustration by Zachary Balcoff.
THE STATE NEWS’ ULTIMATE SUMMER 2024 PLAYLIST
By PJ Pfeiffer ppfeiffer@statenews.com
Summer is here, and with it comes bucket lists, sunsoaked activities and great music. Over this past year, many albums and singles have topped charts and earned spots in people’s daily playlists, including Charli XCX’s “Brat,” Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” and Maggie Rogers’ “Don’t Forget Me.”
With this in mind, The State News created an 89-song Spotify playlist that consolidates music from the past 60 years and encapsulates that perfect summer feeling.
We added songs you can listen to while driving, at the beach, in your bedroom or pretty much anywhere.
The list includes summer classics like “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer and “Waterfalls” by TLC, as well as newer hits like “Consideration” by Rihanna and SZA and “Free Yourself” by Jessie Ware.
If you’re somehow not already sold on this playlist, follow along on a journey through some of the songs.
THE GIRL, SO CONFUSING VERSION WITH
LORDE BY CHARLI XCX AND LORDE
“Let’s work it out on the remix.”
Yes, everyone will be “bumpin’ that” song this summer by the highly anticipated collaboration between Charli XCX and Lorde. After Charli XCX dropped her latest album, “Brat,” in early June 2024, which included a song titled, “Girl, so confusing,” many speculated it was about New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde. In their decadelong careers, the two have been compared and mistaken for each other by interviewees and fans.
In this song, Lorde follows the same stream-of-consciousness fow that Charli XCX does in the original version of the song and the two sing about each other, bringing up past experiences and relationship history.
the August moon.”
This song exudes happiness and the freeing feeling you might have on a relaxed Sunday morning. Blueberries for breakfast and butterfies fying around— who wouldn’t want that?
The remix is a remarkable song released just in time for the summer.
BLUEBERRIES FOR BREAKFAST BY THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS
“Butterfies in my trousers / Under
The song is sung on a pretty laid-back, carefree and whimsical beat that is best explained as walking in a park with a
Though it’s a perfectly complex track about relationships’ benefts and struggles, it’s sung in a way that feels like a dream, making it perfect for listening while eating breakfast.
GOOD LUCK, BABE! BY CHAPPELL ROAN
“With her arms out like an angel through the car sunroof.”
In recent months, singersongwriter Chappell Roan has completely taken over radio stations and music festivals; her fame increased after she opened for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts World Tour and performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. Since April, she has gained roughly 10 million more Spotify monthly listeners and now has just
under 25 million listeners. She released her latest album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” in September 2023, and even though the 14-song album has gained popularity, another song of hers that has taken over the world.
Roan’s newest single “Good Luck, Babe!” was released on April 5, 2024, and already has 225 million streams, becoming her most-streamed song.
The song, Roan said in an interview with Rolling Stone, is about Roan dating a girl who doesn’t accept that she’s queer and refuses to digest the relationship the two have, while Roan walks away from the relationship knowing the girl is trying to deny her true feelings.
Both lyrically and sonically, the song is a masterpiece. The bridge lures you into feeling Roan’s anger and makes you really believe you’re in the bed sitting next to her. “Good Luck, Babe!” is only gaining popularity and defnitely one of the top songs of the summer.
SCAN FOR PLAYLIST
Illustration by Zachary Balcoff.
TAKE OUR MSU SPORTS TRIVIA TEST
1. Which MSU varsity sport has won the most NCAA National Championships?
A: Men’s Cross Country
B: Football
C: Men’s basketball
D: Gymnastics
2. How many varsity sports does MSU athletics have?
A: 16
B: 27
C: 23
D: 31
3. Which MSU sports team won its first-ever Big Ten Championship in 2024?
A: Gymnastics
B: Women’s soccer
C: Women’s golf
D: Ice Hockey
4. Who is the all-time passing yards leader for MSU football?
A: Drew Stanton
B: Kirk Cousins
C: Connor Cook
D: Payton Thorne
5. Who was the first MSU gymnast to earn floor All-America Honors?
A: Nikki Smith
B: Skyla Schulte
C: Rochelle Robinson
D: Sage Kellerman
6. In which season did MSU football make its first and only College Football Playoff appearance to date?
A: 2012-2013
B: 2020-2021
C: 2010-2011
D: 2015-2016
Answers on page 15. Information from msuathletics.com, pro-football-reference.com and basketball-reference.com.
