Wednesday 1/14/15 by The State News

State News The

TransitionS photo: erin hampton

For freshmen, now is the time to reflect on their first semester away from home. Seniors are heading into the home stretch, with graduation just a few months away. Both freshmen and seniors reflect on their time as Spartans. See pages 6-7 ac t i v i s m

in memoriam

BSA activism to continue in spring Some students believe the administration isn’t responding to past protests — page 2 we dn e s day, Ja n ua ry 14, 2 01 5

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sports

Scholarships created for deceased sophomores

Travis Trice named Big Ten Player of the Week

— page 8

— page 11

The scholarships honor MSU students Maura Brandi and Carolena Elowsky, both 20, who died in early January

stat enews .com

The senior guard has been MSU’s best and most consistent shot creator so far this season

News

Olivia Dimmer and Simon Schuster Trends and issues editor Breaking news editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews

Activists on campus look to semester ahead By Kayman Whaley kwhaley@statenews.com

With spring semester starting, feelings of unrest continue to resonate with some students. The aftermath of student protests regarding the Michael Brown shooting and George Will’s commencement speech led some students to believe the university isn’t hearing them. Journalism senior Rashad Timmons said mobilization and activism have always propelled the social, political and academic atmosphere of universities. “With regards to the university not meeting student demands, the most honest response I can say to that, is that students will continue to mobilize and stand for what we believe and uphold restorative justice,” said Timmons, the president of the Black Student Alliance. This Thursday, students have a chance to be heard by one another. A town hall

meeting will be held to discuss students’ need to be able to better their university. The meeting will be 8-10 p.m. in A20 Wells Hall. Students will gather to discuss future plans, voice concerns and find possible solutions for all students on campus. Supply chain management sophomore Steve Cleaves-Jones Jr. is a member of the BSA and said this upcoming semester BSA plans to build a strong basis and a stronger bond with the entire student body. “We want to see that the university really cares about the black students on campus,” Cleaves-Jones said. “I want to feel like I can be in any environment and not looked at differently.” Third year law student Emily Gillingham said she believes students are hearing conflicting messages from administration on the sexual assault issue. READ MORE ONLINE AT STATENEWS.COM

Online Services

http://healtheguide.msu.edu/ Reliable health information. Formerly known as the Healthwise Knowledgebase, Health e-Guide is an on-line source of information to help you make better decisions about your health.

http://healthyemail.msu.edu/ Your questions deserve quality answers. Evidence based health information designed to improve your health knowledge and enhance your ability to discuss health concerns with your health care provider. For a sample of what Healthy E-Mail can offer, check out our edition on Exercise Benefits.

http://thinkingaboutdrinking.msu.edu/ Facts about alcohol use. Alcohol use is just one of many factors that can affect health status. This website uses evidence-based data and validated tools to help viewers decide if their use of alcohol may be impacting their health. Spend some time really paying attention to your own alcohol use, some time thinking about drinking.

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wednesday, January 1 4, 2 01 5

Protesters lie down in the middle of the road and block traffic Dec. 5, 2014. During the protest the group of students shut down Grand River Avenue in East Lansing by marching and laying down in the middle of the street in protest of police violence against black people. PHOTO: Erin Hampton

Contents

RELIGIOUS GUIDE

i ns i d e

How do the bookstores on campus compare? Check out the differences

A look at the changes MSU made to its sexual assault policy over break

The Union reported furniture stolen over several weeks last semester

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read more online

Look for this directory in the paper every Wednesday and online at: www.statenews.com/religious Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Rd., E. Lansing Between Hagadorn & Park Lake Rds. (517) 337-9703 Sunday Worship: 10am Sunday School: 9am Adult Bible Study: 9am ascensioneastlansing.org

Sophomore guard Aerial Powers looks to the basket as she dribbles the ball down the court past Nebraska guard Tear’a Laudermill on Thursday during the game at Breslin Center. Read more on page 10. PHOTO: erin hampton

21 da i ly N u m b e r

Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 898-3600 Sunday Worship: 8:45am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15am Sunday Evening: Small Group Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm www.greaterlansingcoc.org

KC Perlberg, ASMSU vice president for governmental affairs on the newly proposed federal college rating system. Read more on page 5.

Contact The State News (517) 432-3000 Newsroom/Corrections (517) 432-3070 feedback@statenews.com General Manager Marty Sturgeon (517) 432-3000 Advertising M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (517) 432-3010 advertising Managers Alex Hubert Kelsey Taber Colophon The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday through Friday during the academic year. Subscription rates: $5 per semester on campus; $125 a year, $75 for one fall or spring semester, $60 for summer semester by mail anywhere in the continental United States. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community. Additional copies $0.75 at the business office only. State News Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation. Its current 990 tax form is available for review upon request at 435 E. Grand River Ave. during business hours.

w e dne sday, January 14, 2015

Editor-in-chief Celeste Bott managing editor Anya Rath

Little Flock Christian Fellowship A Non-DenominationalEvagelical Church MSU Alumni Chapel (Basement Hall) Sunday Worship Service: 10am-12 Noon. Fellowship Lunch after the service

BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Simon Schuster TRENDS AND ISSUES EDITOR Olivia Dimmer SPORTS EDITOR Geoff Preston FEATURES EDITOR Casey Holland PHOTO EDITOR Erin Hampton

Okemos Community Church 4734 Okemos Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 (517) 349-4220 www.okemoscommunitychurch.org Sunday Worship: 10am Sunday School: 10am-11:15am Adult Studies: 9am & 11am

Peoples Church 200 W. Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-6264 www.peoples-evolution.org Sunday Worship: 10:30am Tuesday: Love Life: 7-9pm Wednesday: Dinner at 5:30pm, Journey at 6:30 Quan Am Buddhist Temple, MSU Meditation Center 1840 N. College Road Mason, MI 48854 (517) 853-1675 (517) 347-1655 www.quanamtemple.org 7-8:30pm Every Thursday Red Cedar Friends Meeting 1400 Turner St. Lansing, MI 48906 (517) 371-1047 redcedarfriends.org Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 10:30am River Terrace Church 1509 River Terrace Dr, East Lansing, MI (Across from Hubbard Hall) (517)-351-9059 riverterrace.org Sunday: 9 am & 11:15 am w/ Shuttle Service

