Michigan State’s Independent Voice
“We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.” A look at how the Michigan State community commemorates Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy
Martin Luther King Jr. at Michigan State University in 1965. PHOTO COURTESY MSU ARCHIVES
CAM P US
M LK ED ITI O N
M LK ED ITI O N
Student’s ‘beauTIEful’ project supports refugees
Annual concert celebrates intersectionality
The ups and downs of being a minority student
The project engages underserved elementary school students, supports refugees and rallies the community
The jazz concert is part of MSU’s 40th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Celebration
‘There have been efforts toward inclusivity. ... But sometimes at MSU, you can’t help but feel like an outsider’
PAGES 4-5
PAGE 6
PAGE 8
T H U R S DAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
@THESNEWS
STAT E N EWS.COM
PA I D A DV E RT I S ME N T
MSU’s Board of Trustees has filed a motion to dismiss the cases of all the survivors of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse In it, the MSU Board writes that it is NOT liable for the sexual abuse suffered by Larry Nassar’s victims. Here are some quotes from MSU’s motion:
Ask the MSU board, is THIS accepting responsibility?
Merson Law, PLLC 150 East 58 Street, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10155 (212) 603-9100 th
This is an Attorney Advertisement. Advertisement provided by Jordan Merson, Esq. and Merson Law, PLLC
2
T HE STAT E N EWS
THU R SDAY, JA NUA RY 16 , 2020
Vol. 110 | No. 17
THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2020
JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH THE STATE NEWS SEND US YOUR STORIES Is something happening that you wish other readers knew about? Send us story ideas and news tips, we’d love to hear from you. Email us at feedback@ statenews.com
ASK US QUESTIONS What questions do you have about your community? What do you want to know about MSU and the city of East Lansing? Submit what you’re curious about — we want to find answers for you. Submit your questions at editorinchief@statenews. com
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
MSU alumnus Joe Matulis surfs on the flooded Red Cedar River on Jan. 15. He is the owner of Matuli LLC, a Michigan paddle board company. PHOTO BY ANNIE BARKER
The State News
FOR NEWS RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS FOLLOW US AT:
@thesnews
Send us a letter to the editor with your name, email and class year or university affiliation. Letters can be dropped off or mailed to The State News at 435 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823, or submitted online at statenews.com/page/submit-letter
@statenews
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison O’Connor
CONTACT THE STATE NEWS
MANAGING EDITOR Mila Murray
NEWSROOM/CORRECTIONS (517) 295-5149 feedback@statenews.com
COPY CHIEF Alan Hettinger CAMPUS EDITOR Evan Jones CITY EDITOR Haley Sinclair SPORTS EDITOR Chase Michaelson PHOTO EDITOR Annie Barker SOCIAL MEDIA & ENGAGEMENT EDITOR Wolfgang Ruth DESIGN Genna Barner Courtney McKown
(517) 295-1680
GENERAL MANAGER Christopher Richert ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m ADVERTISING DIRECTORS Shelby Zeigler Dylan VanVliet The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University on Thursdays during the academic year. News is updated seven days a week at statenews.com. 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. Copyright © 2020 State News Inc., East Lansing, Michigan
The State News
@thesnews
Michigan State’s Independent Voice
You don’t want to miss our weekly print issue! You can pick it up at any campus newsstand or check us out online at statenews.com
@thesnews
@thesnews
@statenews
FE E DBACK@STAT E N EWS.COM
The State News
T H U R S DAY, JA N UARY 1 6 , 2020
STATEN EWS.CO M
3
CAMP U S
Student’s ‘beauTIEful’ project with elementary students supports refugees By Wendy Guzman wguzman@statenews.com With floral-printed scarves and triangle decorated bow ties, business sophomore Bridgeen Shapton brings her self-started community service project, beauTIEful, to Michigan State and the greater Lansing area. She’s raising money for the Refugee Development Center, or RDC, in Lansing, an educational nonprofit that works with around 2,500 refugees and immigrants a year to help settle and succeed in the U.S. This project has groups of students participate in workshops to create artwork that Shapton uses as designs for scarves and bow ties to sell and raise money for the group. Shapton has partnered with textile company Printed Village Chicago, DreaMSU and the MSU Broad Art Lab for the second phase of her project.