7. Who is the all-time leading points scorer for MSU men’s basketball?
A: Earvin “Magic” Johnson
B: Cassius Winston
C: Shawn Respert
D: Steve Smith
8. Which current MSU varsity head coach led their program to back-to-back Big Ten Championships within their first three seasons?
A: Jeff Hosler, women’s soccer
B: Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll, women’s golf
C: Tom Izzo, men’s basketball
D: Adam Nightingale, ice hockey
9. In 2005, which MSU varsity team reached the NCAA National Championship game, taking down program royalties Connecticut, Notre Dame, Stanford, and Tennessee?
A: Men’s basketball
B: Men’s soccer
C: Softball
D: Women’s basketball
Trivia questions by Thomas Cobb, design by Madison Echlin.
TUESDAY
Noon (EDT) VIRTUAL “SPARTAN LUCK OF THE DRAW”
9 p.m.–midnight (EDT) FALL WELCOME MOVIE NIGHT
WEDNESDAY
10 a.m.–6 p.m. (EDT) NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION (NSO) FAMILY AND SUPPORTER RESOURCE & RECEPTION FAIR
Noon VIRTUAL “SPARTAN LUCK OF THE DRAW”
6–8 p.m. (EDT) SPARTAN FAMILY CONNECTION FAMILY MEET-UP
6:45–8:15 p.m. (EDT) FALL WELCOME CONVOCATION KICKOFF
8:30-11 p.m. (EDT) THE SPARTAN GAMES
20 21 23 24
8 a.m.–11 p.m. (EDT) NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION (NSO) PROGRAMMING
Noon (EDT) VIRTUAL “SPARTAN LUCK OF THE DRAW”
7-11 p.m. (EDT) SPARTY GRAS FALL FEST
FRIDAY
8–11:30 a.m. (EDT) NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION (NSO) PROGRAMMING
10 a.m.–noon (EDT) SPARTAN COFFEE HOUSE CONNECT UP
1–4 p.m. (EDT) SPARTY STATUE PHOTO EVENT
8:30-11:30 p.m.(EDT) SPARTAN BEACH ZONE EVENT
SUNDAY
1–3 p.m. (EDT) FALL WELCOME TRANSFER STUDENT RESOURCE FAIR
2–4 p.m. (EDT) FIRST YEAR COMMUTER/OFF CAMPUS STUDENT MEETING
4–8 p.m. (EDT) THE FALL WELCOME SPARTAN SPECTACULAR including Sparticipation
MONDAY
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES
SEPTEMBER
THURSDAY
5-8 p.m. (EDT) SPARTAN REMIX 25 26 5
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MSU’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES
A TIMELINE OF THE PAST YEAR
By Theo Scheer tscheer@statenews.com
Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees have continually made headlines this past year as its infghting spilled out into the open, attracting scrutiny and criticism from across the state.
While the eight publicly elected offcials that comprise the board — tasked with providing broad oversight of the university’s affairs and fnances — have made some headway on repairing internal tensions in recent months, their fate ultimately rests in the governor’s hands as she decides whether to remove two of its members for misconduct.
Here’s a timeline of everything that brought the board to the fragile position it’s in today:
October 22, 2023
Trustee Brianna Scott sends a letter to the board, calling for then-board chair Rema Vassar to resign or for the governor to remove her. Scott says Vassar continually overstepped her role as chair by attempting to unilaterally intervene in the university’s legal disputes and by bullying colleagues.
The letter sparks an outcry from prominent fgures across MSU and Michigan politics, with many offcials joining the call for Vassar’s removal and some defending her leadership.
October 24, 2023
Vassar responds to Scott’s letter in a statement, describing her fellow trustee’s allegations as “fabrications, misstatements, innuendo, and untruths.”
Vassar tells WKAR that she will not resign from the board, even if found guilty of violating MSU policies.
November 7, 2023
MSU announces law frm Miller & Chevalier will conduct an extensive review of Scott’s allegations.
November 15, 2023
The State News reports that Kevin Guskiewicz, chancellor of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, is the sole fnalist in MSU’s secretive presidential search. During the selection process, he says he’ll only take the job “without undue interference” from MSU’s board.
OCT. NOV. DEC.
December 8, 2023
The board appoints Guskiewicz as MSU’s next president, effective March 4, 2024. He says the board is “committed to a shared governance model that will keep everyone in their lanes.”