St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C. Ave., E. Lansing (517) 337-9778 Sunday: 8am, 10am, 12pm, 5pm, 7pm www.stjohnmsu.org Trinity Church 3355 Dunckel Rd. Lansing, MI 48911 (517) 272-3820 Saturday: 6pm Sunday: 9:15 am, 11am http://trinitywired.com College/Young Adult Service Sundays at 11am in the Student Auditorium Unity Spiritual Renaissance 230 S. Holmes St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 484-2360 or (517) 505-1261 Sunday: 10:30am Wednesday: 6:30pm meditation Office: Monday-Thursday 9:30-12:00 University Baptist Church 4608 South Hagadorn Rd East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4144 www.ubcel.org 10 AM Worship service Balancing Your College Life Workshop: 5:00-7:30 PM University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-5193 universitychristianwired.com Sunday: 11:15 am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15 am University United Methodist Church MSU Wesley 1120 S. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-7030 universitychurchhome.org msuwesley.org Sunday: 10:30am 9:00am Garden Service in the summer TGIT: 8:00pm Thursdays Sept. - April WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbott Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 580-3744 www.msu.edu/~weisluth 6:00pm Saturday

Religious Organizations: Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory! Call 517-432-3010 today to speak with an Account Executive

Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St., E. Lansing (517) 332-1916 Friday Night Services: 6pm, Dinner: 7pm September - April Islamic Center of East Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4309 www.Lansingislam.com info@Lansingislam.com 1st Friday Prayer: 12:15 pm 2nd Friday Prayer: 1:45 pm

editorial staff (517) 432-3070 VOL . 105 | NO. 72

Faith Fellowship Baptist Church 1001 Dakin St. Lansing, MI 48912 517-853-9897 Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 10am Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study: 6:30pm Van service available to church Campus Bible Study: Thursday at 7:30pm in Chemistry Bldg. www.ffbc.us

Martin Luther Chapel 444 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-0778 martinlutherchapel.org Sunday: 10:30am & 7:00pm Wednesday ON FIRE : 7:09 pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring)

One Community-Lutheran (ELCA)/ Episcopal (TEC) Campus Ministry 1020 South Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-2559 www.facebook.com/onecommunitymsu First Baptist Wednesdays: On campus Church of Okemos Student Worship 7:00pm 4684 Marsh Road (at MSU Alumni Chapel) Okemos, MI 48864 Sundays: 8:30, 10:45am (at (517) 349-2830 University Lutheran Church) www.fbcokemos.org Worship Celebration - Sundays Sundays: 8:00, 10:00am (at All Saints Episcopal Church) at 10:45am

“The reasons people go to college are so varied ... that I am worried about a federal college rating system that tries to cover all the bases with one metric.”

Jersey number of Jasmine Lumpkin, who left the women’s basketball team for personal reasons.

Edgewood United Church, UCC 469 N. Hagadorn East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-8693 Sunday: 10am LGBTQ Celebrating, Justice and Peace Congregation www.edgewood.org

Weekly Bibly Studies & Students’ Meetings. littleflock.msu@gmail.com littleflock@hotmail.com www.littleflock.org

News

Local bookstores’ variation in prices a lesson to shop around Out of the three major bookstores on and near campus, book and supply pricing varies, giving students incentive to look for best prices Comparative School supply prices at each store

BOOKS BREAKDOWN A look at varying costs of common textbooks from local bookstores

10-pack bic pens: Collegeville Textbook Co. — $3.35 Student Book Store — $2.89 Spartan Bookstore — $3.99

$120

10-pack bic Mechanical Pencils:

Collegeville Textbook Company Student Book Store

$104

Collegeville Textbook Co. — $5.95 Student Book Store — $5.99 Spartan Bookstore — $7.59

Spartan Bookstore

$88

Stapler: Collegeville Textbook Co. — $9.95 Student Book Store — $8.99 Spartan Bookstore — $12.99

$72

By Andrew Merkle amerkle@statenews.com

$56

Every college student can relate to the burden of purchasing textbooks. For MSU students, there are three stores on campus to purchase textbooks that stick out: Student Book Store, Collegeville Textbook Company and Spartan Bookstore. Collegeville Textbook Company co-owner Adam Seyburn said that he feels what sets Collegeville apart is its guaranteed buyback program on select books. The guaranteed buyback program assures the customer that Collegeville will reimburse at least 50 percent of the purchase price for the book at the end of the semester. “Fifteen years ago, the on-campus store did a similar program on a very small number of books. We have the buyback program for 30 to 40 percent of books here.” Seyburn said. “We make a concerted effort to be as competitive as possible, and the buyback program helps.” Athletic training senior Yumi Babinec said she supports the buyback program. “It’s nice that they have a buyback system, but

$40

New

Used

MTH 114 textbook

Used

New

ISS 210 textbook graphic: emily jenks

with the high prices we pay for books, I just wish they could offer it on more books,” she said. Student Book Store, or SBS, is more of a onestop shop with a store full of MSU clothing and merchandise and an extensive selection of school supplies. Finance senior Nick Bageris does his shopping at SBS because of the large supply. “I go to SBS because usually even if I am late getting all my textbooks, they always seem to have the ones I need in stock,” Bageris said. “And if they don’t, they are usually very good about get-

ting my order in a timely manner.” Civil engineering sophomore J.T. Covington prefers Spartan Bookstore because of its convenient location on campus in the basement of the International Center. “I get my books here because I know where it is and it’s easy to get to,” Covington said. SBS and Spartan Bookstore offer their customers the option to rent textbooks instead of purchasing them at a discounted rate, though Collegeville does not. As for purchasing school supplies, each store has

its advantages and disadvantages. Collegeville boasts relatively lower book prices, but as a result of their buyback program, does not have a large amount of new textbooks. The amount of school supplies at the Spartan Bookstore and the SBS are comparable, but the Student Book Store has more competitive prices. Collegeville offers some of the lowest prices on supplies, but the selection is smaller than their competitors. Read up on tricks for buying textbooks on Page 9