CONNECTING WITH STUDENTS
For the first phase of her project, Shapton worked with students at Congress Elementary School in Grand Rapids, where she hosted workshops for the students to make artwork that she then used as patterns on scarves and bow ties to sell. The proceeds of these products went right back to the students who designed them and their
art department. “I decided I wanted to work with kids at an underserved elementary school to support their art program,” Shapton said. “I just thought it would be cool and awesome for the kids to see their artwork on as something that is meaningful or something that other people wanted.” The patterns created by the students of Congress Elementary were able to raise more than $1,200 for their art program. After her first success, Shapton took the opportunity to reinstate the project at MSU. “I found out about it once her application came through and then met with her to hear more about it and see how we could put on the event or project again in this area,” MSU Broad Art Museum Public Engagement Coordinator Britany Benson said.
CONNECTING WITH REFUGEES
Once she teamed up with the Art Lab, they were able to get in contact with the RDC about the project. “We have done a lot of work in partnership with several MSU projects,” Executive Director of the RDC Erika Brown-Binion said. “But this beautiful beauTIEful project came to us, really out of the blue, they found us as a local charity that they were interested in supporting because of their interest in refugees and immigrants.
JAZZ: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert
Attendees interact at the beauTIEful launch party held at the Broad Art Lab on Jan. 10. PHOTO BY TESSA OSBORNE
And so from initial planning sessions, we developed a program that would be appropriate with the goals of the project and with our students.” Students who attend the RDC’s programs were able to participate in the workshops. This collection features their artwork in eight different designs, she said. “I think one thing is that there is a large refugee population in the East Lansing and Lan-
“... her creativity and interest in giving back and serving the community is really powerful.” Erika Brown-Binion Refugee Development Center executive director
CAMPUS CENTER CINEMA NOW FEATURING
January 16 - 18 Maleficent 2
Countdown
Thurs (Wells Hall B119) Fri-Sun (Wells Hall B115) 7:00 PM & 9:10 PM
Thu (Wells Hall B117) Fri (Wells Hall B119) 7:05 PM & 9:00 PM
SUN., JAN. 19, 3:00 PM AND 7:00 PM FAIRCHILD THEATRE, MSU AUDITORIUM, FREE
MUSIC.MSU.EDU 517-353-5340
4
T HE STAT E NEWS
This event is part of the weeklong 40th Anniversary celebration January 18–24 coordinated by MSU’s Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. This year’s celebratory theme, “Still I Rise,” a poem by Maya Angelou, highlights women’s equal rights and achievements. The concert will feature MSU Jazz Orchestras, conducted by Michael Dease. Free admission. Ticket required, call or pick-up from the MSU College of Music main office. Unclaimed will call tickets will be released 10 minutes prior to the event.
THU R SDAY, JA NUA RY 16 , 2020
From lecture to the silver screen, come see a movie at Wells Hall with RHA this weekend!
www.rha.msu.ed u ccc@rha.msu.ed u 517-355-8285
CAMPU S
Business sophomore and creator of the beauTIEful Project Bridgeen Shapton speaks at the beauTIEful launch party held at the Broad Art Lab on Jan. 10. PHOTO BY TESSA OSBORNE
sing area. So I think it was a neat opportunity to highlight that and to talk about what resources there are in this community,” Britany Benson, the Broad's public engagement coordinator, said. The RDC opened in 2002 in response to the struggle of newcomers to become self-sufficient. “The common denominator in the gaps identified revolved around education, and hence, the mission of the center was born,” according to the RDC’s website. They have a number of resources for refugee and immigrant families in the area, including English classes, youth mentoring programs and after school tutoring. The students who participate in their programs were invited to take part in the beauTIEful workshops and contributed to eight designs for this collection. “We had several kids who were very interested in how the patterns could be put on designs and create actual articles of clothing,” Brown-Binion said. “So that was really a neat piece of it that we didn't expect to come out of it. Then you know, there's also a financial contribution that can come. … There's a lot of different ways that we all benefit.”