Around this time, the board signs pledges committing to not interfere in Guskiewicz’s upcoming administration.
February 28, 2024
Miller & Chevalier release their 63-page investigation into Scott’s claims, fnding that Vassar and Denno broke several board policies. They recommend Whitmer decide whether to remove them from the board.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, DENNO VIOLATED BOARD POLICIES BY:
• Requesting details of trustee overstepping be revised in an outside frm’s review of MSU’s response to the Feb. 13, 2023 campus shooting
• Encouraging students to embarrass the interim president and attack a university offcial
• Becoming overly-involved in MSU’s contracting process by recommending a consulting frm to analyze a university initiative, then revising the scope of their agreement at the consultant’s request.
VASSAR VIOLATED BOARD POLICIES BY:
• Accepting gifts from donors
• Intervening in the release of the thousands of documents relating to MSU’s handling of disgraced exdoctor Larry Nassar
• Acting alone in negotiating the terms of a settlement with a former Broad College dean
• Interfering in negotiations of a NIL deal between MSU and a donor
• Encouraging students to embarrass the interim president
May 22, 2024
An internal investigation fnds that Vassar had her middle fnger raised during the board meeting in which she was censured, though she denies it was intentional. The fnding is sent to Whitmer for review, alongside Miller & Chevalier’s fndings.
FEB. MARCH MAY
March 3, 2024
In a special meeting the evening before Guskiewicz becomes president, the board votes 6-2 to censure Vassar and Denno, strip them of their duties and refer them to the governor to consider their removal — actions the Miller & Chevalier report recommended. A spokesperson for Whitmer says she’ll “carefully review” the request.
Vassar resigns as board chair hours before the late evening vote, remaining on the board as a trustee.
Denno, in a statement, calls the vote “overly-punitive in nature” and hints towards litigation.
March 24, 2024
Vassar, through an attorney, issues a 22-page rebuttal to the Miller & Chevalier investigation, which also hints towards litigation. She argues the investigation was biased against her, was conducted without due process for her and the subsequent report lacked “essential” information.
VIEWS OF CAMPUS YOU ARE MISSING OVER THE SUMMER
Liz Nass lnass@statenews.com
Most students go home for the summer, missing the breathtaking views of MSU’s campus over the summer. Here’s something to hold you over until your long awaited arrival back to East Lansing in August.
Spartan Statue on July 19, 2024.
Photo by Brendan Mullin.
A squirrel skitters by the MSU Hannah Administration Building on May 15, 2024.
Photo by Amalia Medina.
Daisies bloom behind MSU’s Brody Hall on May 25, 2024.
Photo by Amalia Medina.
Spartan Stadium on July 19, 2024. Photo by Brendan Mullin.
Beaumont Tower on July 19, 2024. Photo by Brendan Mullin.
Irises bloom in the Beal Botanical Garden on May 24, 2024. Photo by Amalia Medina.
DINING HALL SHOWDOWN: BEST AND WORST DINING OPTIONS ON CAMPUS
Demonte Thomas dthomas@statenews.com
For incoming MSU freshmen, the college experience offers new experiences that may have not been available before, including endless dining buffets, which could help, hurt or welcome uncertain freshmen with open arms— or in this case, plates and bowls.
The State News asked current students to explain what the best dining hall on campus to help point freshmen in the right direction. From the dining halls in South neighborhood to Akers in East, here’s what students think earns the title “Best Dining Hall” at MSU.
NORTH NEIGHBORHOOD
International relations and journalism sophomore Alex Boesch said out of the many dining halls MSU has to offer, Landon Hall is the top one for him.
“Landon is the best because the choices are usually something that’s a little more of a meal than other dining halls,” Boesch said. “For example, Case Hall has a lot of options, but most of them are the same things everyday like burgers or pizza, with only one of the counters’ consistently changing menu.”
Also home to a Sparty’s Refresh for the choice of endless Combo-x-Changes, Landon’s Heritage Commons invites MSU students with different appetites to dine
on a variety choices.
Boesch said Landon changes its menus everyday and usually has something “a little more robust” than Case or Akers Hall.
“Akers sucks because it’s Akers,” Boesch said. “It’s a small dining hall with a lack of counters that give out full-bodied meals. I’ve only been there twice so I can’t really comment, but it’s not my favorite.”