New updates to sexual harassment policy MSU announced last month the university’s sexual harassment policy would be updated and more comprehensive. With the new policy comes slight changes to the MSU police department and training for students and faculty on how to deal with sexual harassment By AJ Moser amoser@statenews.com

As of Jan. 1, MSU’s Sexual Harassment Policy was replaced by an updated and more thorough Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct policy. This new policy comes while MSU is currently under several Title IX investigations by the U.S. Department of Education for potentially mishandling sexual assault accusations from students. Paulette Granberry Russell, the university’s Title IX coordinator and the director of the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives, known as I3, 4

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said the university’s new policy incorporates guidance directly from the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault. “It was important to make changes now,” Granberry Russell said. “Given recent guidance related to relationship violence and stalking that was included in the Violence Against Women Act.” Much of the emphasis of President Lou Anna K. Simon’s official release focused on clearly defining consent, sexual misconduct and relationship violence as well as making students aware of all the resources available to them when dealing with a sexual misconduct inci-

dent. Students, university employees or concerned friends are encouraged in the policy to contact MSU police or I3. I3 handles the potential violations of university policy, and acted quickly to implement the changes detailed in this new policy, Granberry Russell said. A recent investigation from I3 revealed that only 47 of the 174 student claims of sexual misconduct reported since August 2011 underwent formal investigation. From 2013 to 2014, only 21 of the 81 reports were formally investigated. Reasons for several of the cases going without investigation included lack of claimant participation or no

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jurisdiction in the matter. The recommendations to change the policy arrived in June of 2014, and the effects are now being seen on MSU’s campus. Simon’s release also stated that comprehensive training for students and employees will be announced sometime this spring. MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said the police are forming a special victims unit designed to help support students who may be going through domestic abuse, stalking or sexual assault. “The members of this unit are special-

ly trained to listen to and never blame the victim,” Taylor said. “We want victims to feel safe when they come to report an incident like this.” The specially trained employees will also do whatever it takes to make victims comfortable talking to police officers, including meeting them at any specified location or sending only a male or female officer if requested. Current training programs including the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Program and the Sexual Assault Response Team will be updated to reflect the changes of this new policy.

News

Work off the holiday weight at local gyms, yoga studios After a month-long break from class, get back into shape with the multiple workout spots in and around campus. Fitness options include IM facilties, hot yoga and standard gyms

Graduate student Sarah McCormick leads a Zumba class Tuesday in room 218 in IM-Sports Circle. She leads a class in McDonel Hall on Sundays as well. PHOTO: Allyson Telgenhof

By Meagan Beck mbeck@statenews.com

Powerhouse Gym For the new year, Powerhouse Gym is offering student and group discounts but did not disclose exact pricing. Amenities include personal training, cardiovascular training, weight training and classes such as Zumba and spinning. Communications senior Neil Vanderlaan said he used the gym all last year and plans the same for this year. He said he likes how inexpensive Powerhouse Gym is. “It’s like 20 bucks a month and it’s close and the location is good for where I live,” Vanderlaan said. This gym also offers diet and nutrition programs to help achieve the goal of a healthier lifestyle. Planet Fitness For $10 a month, students can have access to unlimited fitness training at their gym of choice. Upgrading to $19.99 per month gives the same features and unlimited use of other Planet Fitness locations and tanning. Wyatt Russ, a personal trainer at Planet Fitness, said working out is like getting an oil change on a car. “My mentality is if you have a

car your whole life, would you not take care of it your whole life?” Russ said. “You only have one body so if you do start working out, it is very healthy and you can drop the weight and put on muscle.” East Lansing Hot Yoga Crank up the heat and try practicing yoga in a room set at 100 degrees with high humidity to help de-stress and relax while also getting in shape. Students can drop into a class for $12 or pay anywhere from $55 for five classes to $108 for one month of unlimited classes at 924 Trowbridge Road. Bikram Yoga Capital Area New to yoga? This facility is offering one month of unlimited classes for new students for $49. Bikram’s classes help beginners see if they enjoy the activity or not and they recommend attending a few classes before committing to purchasing a package. Residence Hall Facilities For those who don’t want to travel far to exercise, many of the residence halls have centers available for students living in the designated hall and looking to get in shape.

MSU LiveOn also offers neighborhood group exercise classes from yoga and Zumba to tai chi and an aqua boot camp at the IM-Sports Circle pool. Intramural West and East Facilities Instead of working out in the residence halls, students can still work out on campus by purchasing a semester pass to the fitness centers on campus for $85 or a semester package for $125. A package includes access to the fitness centers, all group exercise classes and the outdoor pool. Students are also able to drop in to the fitness centers or classes daily for $3. Group exercises include activities such as Zumba, kickboxing

and yoga. Accounting junior Zachary Terwilliger said he likes to go to the facilities with a group of friends to play basketball or work out on his own. “I’m an early morning person so it’s nice the center’s open early,” Terwilliger said. “That’s the best time to do it because there’s no one there.”

ASMSU advocates for revisions to proposed federal college ratings Ray Wilbur rwilbur@statenews.com

ASMSU, MSU’s undergraduate student government, is seeking to provide feedback for President Barack Obama’s newly proposed federal college rating system. By 2018 President Obama plans to make higher education more affordable by holding colleges accountable for their performance, and basing how much financial aid that school receives on their “value.” That value will be based on criteria such as average tuition, loan debt, transfer rates, graduate earnings and more, including criteria suggested by the public. “The department will develop these ratings through public hearings around the country to gather the input of students and parents, state leaders, college presidents and others,” according to the White House website. ASMSU hopes to provide such feedback for the Department of Education on how colleges should be rated, and it is introducing legislation at the Association of Big Ten Students conference hosted by Northwestern University this weekend. If passed, the legislation would create a Big Ten committee to create a more comprehensive framework for how the Big Ten believes colleges should be rated by the government. “The reasons people go to college are so varied … that I am worried about a federal college rating system that tries to cover all the bases with one metric,” ASMSU Vice President for