CREATING PRODUCTS
Before attending MSU, Shapton attended Loyola University Chicago, where she met with textile company Printed Village, who she was able to partner with once reinstating the project after transferring to MSU. “After working with her and learning about what their company does, and transferring to Michigan State, I applied to the Open Call at the MSU Art Lab,” Shapton said. MSU Broad’s Open Call platform invites people to share their creative ideas for new programs within the community. The Broad Art Lab then helps that person achieve their idea within the space. “We have a review committee that looks over the applications that we get to select one for every cycle,” Benson said. “And one thing that they really liked was that it was an MSU student, so it was connecting community and campus and getting to work with some local organizations, too, and the RDC was kind of a great way to connect different areas. I think (the Art Lab) helped her to reach a little bit of a different audience just because it was in a different city. And we had a little bit of a connection with the RDC.” In order to achieve the patterns, Shapton goes through the art and picks out parts she can manipulate through editing programs before sending the designs off to Printed Village’s production facility. Once she receives the items, she handles the packaging and shipping for customers.
“There is a large refugee population in the East Lansing and Lansing area. So I think it was a neat opportunity to highlight that and talk about what resources there are in this community.”
“ LIFE’S MOST PERSISTENT
AND URGENT QUESTION IS:
‘WHAT ARE YOU DOING
FOR OTHERS?’ ”
Britany Benson MSU Broad Art Museum public engagement director
CREATING GATEWAYS
Throughout the process of bringing this project to MSU, the partners said they have been able to form relationships with Shapton and have grown to appreciate she work she is putting in. “She’s wonderful to work with. Just very organized and creative and very thoughtful about the participants,” Brown-Binion said. “I think it's really important when we work with community partners that we engage in a way that is most meaningful for the participants, and they are the first people to think of in terms of how this project will work.” Her partners hope that the past iterations of this project will allow Shapton to continue giving back. “I understand it might be challenging for her to continue to do while she's in college, but I think it'd be neat if she's able to do it every once in a while,” Benson said. “It certainly is a great idea. And since she's able to sell the stuff online, too, it's neat that it can really spread and she can reach lots of people.” All of the products from this collection will be available for purchase on the beauTIEful website and all proceeds will go to the RDC. “I think her creativity and interest in giving back and serving the community is really powerful,” Brown-Binion said. Head to statenews.com or our YouTube channel for a behind-the-scenes video of the beauTIEful project’s launch party.
T HURSDAY, JA NUA RY 16, 2020
STAT E N EWS.COM
5
—
WE ARE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY
MSUFCU is dedicated to bettering the community through financial education, volunteerism, and charitable initiatives led by our employees. In 2019, our employees donated nearly $250,000 to our charity partners and volunteered over 3,500 hours in the communities we serve. Together, we are building dreams and supporting positive change in our community.
msufcu.org 517-333-2424
ML K ED I TI O N
Annual jazz concert celebrates women composers, Martin Luther King’s legacy By Wendy Guzman wguzman@statenews.com The preparation for the Michigan State College of Music’s annual Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert has been extensive, jazz studies senior Andre Crawford said. “For normal concerts, we don’t rehearse this much,” he said. “It’s completely different ... because we are in celebration of what Martin Luther King did for the black community.” The concert is only one of many events a part of MSU’s 40th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Celebration. “They approached me with the idea of doing a concert as a way of attracting more people to the MLK celebration,” Director of Jazz Studies Rodney Whitaker said. “This is a time to share with the community the hard work that the students have been doing, but also getting folks to reflect and think about what Dr. King did for our society,” According to the College of Music’s website, American poet, English Language and Literature professor at the University of Michigan and speaker A. Van Jordan will be a featured guest. This year’s events are inspired by Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” shedding light