He added that Landon offers healthier and more sit-down meals while having limited options.
Biomedical and molecular nutritional sciences sophomore Benji Zhang said Landon is also his favorite dining hall on campus due to its build-yourown-pizza counter.
“(Landon) has really good food like steak and they’re open until 11 p.m. on most days,” Zhang said.
Animal science freshman Julia Baker also picked Landon not only because of its food, but also its aesthetic and vibes.
“Its freplaces, wall sculptures, bookcase clutter and mood lighting really make you feel like you are in a cute cafe or restaurant as opposed to a food court,” Baker said. “I also really like it because of the food options. I feel like their food is more ‘homemade,” if that makes sense. Their build-your-own-pizza or sandwich station allows you to do what you want instead of picking from a set menu.”
The staff is also very likable, she said.
— KEVIN GUSKIEWICZ, PH.D. MSU PRESIDENT
State News file photo.
“I think that because it’s smaller they are able to recognize and have a relationship with you on a more personal level,” Baker said. “The head chef is always one for a conversation! They also do fun events like New York themes or even Barbie themes.”
SOUTH NEIGHBORHOOD
For behavioral psychology sophomore MaKhya Richards, Holden Hall takes the cake.
“My very frst year, I stayed in Holden and their dining choices were absolutely exquisite,” Richards said. “They have a variety of different foods everyday rather than the same thing like Brody, for example. They have a lot of gluten free and vegan options for others which I can really appreciate. It defnitely stands out in terms of variety for sure.”
Richards said Brody and Akers are not her favorite, however.
“I think if you were really looking for something nice to eat with plenty of options, I would go to Holden,” Richards said.
Finance sophomore Cainan Treadway said his favorite dining halls in South Neighborhood are either Case Hall or Shaw Hall, located in the River Trail neighborhood.
“Case always had grilled chicken and that’s why I kept going there,” Treadway said. “Mainly I represent Shaw because
that’s where I was sophomore year, but with Case, I liked it because no matter what, some foods never changed and if you’re following a stricter diet you can count on it to have those foods. They also had a sushi bar that really never changed either.”
The bottom line, Treadway said, is that repetition made Case great. He also offered advice for incoming freshmen on how to stay informed about food options.
“Some days the food’s good and sometimes it isn’t,” Treadway said. “If you care that much about it, get the dining hall app so you can see what hall is serving that day.”
Social relations and policy freshman Zion Alysa said both Case Hall and Brody are the best to her.
“Brody is defnitely number one because of the variety of food and dishes,” Alysa said. “Case is amazing
because of it’s accessibility. I love that it’s right downstairs and the Sparty’s is right next to it.”
RIVER TRAIL NEIGHBORHOOD
Vocal performance sophomore Krista Bennett chose Landon as her favorite because of its diverse options.
“I like the fact that they have a little bit of a variety there even though it is a small space,” Bennett said. “My least favorite hall would be Owen due to the fact that I didn’t care for the allergy free food.”
If she put aside the allergen-free favors, Bennett said, Akers would be her least favorite, as she’s never had a good experience there.
Even though a majority of students praise Landon Hall as the best option on campus, each dining hall has its own aesthetic and vibe that offers its guests unique dining experiences.
TRIVIA ANSWERS
1. A: Men’s cross country (8)
2. C: 23
3. D: Ice Hockey
4. C: Connor Cook (9,194 yards)
5. B: Skyla Schulte
6. D: 2015-2016
7. C: Shawn Respert (2,531 points)
8. A: Jeff Hosler (2022, 2023)
9. D: Women’s basketball
State News file photo.
How MSU students make the most of their summer internships
When school presses pause for the summer semester, many students plunge into internships related to their
While these internships may be degree requirements or simply ways to make money, MSU students are making sure they get the most out of them. The main components Spartans look to gain from an internship are experience and knowledge.
Internships offer a lot of hands-on experience and industry know-how that classrooms can’t
Turf management senior Tyler Hild has an internship at the Boston Golf Club in Massachusetts, a top 100 course in the U.S., where he is spending much of his
time spraying, fertilizing and getting to know the industry.
“It doesn’t really matter what you do, but being able to do an internship… it just really gives a person an opportunity to learn and get better at doing something they love before they actually enter the workforce,” Hild said.
“Being able to do an internship… it just really gives a person an opportunity to learn and get better at doing something they love before they actually enter the workforce.”