Governmental Affairs KC Perlberg said. ASMSU believes that forming a committee to submit feedback is the only way to make sure their voices are heard by the federal government on this issue. “I am worried that this federal plan is going to continue the trend of placing the inherent value of a degree on metrics that have nothing to do with it, like how much money you make,” Perlberg said. ASMSU hopes to include specific Big Ten student issues in their framework for college ratings and also wants to make sure the size and structure of each college is taken into consideration when rating. “I think students and student governments know best how to judge the quality of their own education,” said Remington Moll, a fisheries and wildlife doctoral student. The Association of Big Ten Students conference this weekend will play a large role in whether or not a Big Ten committee is formed, which has an impact on the clout of ASMSU’s feedback. With the backing of the entire Big Ten, Perlberg believes they have a better chance of instituting change at a federal level. A statement from MSU shows its support for the new rating system. “MSU strongly believes in transparency and is hopeful the new ratings, similar to other nationally recognized ratings, will provide additional insight for students to help them choose the right school,” the statement read.

Spring 2015 Tax Refund Room 307 Student Services Building Last Day for Refund: January 26th

Student ID Required we d ne sday, January 1 4, 2 01 5

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Spotlight

A difference of four years: freshman and senior experiences We asked two freshmen to tell us about their first semesters at MSU and what they expect going forward. Then we asked two seniors to talk about their undergraduate experiences as they prepare to finish their last semester at MSU By Katie Winkler kwinkler@statenews.com

Coming to a university filled with more than 50,000 different faces can be overwhelming as a freshman. But many students take advantage of the chance to make long lasting relationships and build

Residential College in the Arts and Humanities freshman Shea Heid poses for a picture Tuesday in her dorm room.

Unpredictable experiences As a new Spartan, arts and humanities freshman Shea Heid has begun to make her dorm in Abbot Hall feel like home. By joining numerous student clubs, getting involved with hall government and being introduced to Chipotle’s burrito bowl, her ride has been “unpredictable.” Heid said being a freshman can be intimidating when trying to adjust to the workload and difficulty from classes. “You’re on your own, so it’s really important to manage your time and find out what works best for you,” Heid said. “Of course, you also want to have a social life and do well academically, so it’s finding that balance.” On Halloween night, Heid tried Chipotle for the first time. In a Mexican skull costume, Heid and her roommate sprinted down Grand River Avenue. “We were fighting the breeze

photo: alice kole

Commuter telecaster Meeting new people through her residence hall was not an option for media and information freshman Anna Young. This Spartan comes from a green and white family, with a mother who teaches at the university and cousin and siblings who have graduated as Spartan alumni. Young commutes from her parents’ home in Eaton Rapids, which is about 20 minutes from campus. Young joined MSU Telecasters her first semester, where she met most of her new friends. “I think the people here are really great,” Young said. “They are so welcoming — no matter where you are from, they just want to talk to you and do anything with you. I think it’s a really inclusive community, which is cool, since usually when you come to college you don’t know very many people.” 6

skills that set them apart from others in their chosen career fields. For freshmen, this new semester is a chance to reflect on their first months at MSU. For seniors, it’s time to look forward, with only one semester between them and the real world. Both new and veteran Spartans shared some of their favorite MSU memories with The State News.

Du r i ng t api ng of “ T he ShoW,” a sitcom from Telecasters, Young joined the rest of her cast and crew to a house off Grand River Avenue rented by four male students. The filming took place when the residents were gone, so it was a little strange, according to Young. “I just want as much experience as I can get before I try and get a career in media,” Young said. Being off campus when she isn’t in class or shooting for Telecasters, Young said she finds the social aspect difficult. “I’m from a really small town with the same people so it was really crazy to come to this place that I wasn’t used to and where I didn’t really know anybody,” Young said. “Just finding people to spend a lot of time with all time is hard because you meet so many people. It’s hard to have a close group of friends.”

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to get to Chipotle,” Heid said. “We wanted to enjoy the burritos back at the dorm so we cradled them in our arms and ran back to (Abbot Hall). It was this bundle of joy.” Having fun is only half the ride. Heid has already studied abroad in Ireland through a freshman seminar. “Hopefully I can minor in (Japanese) and take some courses as electives. I hope to study abroad again,” Heid said. “I hope to do a semester in Japan because I really enjoyed it. It’s more like a personal fulfillment.” From graduating high school and continuing on to MSU, Heid knows she made the right decision to be a Spartan. “Coming here, I just felt at home — it felt right. They just really have a world-class education, really great people, so many options and the people you are surrounded by are all spirited,” Heid said.

Media and information freshman Anna Young poses for a portrait Monday in the Communication Arts and Sciences Building. Young works as a producer for a sitcom called “The ShoW.” photo: kelsey feldpausch

Anya Rath Managing editor arath@statenews.com @thesnews

Community within a community As a new student coming in her sophomore year after completing her freshman year at Eastern Michigan University, senior Meghna Cheruvatath found her home away from home through student organizations. During the second half of her first year at MSU, Cheruvatath joined the Southern Asian–based sorority, Sigma Sigma Rho, and Orchesis Dance. “Orchesis is a modern dance group and the dance minors kind of run the whole program. When I did it, it was student choreography, so every piece was choreographed by a dance minor,” Cheruvatath said. “It was really cool to work with them and see their artistic vision being put into place.” When she was growing up, Cheruvatath didn’t interact with her Indian culture much, save for trips to the temple. “I guess I wasn’t really interested because there was no one else I knew doing it,” Cheruvatath said. “When I joined Sigma Sigma Rho, I was drawn to it because I thought these girls might be something like me or what I want to be.” This was where she connected with similar girls and began to interact with her culture. “I knew nothing (about Indian culture) — they taught me everything. I learned so much,” Cheruvatath said. “They made me want Bollywood movies, songs and learned a lot about my religion going through the year with them by holidays.” During her time in Sigma Sigma Rho, Cheruvatath was able to participate in philanthropy events for domestic violence, which hits close to home with many Indian families. “It’s a great way to meet people and it makes this huge campus feel a little bit smaller, that you’re a part of something smaller,” Cheruvatath said. Now that she’s achieved her goal of becoming more independent in college and being able to cook and take care of herself, Cheruvatath sets out for her next venture after graduation — to go to medical school. She said she hopes to become a pediatrician. Human biology senior Meghna Cheruvatath sits in her apartment on Monday at Cedar Village Apartments off of Bogue Street. She said that transferring to MSU was the best decision she ever made. photo: hannah levy