on the accomplishments of those who have fought for women’s rights. This concert will focus on these achievements as well as celebrate women composers and musicians in jazz. Going along with this theme, the year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of women achieving the right to vote, as well as the 150th anniversary of the first female students to have enrolled at MSU, Whitaker said in a statement. “For us ... over the years there have been so many prominent folks from ... Geri Allen, to Mary Lou Williams — tons of women who really were major contributors at the voice of jazz,” Whitaker said. “And I think Dr. King was a forward thinker, he was always really sort of ahead of us ... He was focusing his shift in on women’s rights.” Jazz studies graduate student Jordyn Davis — who plays bass in the ensemble — was asked to speak at this concert. Davis graduated from MSU in May with a degree in composition and jazz studies, making her the first African American woman to receive a composition degree from MSU. She was also the first person to ever receive both of these degrees from MSU. “The first time I heard ‘Still I Rise,’ pretty
Jazz Orchestra II conducted by Micheal Dease at the MSU College of Music. PHOTO COURTESY OF MSU COLLEGE OF MUSIC
r
6
T HE STAT E N EWS
THU R SDAY, JA NUA RY 16 , 2020
ML K E DI T I ON
STAY INFORMED
The Martin Luther King Jr. art exhibit on March 27, 2018 at the Hannah Community Center Art Gallery. PHOTO BY ANNIE BARKER
“They come to celebrate Dr. King, but it’s also important for our students because they get exposed to people that they would never get to otherwise. Jazz was Dr. King’s favorite music.” Rodney Whitaker Director of Jazz Studies much instantly after, I just cried,” Davis said. “That poem really resonates with me a lot because as a woman, (I’m) trying to pursue all of these different avenues in music — (and music) is predominantly male.” Davis said she interprets the poem as a symbol of herself, and sees a narrative that represents someone like her rather than a “typical sophisticated man.”
The first time Davis attended the Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert was the first time she ever heard jazz music, and that is what drove her to pursue it. “As a black woman, and having the poem being written by a black woman — it’s not very often (that) we get to hear stories about our history or stories about our people in a way that’s empowering,” Davis said. Just like Davis, many in the jazz department find that the meaning behind this concert is to connect to the audience in a more personal way and to contribute to MLK’s commemoration through the power of music. “To me, it’s one of the most important performances we do all year because ... it attracts people from the community that don’t come to other things,” Whitaker said. “They come to celebrate Dr. King, but it’s also important for our students because they get exposed to people that they would never get to otherwise. Jazz was Dr. King’s favorite music.”
YOUR NEWS, YOUR VOICE, YOUR WAY
WWW.STATENEWS.COM The State News @thesnews
@thesnews
The State News
@statenews
LISTEN TO
THE STATE NEWS PODCASTS ON SOUNDCLOUD AND ON SPOTIFY
PROUD TO SUPPORT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY’S COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Office of the Associate Provost for Academic Services, Enrollment Management and Academic Initiatives Admissions
Financial Aid
Registrar
T H U R S DAY, JA N UA RY 1 6 , 2020
STATEN EWS.CO M
7
ML K ED I TI O N
COLUMN
Being a minority student at MSU
By SaMya Overall soverall@statenews.com Growing up, I went to a primarily black school district until my sophomore year of high school. Then, I transitioned to a primarily white high school and went on to attend a primarily white university. In high school, it was easier to forget you’re in the minority when you’ve surrounded yourself with “the majority.” I just didn’t feel like I was the odd one out. It could have been naivety, but it could have also been that high school seemed pretty black and white, literally. At MSU, it isn’t just black and white. It’s black, white, Asian, Mexican and more. So, it’s easier
to see that you have a racial group where you belong and that you don’t belong to “the majority.” There are positive elements to this. I realized that I had subconsciously begun to hide my “African American-ness” in high school. It wasn’t until I came to MSU that I began to take back my identity through talking about my natural hair, using slang words from my childhood (that didn’t necessarily line up with the slang from my old high school) and hanging out with people who looked like me. Recognizing that I am a minority student also helped me identify with other minorities. Given, every group’s and every individual’s experience is different, but being a minority at a predominantly white institution, or PWI, is an experience of its own, and African American students aren’t the only ones that understand this experience. I love that there are people from different backgrounds on campus. There’s no other way to prepare someone for the world where your boss, colleague or employee may look different from you. Some of the best conversations I’ve had in