TYLER HILD TURF MANAGEMENT SENIOR
Internships also provide opportunities to learn outside of a regular job’s mundane logistics. Accounting and economics senior Ximena Flores Ortiz has learned valuable organizational skills, network building and how to push outside of her comfort zone at her internship with the accounting firm, KPMG.
“I for sure have been able to improve my confidence when it comes to talking to other people and how to present yourself too,” Flores Ortiz said. “Especially in this internship, they want you to be connecting with all the employees.”
if it’s maybe something that you just like to try and not want to see again,” Flores Ortiz said.
Besides networking and seeing what the day-to-day life would be like in different areas of work, criminal justice senior Megan Schedrzer, who is completing an internship in the legal field doing pretrial services, emphasized the importance of asking many questions and exploring everything an internship has to offer.
BEAL STAFF TALK SUMMER WORK
day to really get in there because some of these plants secrete their toxic oils in the heat or direct sunlight,” she said.
Although Troy is still new to the garden, she’s been involved in discussions regarding new additions.
“We’ve talked a lot about expanding some of the pond area, a favorite amongst visitors and staff,” she said.
Their team is currently working on expanding a section of the garden over
the summer: Pollinator Hill, with native plants supporting native pollinators.
Katie Fry, the garden’s collection manager, deals with the curation of these plants.
“In the summertime, it’s really about making sure that we are growing a successful collection,” Fry said.
Each season offers something different, Fry said.
“You get to watch as the spring flowers bloom and then there’s a wave of just
green, lush growth followed by more peppering of blooms which attracts all these pollinators into our garden,” she said.
Fry has worked at the Beal Garden for eleven years but only recently became Collections Manager.
Fry said the garden just received a permit to collect an endangered Snow Trillium plant. They plan on preserving and breeding the plant species.
She’s also been working on a new collection that brings plants in the garden together to tell a new story.
“We want to show how plants have been essential for creating art,” she said. “Specifically, how plants have been used as dyes for making paint.”
The collection won’t just be restricted to plants which create dye, however; it will includes others tied to art as well.
“It allows for us to talk about different forms of art like fashion, visual arts too, but we want to go beyond that as well,” she said. “Think about architecture, literature. Those plants exist in our garden right now, we just want to bring it all together so we can have these conversations about how interwoven plants and people are.”
This collection is still in the planning stages. Troy urges people to come visit the garden over the summer.
“You can look at pictures all day, but seeing a plant in person can change a perspective,” she said. “I’ve met people who saw a plant and it was almost like a gateway into a whole new world of plants. They didn’t know that it excited them until they visited a garden and saw it firsthand.”
Bethany Troy, the lead garden caretaker, pulls weeds from a flowerbed in the Beal Garden, July 17, 2024. Photo by Brendan Mullin.
A volunteer throws a handful of weeds into a bucket in the Beal Garden on Michigan State University’s campus, July 17, 2024. Established in 1873, Beal Garden is the oldest university botanical garden in the United States. Photo by Brendan Mullin.
STUDENTS EXPLORE BOOKTOK FOR SUMMER READING MUST-HAVES
Amelia Fraser afraser@statenews.com
Over the summer, students spend their free time on the beach, on a boat or even just at home. The extra relaxing time has allowed them to enjoy hobbies they may have to give up during the school year, including reading.
Many are becoming immersed in BookTok, a TikTok “section” based on sharing recommendations that best suit readers’ tastes, including fantasy,
romance, old favorites and new releases.
OLD FAVORITES
Sometimes relaxing means falling back into the comfort of something old, and many are rereading “The Hunger Games” series by Suzanne Collins, the popular YA dystopian series made into blockbuster movies. Recent addition “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” received its own movie adaptation earlier in the year, redirecting people’s attention back to the series.
It’s not just this new addition that has brought some attention, but also the announcement of another upcoming book and movie about Haymitch, a mentor in the games. Eager to be prepared for an expected spring 2025 release, people have now begun to reread.
Traditional BSN junior Michael Crane has found comfort in his yearly reread of his favorite series, “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline, another example of a popular book to movie adaptation.
“My love for the book comes from the strong imagery you get from the frstperson perspective,” Crane said. “I highly recommend the book to others.”
ADAPTATIONS
The trend of book to movie or TV show adaptation are becoming increasingly popular, and many students fnd it important to engage with both versions.