Rioting and revelry

Finance senior John Laciura poses for a photo on his couch Tuesday at his house on Stoddard Ave. photo: emily nagle

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Looking back on his college experience, it was witnessing the Cedar Village revelry after the Big Ten championship game last year that made the best story for finance senior John Laciura. “Michigan State is a big sports university and we all get rowdy for the games,” Laciura said. “I lived in Cedar Village, so I got to witness something I’ll never be able to witness again — a riot at MSU. To be fair, it was a friendly riot. But was crazy seeing all the cops and just the atmosphere was crazy.” Village Drive erupted with students carrying couches, who continued to set them on fire. Others circled around, which filled the streets of Cedar Village. East Lansing police surrounded the area, but had a hard time breaking up the large amount of rioting fans. “At one point there was three fires going on and all the streets were filled with people. In the end, there was a fire and probably like 24 cops marching in a line arresting people — everyone else scattered,” Laciura said. For this senior, his time at MSU is coming to a close and grown-up reality is settling in. Laciura looks to find a job in finance dealing with risk management and problem solving. “This semester I’m going to figure out my top five locations I want to live. Being at MSU, we are highly regarded so we can have pick a little bit,” Laciura said. “I’ll just research companies from there and find one that’s a good fit.” With only 10 weeks left before walking for graduation, his advice for newer students is to cherish their time on campus while they’re here. “For me, I was shy at the beginning, but you just have to start getting out of your shell. You make friends for life here,” Laciura said. “Don’t take anything for granted — it goes by fast.”

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Crossword

L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

Features

Casey Holland Features editor features@statenews.com @sn_features

MSU Dairy Store employee strums the work day away

ACROSS

1 Monday Night Football regular until 1983 7 Gobbled, as a turkey 10 Site with a “Buy It Now” option 14 Mecca’s peninsula 15 In the bath 16 “__ Rock” 17 Hires a new crew for 18 Styled after 19 Shot up 20 Confounded British illumination? 23 Jamaican genre 24 Walkway material 25 Meter or liter 29 Med. plan option 31 “Twin Peaks” co-creator David 34 White House maiden name between Pierce and Welch 37 Dr. J hairstyle 39 Lone Ranger and Tonto, e.g. 40 Confounded British posies? 43 First __ 44 Horner’s find 45 Have a strong desire (for) 46 Things to fulfill 48 It’s on the streets 50 Flanders river

51 Vinegar vessel 53 Dangerous snake 56 Confounded British residences? 62 Actor Bean of “Game of Thrones” 63 Aegean __ 64 Give one’s word 65 Stock options, e.g. 66 WWII intel agcy. 67 Look through partially open curtains, say 68 Round components 69 Vague degree 70 Flowed in circles

DOWN

1 Prep for a marathon, with “up” 2 N.L. Cy Young Award winner three years after Dwight 3 Nordic language 4 “Voice of Israel” author 5 Rory McIlroy’s milieu 6 Big name in vision correction 7 Like an excited puppy’s tail 8 Takes to task 9 Web business 10 San Francisco-to Teaneck interstate 11 Round servers

12 Iowa State city 13 Swerve from a course 21 “I’ll pass” 22 Clumsy sort 25 Citified 26 “Cross my heart” 27 “Bless my soul!” 28 Howe’er 30 Molten rock 32 Bend 33 Car wash employee,] at times 35 Excites 36 Wire thickness unit 38 “Kidnapped” author’s monogram 41 Most eccentric 42 Manner 47 Round components 49 Cloth remnant 52 HP competitor 54 Configure 55 Prepared for a shot 56 Texture 57 “I don’t mind eels / Except as meals / And the way they feels” poet 58 Previously driven, say 59 TomKat’s daughter 60 Lake at one end of the Niagara River 61 Final email step 62 Place for a pedi

Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO TUESDAY’S PUZZLE

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MSU human biology senior Tanner Trombley plays his guitar Saturday, during his shift at the MSU Dairy Store in the Union. “It wasn’t busy at all, that’s why I got my guitar out,” said Trombley. PHOTO: KELSEY FELDPAUSCH

Legacy of the two MSU students killed in a car crash will carry on Fundraisers have been established in honor of sophomores Carolena Elowsky and Maura Brandi. Both victims died in a car crash in early January By Erin Gray egray@statenews.com

Carolena Elowsky was an MSU sophomore who had plans to study abroad this year and pursue a master’s degree at Harvard University. Maura Brandi was a sophomore who had dreams of working in landscape architecture after graduation, all according to Nancy Gilbert, an MSU alumna and family friend of the Elowsky family. Hopes for reaching these goals ended when these two girls were killed in a weather-related car crash Jan. 2. The parents of Elowsky and Brandi wanted the girls’ legacies to continue on Earth, although Elowsky and Brandi are not here to accomplish this themselves. The solution was to create fundraisers in their names. “Carolena was an outstanding young lady,” said Carolena’s father, Grant Elowsky. “To honor Carolena’s memory, we have created The Carolena Elowsky MSU Scholarship Fund at Charlevoix State Bank with the thought of awarding monies every spring to deserving high school graduates intending to enroll at MSU.”