college have been with students from a different background. However, there are also negative elements to this. Identifying with a particular racial group is one thing — a powerful thing — but feeling like an outsider because of this identity is another. I believe there have been efforts toward inclusivity. I see the “hate has no home here” signs, the “soulfood Sundays” at dining halls and the posters with people of all skin colors holding hands in perfect unity. But sometimes at MSU, you can’t help but feel like an outsider. It’s doing a project with a student that doesn’t look like you, taught by a professor who doesn’t talk like you, in a history course that doesn’t teach your history or your ancestors’ experiences unless you are in a special course. It’s having a class discussion, and when the topic of race comes up, specifically your race, the whole class looks to you because what would they know? But if you don’t know the answer, are you really even black? MSU has such a diverse group of people, but in my opinion, if we are all labeled “minorities” and
HELP INCREASE LITERACY IN OUR COMMUNITY SO OTHERS CAN ACHIEVE
“It’s doing a project with a student that doesn’t look like you, taught by a professor who doesn’t talk like you, in a history course that doesn’t teach your history or your ancestors’ experiences.” SaMya Overall State News reporter sent to our “respective groups,” is MSU really working toward a more inclusive university or are they working to more groups segregate within the university? Being an African American student — or any minority student at a PWI — is an amazing feat. I’m proud of myself and all of the other students in the same boat. But to truly become the inclusive university that I hope MSU wants to become, work still needs to be done.
ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE SPARTAN MEMORIES
THEIR DREAMS!
Volunteer or earn MSU credits tutoring children or adults
MSU Student Literacy Corps (517) 420- 1849 • literacy@msu.edu
AS PRINTS, MUGS, CALENDARS, AND MORE!
PHOTO REPRINT SERVICES REPRINTS.STATENEWS.COM
Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 8
T HE STAT E N EWS
THU R SDAY, JA NUA RY 16 , 2020
OR CLICK ON OUR PHOTOS TAB AT STATENEWS.COM
MLK EDITION
Column: It’s our responsibility to seek out forgotten history
By Lucas Day lday@statenews.com T he execut ion of Fred Hampton should be considered one of the most infamous and important moments in the history of our nation. A talented young, black l e a d e r, H a m p t o n h a d brokered peace deals between Chicago gangs and was seen as a great uniter of people. He was making his way up in the Black Panther Party before Chicago police broke into the Black Panther headquarters Dec. 4, 1969 and killed Hampton and another Panther, Mark Clark, according to The Nation. The ensuing attempted cover-up is even more s h o c k i n g. T h e p o l i c e claimed they called for three ceasefires, but a grand jury found that the Panthers fired a maximum of one shot, a shotgun blast at the ceiling fired by Clark after he had been shot in the heart. The same jury found police fired between 83 and 90 shots, according to The Nation. So why did I find out about all of this on Twitter? I used to have a history teacher who loved to use that Winston Churchillattributed quote: “Those who fail to learn from history are
condemned to repeat it.” I think that’s the attitude for a lot of history teachers about why they teach, so in a time of high racial tensions, shouldn’t more time be devoted to black history? One period of histor y that should be examined is the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s and 90s. The government portrayed crack as some sort of super drug that was making its users, who were mostly black, dangerous. “Crack was not nearly as instantly addictive or drive people as crazy as a lot of the politicians and the journalists would say,” said Clifford Broman, a Michigan State sociology professor who has studied race and addiction. T he crack epidemic damaged African American communities across the nation. The drug carried a 100-to-1 sentencing mandate compared to pure cocaine powder, which was more commonly used by white people. With this mandate, many black children grew up with parents behind bars and intergenerational wealth in black households was set back even further. Given the unfair policies put in place by mostly white politicians, it would make sense for steps to be taken to undo the harm. However, the general public’s ignorance to systemic racism that has been prevalent since the creation of this nation allows for harmful policy like this to be forgotten. “When people don’t really agree on one course of action, it can be really hard to change,” Broman said. “And
RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY Stay up to date at: www.statenews.com/religious
“The execution of Fred Hampton should be considered one of the most infamous and important moments in the history of our nation. ... So why did I find out about all of this on Twitter?”