Books like “Normal People” by Sally Rooney and “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid are recent examples.
After getting to the “Normal People” book late, human biology junior Ava Buchanan is trying to stay caught up.
“I watched the show (Normal People) and then read the book because the show was so popular.” Buchanan said. “I really am going to try to get into reading this summer and just fnish it.”
Sarah J. Mass’s “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series and others like “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” all have projects ongoing or rumored to be in production.
“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover has a highly anticipated release scheduled for later this summer, but fans of the book have expressed concerns over the casting decisions.
“In the movie is Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni,” Buchanan said. “They’re good actors but how’s it gonna go? I did not expect Blake Lively to be the main character at all.”
BOOKTOK
Emily Henry and Colleen Hoover are two authors overtaking content on BookTok.
Social work junior Morgan Farmer has noticed that both authors are most frequently recommended to her. All the content she has seen infuenced her to buy Henry’s “Beach Read,” as well as “Better than the Movies” by Lynn Painter.
Buchanan is in the middle of a series she discovered from BookTok: “The Empyrean.” Currently on the second book in the series, Buchanan said it’s like “’Divergent’ but with dragons,” and it’s perfect for fantasy lovers.
Books like “Iron Flame” are also very popular on Goodreads, an app increasing in popularity that allows readers to shelve books and rate ones they have completed. It also provides recommendations.
“Sometimes I scroll through categories on Goodreads and add books to my ‘Want to Read’ shelf,” Farmer said. “I also follow infuencers and I like to see how they rate popular books.”
Illustration by Zachary Balcoff.
COLUMN: THREE MSU SPORTS STORYLINES TO FOLLOW THIS YEAR
Thomas Cobb tcobb@statenews.com
Among the many attractions of a Big Ten school with one of the largest student populations in the country is both a vibrant and persistent sports experience.
For students, alumni and fans of MSU and its 23 varsity sports, there is always a team, player or storyline to monitor.
There was no shortage of success for MSU athletics in 2023-2024, when four Spartan teams won a Big Ten championship. However, there were some disappointments in the university’s two biggest revenue sports. Tom Izzo’s men’s basketball squad went from a preseason top-fve
team to a frst-weekend exit in March Madness and the Mel Tucker scandal sunk the Spartan football season.
No matter the scene – Breslin Center, Munn Ice Arena, DeMartin Stadium, Jenison Fieldhouse – MSU sports offer a steady stream of excitement and engagement throughout the academic year, for better or worse.
So, I picked my three biggest MSU sports storylines to follow in 2024-2025. Here’s what you should keep your eye on:
ADAM NIGHTINGALE AND MSU HOCKEY
PUSH FOR A FROZEN FOUR APPEARANCE
Of all the MSU sports during the past year, it was the hockey team that stole the
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show en route to the school’s frst-ever Big Ten Championship and national tournament appearance. The way things ended for head coach Adam Nightingale and the Spartans, a 5-2 loss to rival University of Michigan in the national quarterfnal, will sting for some time. But I think MSU hockey has as bright a future as any program in the country.
Even after losing phenom Artyom Levshunov, the No. 2 pick in the NHL draft and the highest MSU draft selection in 36 years, the Spartans are still looking to top last year’s squad by reaching the Frozen Four for the frst time in nearly two decades. It’s a tall order with the usual powerhouses at play and the grueling Big Ten, but if Nightingale’s proven anything thus far in his tenure, it’s that he can continue to elevate his group.
It took Nightingale just two seasons as head coach to lift MSU hockey from the ashes of a perennial bottom-feeder in the Big Ten. I believe he can stamp himself as a Spartan sports legend in year three with a Frozen Four appearance.
JEFF HOSLER AND MSU WOMEN’S SOCCER EYE THREE-PEAT
On the topic of historic program turnarounds, MSU’s women’s soccer team has burst onto the national scene since 2022, when they brought home the frst conference championship in program history. Head coach Jeff Hosler, entering his fourth season, has revamped the women’s soccer program in a way I think is
reminiscent of what Nightingale has done with MSU hockey.
Led by future draft selections Lauren DeBeau and Lauren Kozal, the Spartans won the Big Ten championship in 2022. It was thought of as a fuke, as a lower-tier women’s soccer program simply blessed with professional talent. The next fall, Hosler and his squad proved that sentiment to be false.