The Charlevoix State Bank account was activated by Carolena’s parents at the time of the funeral, so that family and friends could contribute to a fundraiser in her name. “(Elowsky’s parents) wanted to do something extra and they knew people would want to give,” Gilbert said. An additional fundraiser is set in Brandi’s name for the Charlevoix County Community Foundation, Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. The Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council focuses on preserving Northern Michigan’s lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands, according to the organization’s website. “The girls had some things that they were really endeared with,” Gilbert said. Brandi had a passion for Northern Michigan and the environment, according to Gilbert. Soon after the funeral, Gilbert set up an MSU development fund to merge with the Charlevoix State Bank account. She contacted MSU Alumni Association members across the U.S. to raise awareness of the tragedy and raise donations for this scholarship fund. “I think once you’re a Spartan, you’re always a Spartan and you

want to support those kinds of things,” Gilbert said. “You want to make sure individuals who are part of the alumni club know that there are available options to make donations.” Elowsky was a member of the MSU sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma. She was initiated last November. “I know they both were really involved with school and I think it is a great way to remember their legacy,” said Lisa White, president of Kappa Kappa Gamma at MSU. The campaign is striving to reach $50,000 for the MSU development fund, which is raising money for different aspects of life at the university. The campaign will host events to raise money for the charity during the springtime in Charlevoix, Gilbert said. T-shirts are available to buy through the Teespring website, and 100 percent of the proceeds will be given to the MSU development fund. As of Sunday, 88 shirts have been sold. “Their lives were lived full,” Gilbert said. “You live from the moment you wake up, until you hit the pillow at night.”

Opinion

Greg Monahan Opinion editor opinion@statenews.com @thesnewsopinion

Be smart when you’re buying your (expensive) textbooks

By Joseph Friess-Peters opinion@statenews.com

The first week of the semester conjures up a lot of thoughts, many of which are positive. However, nothing puts me off the semester quicker than seeing the price of my books and course packs. Some costs are unavoidable. For any class that requires doing homework online, I pretty much just grit my teeth and watch as my bank account shrinks. However, there are ways to lessen the blow. First and foremost, NEVER rent a book. Most rentals are only going to save you a few bucks, but you could easily save more by buying and then selling that same book (as long as you don’t sell it back to the bookstores). I like to sell my old books to Amazon. With the credit you get you can buy other books you need or almost anything else you could want.

One of the best things a professor can say this week is, “Our book isn’t required, but I would recommend you get it because x, y and z.” Sweet, no book for this class. Now I only have to buy the books that are required. Well, sort of. For the most part I only buy what is absolutely needed for a semester, and that isn’t always what is “required” for a class. According to one of my professors, some departments will require a book even if the professor has no intentions on using it. After making that $40 mistake I learned not to buy before I got a syllabus and schedule. After my first semester I also learned that just because a book is required and reading is assigned that doesn’t mean I will read it. That $150 mistake made me realize the value of the website Koofers. This fantastic site will give you reviews of classes and professors, letting you know beforehand if you need to purchase the book (or show up, for that matter). Also, Koofers sometimes has flashcards and practice tests that could come in handy for exams. Another good strategy is something everyone is already doing: make friends! Whether you get together to study or work on homework it isn’t necessary for every person to have a book. Just return the favor so you

don’t come off as a mooch. Picking up an extra coffee or taking notes for your new friend when they are sick is an easy way to say thanks. Once you have a few friends in your major it is also easy to swap books with them. After finishing physics I couldn’t have been happier knowing I’d never see that book again; saving money in the process was just icing on the cake. Some professors claim you want the shiny new edition, but oftentimes it is just as helpful to get a previous edition. Seriously, if you are in an intro-level math class do you really think there have been enough changes in the last year to warrant the $60 price difference? You’re only using the book for extra examples to work on, so why pay extra when you don’t have to? Even though they have a bad reputation, sometimes bookstores have pretty decent deals. If my other strategies don’t work, Collegeville Textbook Company on Grand River Avenue can be a good place to shop, but only if your book has a 50 percent price buyback sticker. Usually you’ll end up spending more money than you want to, but the more you save now the more you have to spend on something you’ll actually enjoy.

Do you equip your car with snow tires to help deal with slippery roads in the winter?

Opinion Po ll

81%—No need, my car can handle it. 19%—Of course! Safety first.

T u e s day ’ s r e s u lts

Total votes: 16 as of 4 p.m. Tuesday

mike holloway

we dn es day, Jan uary 1 4, 2 01 5

Why being ridiculously busy isn’t a bad thing

By Celeste Bott cbott@statenews.com

We’ve all heard the old cliche, “don’t bite off more than you can chew.” I understand the validity of that statement. I really do. But believe it or not, as a super senior graduating in May, I have the opposite advice. Our front page story today is centered around seniors and freshmen reflecting on their last semesters and first semesters at MSU, respectively. I fit in the former category, and going into my final semester as a Spartan, I can honestly say I don’t regret my tendency to be overwhelmed. I’m not saying you should take so many classes you can’t get decent grades, or load yourself with so many extracurriculars you barely have time to eat. But biting off just a little more than you can chew? It can actually be one of the best decisions you can make for yourself. I’m working on a double major with a minor, and I took a fifth year to make sure I could do that and still graduate with a decent GPA. It was tempting to only focus on one field of study in my time here — there would certainly be fewer assigned readings or papers to write — but I came here with diverse interests, and studying multiple subjects made sure my learning process never became stale. From November of my freshman year until now, I held down a job between classes and worked at least 30 hours a week. Besides ensuring I could have a social life and still pay my rent, it taught me the value of time and the value of a dollar. I was more inclined to take money seriously when I spent hours at Sparty’s brewing lattes to earn it. When it comes to friends and relationships, I’ve had a longstanding policy of rarely turning down invitations if I can help it. Did it sometimes mean trudging through the snow for a party when I would have rather stayed home in my pajamas? Sure. But now, I’m so glad I always showed up. In a matter of months, these people I adore could be living in different states and countries. I’m soaking up their company while I can. The job I hold now as editor-in-chief of The State News was not one I initially coveted. After four years of being busy from morning until night, the last thing I wanted was to be held responsible for a daily newspaper and a staff of more than 50 people. I thought I would give myself a break my final year of college. It would have been nice to always make it to Rama on Thursdays and to eat dinner before 9 p.m. But being really busy has so much value for the rest of your life. It gives you a killer work ethic. It makes you appreciate your money and treasure your free time. It helps you learn to juggle and manage responsibility. And those skills can not only help you as a college student, but as a real grown-up person with a spouse and kids and a mortgage payment someday. Please, don’t overload yourself to the point where you have a mental breakdown. But biting off a little more than you can chew isn’t the worst thing in the world. You have only a limited time to be a college student. So if you’re going to pick a cliche to live by during your time at MSU, use mine, and sleep when you’re dead. Celeste Bott is the editor-in-chief of The State News. Th e Stat e N e ws

Sports Women’s basketball looks to end five- game conference losing streak After starting strong with a ranking as high as No. 20 the Spartans are now 8-8 and in a unfamiliar territory of mediocrity, the women’s basketball team has yet to win a conference game this season. They will look to end their streak on Thursday vs. Illinois

Timeline

Remaining schedule Jan 15

Vs. Iowa 3 p.m.