All Saints Episcopal Church 800 Abbot Rd. (517) 351-7160 Sun. Worship: 8am, 10am, & 5pm Sunday School: 10am www.allsaints-el.org Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Road East Lansing (517) 337-9703 Sunday worship: 10:00am Sunday Bible study: 8:45am Thursday Bible study: 2:00pm www.ascensioneastlansing.org
Lucas Day State News reporter we don’t really have great agreement on whether there’s systemic racism and whether we need to do anything about it.” As more and more people acknowledge the existence of systemic racism, the conversation should shift to how to fix it. That’s the conversation we should have on a larger scale now. I le a r ne d ab out t he Federalist Papers at least four or five different times from elementary school to when I graduated. As historically important as those papers are, they have little bearing on what happens today. Blac k histor y is ver y relevant now as we as a nation sort out a way to level the playing field. The past needs to be considered, and the American people need to have all the information.
Crossway Multinational Church 4828 Hagadorn Rd. (Across from Fee Hall) (517) 917-0498 Sun: 10:00am crosswaymchurch.org Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. (Meet @ University Christian Church) (517) 898-3600 Sun: 8:45am Worship, 10am Bible Class Wed: 1pm, Small group bible study www.greaterlansing coc.org Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St. (517) 332-1916 Shabbat – Services@ 6pm / dinner @ 7, September–April www.msuhillel.org instagram: @msuhillel
The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd. (517) 351-4309 Friday Services: 12:15-12:45pm & 1:45-2:15pm For prayer times visit www.lansingislam.com/ Martin Luther Chapel Lutheran Student Center 444 Abbot Rd. (517) 332-0778 Sun: 10:30am & 7pm Wed: 7pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) www.martinluther chapel.org The People’s Church Multi-denominational 200 W Grand River Ave. (517)332-6074 Sun. Service: 10:30am with free lunch for students following worship ThePeoplesChurch.com Riverview Church- MSU Venue MSU Union Ballroom, 2nd Floor 49 Abbot Rd. (517) 694-3400 Sun. Worship: 11:30am-ish www.rivchurch.com St. Paul Lutheran Church (ELCA) Worship with us on Sundays at 10am 3383 E. Lake Lansing Rd 517-351-8541 www.stpaul-el.org officemanagerstpaul el@gmail.com
St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C Ave. (517) 337-9778 Sun: 8am, 10am, Noon, 5pm, 7pm M,W: 5:30pm T & Th: 8:45pm F: 12:15pm www.stjohnmsu.org University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd (517) 332-5193 Sun. Bible Study: 10am Sun. Worship: 11:15am www.universitychristianwired.com University Lutheran Church (ULC) “We’re open in every way” 1120 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Sun. Worship: 8:30am & 10:45am Fridays@Five: Dinner, discussion & fun 5pm Mon. Bible Study: 6:30pm @Wells Hall Quad www.ulcel.org Facebook: ULC and Campus Ministry University United Methodist Church 1120 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Main Service: Sun: 11am in the Sanctuary Additional Services: NEW contemporary service Sundays at 9am with band titled ‘REACH’ TGiT (Thank God its Thursday): Thur: 8pm in the Chapel of Apostles universitychurchhome.org office@eluumc.org WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbot Rd. (517) 580-3744 Sat: 6:30pm msu.edu/~welsluth
Religious Organizations: T HURSDAY, JA NUA RY 16, 2020
STATE N EWS.COM
9
Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory! Call (517)295-1680 to speak with an Account Executive today
SPORTS
‘An ultimate competitor’: Why freshman guard Moira Joiner is rare for MSU women’s basketball By Devin Anderson-Torrez dandersontorrez@statenews.com
three,” Merchant said. Focusing in on her recent string of games, Joiner has shown the type and caliber of a player she is and can be. “When you look at Mo, she’s an ultimate competitor, too. She hates to lose,” Merchant said after the Nebraska game on New Years Eve. “This last game really kind of got to her and she was not gonna have that happen today.” Merchant said she can always count on Joiner to play her heart out.