The Spartans started slow but found an edge near the midseason mark and, albeit with some outside help on the fnal Sunday of the regular season, capitalized on a tremendous fnal stretch to clinch backto-back conference championships.
Hosler and company will look to make that three straight this fall.
THE JONATHAN SMITH-AIDAN CHILES ERA AT MSU BEGINS
In retrospect, Jonathan Smith was the perfect hire for MSU football as the antithesis of Tucker. I doubt 2024 will be an exhilarating year for Smith and MSU football, but there’s at least one reason to tune in: quarterback Aidan Chiles.
Chiles, a sophomore and former fourstar recruit for Smith at Oregon State, brings something MSU hasn’t had in years: the aura and presence of a starting quarterback in major college football. From day one at the helm, Smith has said that Chiles is the guy for the Spartans. It’ll be interesting to see Chiles and Smith working together, and it’ll be a good indicator of MSU football’s future.
Abroad 101
Attend a webinar to learn the basics
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Advising Center
Visit with our advisers to get your questions answered
Global Learning Expo
Come to Breslin on October 3 to discover your options
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Social Media
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Everything you need to begin is at educationabroad.msu.edu
MSU Hockey Head Coach Adam Nightingale encourages the team during a game against Ohio State University at Schottenstein Center. State News file photo.
WELCOME HOME, SPARTANS!
We can’t wait to see you on campus this fall. There’s so much to get excited about!
Attending NSO and fall welcome events
Finding your Spartan community
Checking out the many student orgs
Visiting your Neighborhood Engagement Center
Meeting everyone at your first floor meeting
Whether you Live On or live of, dining on campus is better than ever. Our Silver, Gold and Platinum Plans include:
12 Combo-X-Changes every week
Unlimited daily CX uses
National and regional CX locations, including Starbucks, Panera, Strange Matter, Panda Express and more
Mobile ordering
Grab and Go
That’s a checklist for stress-free dining all semester long!
WE’RE HIRING SPARTANS!
ACROSS
5. What you might call your sister, also an information system.
7. This Netfix original’s third season released this summer.
9. Limited time MSU Dairy Store favor, featuring an orthopteran insect.
11. Color of one-touch emergency phones.
12. The frst D2L course completed as a student, and last step to fnishing enrollment, abbr.
13. “On the banks of the _____.”
14. Neon green album, also a badly behaved child.
16. This campus building received a Starbucks last semester.
19. Sabrina Carpenter’s frst No. 1 single.
DOWN
1. Name shared by an apartment, dorm and road.
2. Basketball student section.
3. In 2023, $1.28 _____ was brought into MSU from parking citations.
4. This magazine has MSU alumni, Haley Kluge, as its creative director.
6. ______ Tower, an iconic symbol of MSU.
8. This animal is the face of MSU’s social norms campaign.
10. New Grand River grocery store.
14. This building name refers to both business and art.
15. The student government of MSU.
17. This NYC sketch comedy show featured an MSU mishap.
18. Buses free for students.
Crossword by Zachary Balcoff.
Activate Your Spartan Student Bundle!
1Current Michigan State University (MSU) students who are enrolled in the 2024-25 academic year and open Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (Credit Union) Student Bundle between 6/1/24 and 10/31/24 will receive a $20 bonus in their Spartan Saver accounts. The bonus will be paid within 3 business days of account opening and verification of msu.edu student email address. A Spartan Student Bundle includes a Spartan Saver account, a checking account with a debit card, and downloading the Financial 4.0 app. The minimum balance required to open a Spartan Saver account is $5.00. The current savings account Annual Percentage Yield of 0.05% is a variable rate and may change at any time. Visit msufcu.org/students for complete details. 2The Spartan Student Bundle Scratch-Off Ticket Sweepstakes begins at midnight ET 8/15/24 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET 10/31/24. To enter, participant must be a member of the Credit Union and enrolled at Michigan State University (MSU) for the 2024-25 academic year and will receive ONE electronic scratch-off ticket when they activate a Spartan Student Bundle between 6/1/24 and 10/31/24. Only one electronic scratch-off ticket will be offered per participant. Prizes offered via the electronic scratch-off ticket vary but may include VISA Gift Cards, MSU sporting event tickets, Credit Union promotional items, and local business gifts. All electronic scratch-off tickets offer one prize per ticket. Winners will be notified both via their student email address and their electronic scratch-off ticket. Prizes can be redeemed at the MSU Union,