Jan 1 8

Jan 22

Vs. Wisconsin 2 p.m.

Vs. Maryland 7 p.m. By Maya Sanches msanches@statenews.com

With the team’s loss against Northwestern on Sunday women’s basketball lost their fifth straight conference game. It’s a record the Spartan women’s basketball team is not too familiar with. At least not in the last decade. Holding the longest streak, MSU has won 10 or more Big Ten games in the last 12 seasons, with a record of 140-58, second only to Ohio State during that span. During that time MSU won conference titles in 2005, 2011 and 2014. MSU’s defeat against Northwestern on Sunday was not their first of the season. The then-ranked No. 20 Spartans had previously lost to the Wildcats, 61-57, earlier this season in their Big Ten opener Dec. 28. Nor t hwester n outscored t he defending conference champions in 10

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nearly every category, such as shot percentage and free throws. On Dec. 31, only three days later, MSU fell to Indiana in their first road Big Ten game, 70-51. The Spartans were outrebounded 49-34, although they came into the game ranked 10th nationally in rebound margin. The Spartans’ next two games came with career accomplishments and milestones, but no wins. Senior Becca Mills reached 1,000 career points with her first basket of the game against Michigan Jan. 4. She accumulated seven points, but it was not enough to top the Wolverines’ 74-65 win against MSU. Redshirt sophomore Aerial Powers scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds, leading the Spartans against rivals Michigan. Powers continued to lead the team when she put up a career-high 35 points in MSU’s 71-67 loss against

Nebraska on Jan. 8. Her performance ties her for second most points, behind Maxann Reese’s 41 points in 1999. She had seven 3-pointers and 11 rebounds. The team’s fifth Big Ten loss was against Northwestern once more. On Sunday, the Spartans fell 77-70 against the Wildcats, despite catching up and decreasing a 20-point deficit to only two points. Powers scored 24 points, once more topping everyone else in the team. Unless the team wins 10 of their 13 games left this season, MSU’s 12-year streak will be broken. They won four of the last five Big Ten championships, but with 13 games left, the Spartans might have to make some changes to make a comeback to the top. MSU will have a chance to break their five-game losing streak when they host Illinois Thursday at 7 p.m.

wedne s day, January 1 4, 2 01 5

Vs. Rutgers 2 p.m.

feb 25

feb 28

Big Ten Tournament play begins

At Penn State 7 p.m.

feb 16

feb 22

At Illinois 8 p.m.

Vs. Michigan 7 p.m.

feb 8

feb 11 Sophomore guard Tori Jankoska dribbles the ball down the court past Nebraska guard Brandi Jeffery Thursday, during the game at Breslin Center. photo: erin hampton

Vs. Indiana 7 p.m.

feb 2

feb 5

At Minnesota 3 p.m.

At Maryland 7 p.m.

Jan 25

Jan 28

At Ohio State 6:30 p.m.

Vs. Illinois 7 p.m.

At Purdue 2 p.m.

mar 4

= home game

Geoff Preston Sports editor sports@statenews.com @thesnews_sports

Travis Trice named Big Ten player of the week after strong games vs. Iowa and Northwestern By Omari Sankofa II osankofa@statenews.com

Senior guard Travis Trice has been MSU’s best, and perhaps most consistent, shot creator this season. On Monday, his efforts were acknowledged. For the second time this season, Trice has been named Big Ten Player of the Week. He averaged 21.5 points, seven assists, two steals and two rebounds against Iowa on the road last Thursday and Northwestern at Breslin Center Sunday. Trice led MSU to an 84-77 win over the Wildcats , posting his first career double-double with 18 points, 10 assists and three steals. The performance was timely, as junior guard Denzel Valentine and junior forward Matt Costello played through illness. Though he has dealt with illness this season as well, Trice looked healthy against Northwestern. “What is good for me to see tonight is where I said we had a couple guys look dead, Travis looked like he had a lot more energy left in him,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “A lot more quickness, got up on his jump shots, did some things. I think he is back 100 percent healthy

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from both the ankle and the illness.” Last Thursday, Trice helped spark MSU’s comeback win over Iowa, draining seven 3-pointers en route to a 25 point, four assist night. For the season, he is averaging 14.3 points, a Big Ten–leading 6.1 assists and tied for the lead in steals with 2.3 steals per game. “He’s been playing well,” senior forward Branden Dawson said. “I’ve been playing with Travis for a long time and he’s been great. He’s a senior, that’s what’s expected of him to do.” Now winners of three straight games, the Spartans will look to continue their run against No. 14 Maryland (15-2 overall, 3-1 Big Ten) in College Park Saturday. Izzo was underwhelmed by MSU’s performance against Northwestern and would like to see the Spartans turn it around. Another big performance from Trice can only help. “I was hoping to come up here and say a lot of good things and then get myself ready for a war at Maryland,” Izzo said after the Northwestern win. “Now I’m gonna say a lot of bad things and get myself ready for a war at Maryland. And to use Matt’s Duke personality, it was a good week. We won two games.”