As a true freshman, Moira Joiner is a rare competitor — physically and mentally. Hailing from Saginaw's Heritage High, the guard has made a splash in her first year and coach Suzy Merchant has taken notice. “She competes, she’s (denying pass lanes), she gets on loose balls, she boxes her guy out, she knows the scouting report inside and out, she can be a one-two-
Freshman guard Moira Joiner (22) keeps a ball from going out of bounds during the game against Eastern Michigan Nov. 5, 2019 at the Breslin Center. PHOTO BY MATT SCHMUCKER
“We need that,” she said. “We need kids that are willing to lay it on the line like that, and it was great to see her also be able to be productive while she was doing it.” In her performance that day, Joiner dropped a career-high in both points and rebounds, scoring 13 points and adding six boards. Going into the Spartans’ matchup with Nebraska (112), they were on a three-game losing skid. Through the early minutes, Joiner seemed to be the only guard who wanted to show up offensively. The starting backcourt of senior Taryn McCutcheon and sophomore Nia Clouden combined for just one make from the field at the half. She was able to provide an outlet to score, while the All-American backcourt of McCutcheon and Clouden got a chance to heat up. During her breakout performance, she showed an affinity from beyond the three-point line, shooting 3-for-4. Through 16 games and 12 starts, Joiner has already earned the respect of her peers. Even the players around her already trust her to take the big shots. “She can definitely knock down those shots,” sophomore forward Tory Ozment said. “So when I saw those going up, I knew those shots were going in.” With 1:27 left in the first half, Joiner drilled a three. The shot brought the Spartans back within reach and the stagnant Breslin Center to their feet for the first time that night. She didn’t stop there. The Spartans held a one-point lead with four minutes left in the fourth quarter. Joiner drilled another three. Dagger. The three would start the run
WINTER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Many positions available, including: Winter Park Rangers & Rental Attendants
“She’s just been a kid I think you don’t usually find in a true freshman.” Suzy Merchant Women’s basketball coach that propelled the Spartans to an eight-point lead. Being a competitor means being a team player, and Joiner plays to win. “(It felt) good, I’m just glad things went our way today,” Joiner said. “I mean we played together. … You just have to be tough in the Big Ten, that’s the name of the game.” She created a team-high and personal-best five assists at archrival Michigan in the next game, making things happen in enemy territory — even when the basket eluded her. “Mo does a lot of things for us,” Ozment said. “She’s one of the players (who) is the hardest, she does the little things.” Since jumping onto the college scene against Nebraska, Joiner has impacted the game consistently. Against Penn State, Joiner set a new career-high with a 15-point outing. In the Spartans’ win against Wisconsin, Joiner hit two threes — one to give the Spartans the lead going into the half, and one as time expired in the third period. Joiner has set herself up for a large role moving forward. Merchant likes what the freshman has produced on court and Joiner has brought things to this Spartan team that can’t be coached. “Every kid is a little different,” Merchant said. “Mo Joiner has sort of earned a little more opportunity to mess up out there, because she competes so hard. She works so hard and she does it every day in practice.
ABOVE: The Spartans huddle on Nov. 5, 2019. PHOTO BY MATT SCHMUCKER BELOW: Freshman guard Moira Joiner (22) on Nov. 24, 2019. PHOTO BY LAUREN DEMAY
She’s the same every game.” When Merchant recruited the versatile five foot, 10 inch guard, she signed herself onto a four-year starter. Merchant found the needle in the haystack
with Joiner, and the freshman has produced ever since. “She’s just been a kid I think you don’t usually find in a true freshman,” Merchant said. “And she plays because of that.”