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Employment

CHILDCARE AIDE. High school diploma or GED req. Must be 18yr+. Must be available 3-6 pm M-F. Send resume to: minnemjp@ haslett.k12.mi.us or apply in writing to Jean Minnema, Haslett Public Schools, Center for Community Education, 1590 Franklin St. Haslett, MI 48840.

HIRING SERVERS and cooks at Reno’s East Sports Bar. Apply in person, 1310 Abbot Road.

HIRING DIRECT Care Workers. Prior exp. w/ autism highly preferred. Apply at turningleafrehab. com

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DIRECT CARE worker. Assist children/adults w/ autism. all shifts avail. High school diploma/GED, reliable trans. & valid driver’s lic. req. Call 517-374-7670.

Senior guard Travis Trice breaks away from Northwestern center Jeremiah Kreisberg Sunday during the game at Breslin Center.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS. $15.50 base-appt. Flex sched. around classes. Great resume builder. 517333-1700. workforstudents. com LOCAL FIRM seeks snow plow operators. Mostly overnight hours. Wage based on experience. 517663-2040 PAY OFF your student loans!!!! StudySoup will pay you $300-500 per course to be an Elite Notetaker and post your class notes. 2 hours per week max. *Limited Positions Available. To learn more and apply check-out studysoup.com/apply/msu

Employment REHAB PROGRAM aid Excellent opportunity for PT, OT, or speech therapy qualified individual as part of in home team implementing behavioral and rehab treatment plans. Full or p/t avail, competitive wages. Contact cyndipotter@royalcarelink. com or 517-203-5807. The JNL Child Development Center in Okemos is looking for both full and part time support staff to work with children from 6 weeks through 5 years old. Qualified applicants must have a passion for working with young children, an energetic, positive and playful personality and be available to work some or all weeknights until 7pm. Please send resume to cmurphy@cclc.com and we will contact qualified applicants for an interview.

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Apts. For Rent 500 MICH Ave - Available now! New opening, 2 bdrm apt, all granite, washer/ dryer, brand new, negotiable. www.cronmgt.com or 517.351.1177 ACROSS FROM Campus Huge 2 bdrms for 2, 3 or 4 people. Three bdrm for 3 people, May & August 2015. Fitness center, pool, and more! 517-507-5570.

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Textbooks

ACROSS FROM MSU Great Studio,1, 2 & 4 bdrm apts, prime locations - The Avenue, Evergreen Point, 500 Michigan, Plymouth, Maplewood, Treehouse West & more! www.cronmgt.com or 517.351.1177

WINTER LEASE. Males seeking roommate. 1 bdrm in duplex. Near Hagadorn + GR area. Call Rick 586.306.3198

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AVAIL MAY or August! 1, 2 & 4 bdrm apts, behind Dublin, great location, very spacious, laundry, a/c & more! www.cronmgt.com or 517.351.1177 BERRYTREE APTS- Huge 1 & 2 Bdrms for May & August 2015. Perfect location for Vet & Med Students. 517-507-3841 or dtnmgt. com/brt NOT BIG on typical? Check out Woodside! Large one bdrms w/ cool layout in a quiet residential neighborhood. On CATA, minutes from downtown EL. Enjoy a balcony, dishwasher & microwave. Call 517-2331108.

Houses/Rent

Automotive

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CARS AT Auction Direct Pricing

ONE BDRM Linden/Grove Area until 5/11/15. Rent 500/ mo. For more info contact Jill 616-836-7950.

Exotic Supercars– Hybrids. Fill out our Vehicle Search Page @ SpartanCars. com.

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we dne s day, January 1 4, 2 01 5

CASH FOR cars! Call for a free quote, 248.480.0005 or go to our website: junkcarexperts.com

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News

MSU Culinary Services program ranks as No. 24 in the country out of more than 1,000 schools This niche.com ranking puts MSU Culinary Services among the top university dining services in Michigan By Maria Braganini feedback@statenews.com

MSU Culinary Services dining program ranks as No. 24 out of 1,175 colleges and four-year universities in the U.S., according to the annual release of 2015 Best Campus Food rankings by Niche.com. The rankings place Michigan State Culinary Services — a division of Residential and Hospitality Services — among the top university dining services in Michigan. The survey used data sourced from the Department of Education and more than 471,000 opinion-based survey responses from more than 64,000 current students and alumni. A breakdown of the judgment process included reasonable meal plan costs, students satis-

faction with the quality of campus food, a wide variety of healthy food options accommodating dietary preferences and hours of operation that are convenient to the average student, including late-night food options. MSU dining halls offer daily on-campus dining options beginning at 7 a.m. until midnight. Along with unlimited access to the dining halls with every meal plan, Combo-X-Change allows students with meal plans to access a single meal from any of the 21 on-campus Sparty’s convenience and coffee shops and get takeout from the dining halls or the Eat at State On-the-Go food truck, Monday through Friday. Finance sophomore Leondre Quallo doesn’t let a day go by without using his Combo-X-Change. “I use my Combo like a fourth meal around 11 p.m. every night,” he said.

The multiple cuisine options MSU offers caters to a variety of diets, students said. “I like the effort MSU makes to have different cuisines,” interdisciplinary studies in social science senior Shivani Pandya said. “The options make the cafeteria more diverse to different diets and to people who are sick of pizza and burgers.” Average meal plan cost reported by the college to the U.S. Department of Education account for 15 percent of the rankings, while the student survey responses collected by Niche users accounted for the remaining 85 percent. “I personally love the food options,” an MSU sophomore wrote on Niche.com. “Because of my class and work schedule being so tight, I often have to eat fast and run where I need to be. The dining halls on campus are all in great loca-

tions, so I can find food no matter where I am.” During the past five years, MSU has renovated seven on-campus dining halls, including the most recently remodeled The Edge at Akers Hall. To serve such a large and diverse campus community, Culinary Services employs more than 3,500 team members — 3,000 of which are students. “Our ranking reflects the university’s commitment to an excellent residential experience and the hard work and dedication of our team members,” Culinary Services Director Guy Procopio said in a statement. “We couldn’t nourish our Spartans without contributions made daily by all Culinary Services team members — from the front line to management — and all of MSU,” she also said in the statement.

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