ASMSU TAX refund request
or Lake Lansing Parks
deadline to request: friday january 17, 2020
$11 per hour 517-676-2233 10
T HE STAT E N EWS
Apply online at http://pe.ingham.org THU R SDAY, JA NUA RY 16 , 2020
Stop by our office & contact us at: info@asmsu.msu.edu (517) 355-8266
Students who are registered as a full time student and paid The State News subscription fee for the current semester may receive a refund of that fee if they do not wish to support the student newspaper. Refunds will be paid during the first 10 days of classes at 435 E. Grand River. Proof of payment of the fee and a photo ID must be presented. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
S PORTS
Column: After the Spartans’ ‘biggest beating,’ road struggles could put them back to work By Jayna Bardahl jbardahl@statenews.com We’re halfway to the big dance and Michigan State men’s basketball just snapped an eightgame win streak at Purdue 71-42 Jan. 12. The Spartans recorded their lowest shooting performance of the season, 35.3%, and coach Tom Izzo called it the “biggest beating” he’s ever taken. Granted, Purdue was one of MSU’s first true road-tests in the Big Ten, but even at Northwestern — in an arena that was about two-thirds Spartan fans to start — Izzo’s squad barely scraped by. However, at home the Spartans have been looking better every game, winning
eight of their nine games at the Breslin Center. So what’s different about MSU on the road? Ironically, the Spartans’ biggest issue on the road is the same one Izzo has been preaching since the Champions Classic in November – turnovers. At Northwestern on Dec. 18, the Spartans faced one of the least-experienced teams in the conference. With an early 16-point lead thanks to one of their better shooting nights of the season, it sounded like a recipe for an easy Spartan win. However, when you hand 24 points to your opponent off of 16 turnovers, that win doesn’t come as easy as it should have. Sloppy ball-handling in this matchup allowed Northwestern to draw the game within four points with two minutes to go, forcing MSU to gather everything they had to bring the game home in the final seconds. At Purdue the story was similar. MSU committed 18 turnovers, its most all season, but
this time it wasn’t the points it handed over, it was the points it took away from itself by turning the ball over that hurt it the most. MSU put up 42 points at Mackey Arena, its lowest game total since Jan. 31, 2012, when it scored 41 in a loss at Illinois. The Spartans lost nearly every offensive opportunity they had due to turnovers and compounded it with an abysmal 12.5% mark from three. To put it simply, MSU could never find an answer for Purdue’s tight defense. Not even senior guard Cassius Winston could read Purdue’s strategy, going 0-for-5 from the three and 4-for-13 overall in an uncharacteristic performance for himself that Izzo categorized as “the worst game Cassius (Winston) and Xavier (Tillman) played.” Perhaps the only answer for the Spartans when shooting ability fails them is their 74.7% performance from the free throw line. However, in
PUBLIC NOTICE Date: Permit No.: Designated Site Name:
Guard Cassius Winston (5) peers through Purdue’s defense on Jan. 27, 2019 at Mackey Arena. PHOTO BY MATT ZUBIK
January 16, 2020 MI0059342 MSU MS4-Ingham
The Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Water Resources Division (WRD), proposes to reissue a permit to Michigan State University for the Michigan State University Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System in Ingham County, Michigan 48824. The applicant discharges storm water to surface waters of the state of Michigan. The draft permit includes the following modifications to the previously-issued permit: A Total Maximum Daily Load implementation plan is now required. Copies of the permit application, public notice, and draft permit may be obtained via the Internet at https://miwaters.deq.state.mi.us (select ‘Public Notice Search,’ enter the permit number or site name in the search field, and then click ‘Search’), or at the WRD's Lansing District Office located at 525 West Allegan Street, 1st Floor, South Tower, Lansing, MI 48933, telephone: 517-284-6651. Persons wishing to submit comments or request a public hearing should go to https://miwaters.deq.state.mi.us, select ‘Public Notice Search,’ search for this public notice, click ‘View,’ click ‘Add Comment,’ enter information into the fields, and then click ‘Submit.’ Inquiries should be directed to Jessica Stiles, Permits Section, WRD, EGLE, P.O. Box 30458, Lansing, Michigan 48909-7958; telephone: 517-284-5590; or e-mail: stilesj1@michigan.gov. Comments or objections to the draft permit received by February 15, 2020, will be considered in the final decision to issue the permit.
order to take advantage of this, they have to get to the line first, which proved difficult at Purdue as MSU only put up six free throws, all of which came in the second half. So the problem? That’s consistency in shooting, ability to read defense and ball handling. But should Spartan fans be worried? I don’t think so. Realistically, there was no way MSU was going to make it
through conference play without suffering a loss. That’s just college basketball, and maybe the Spartans needed this loss to put them back to work. Flash back to the beginning of the season when MSU suffered an early 3-2 record with an underwhelming performance against Duke and an upset against Virginia Tech. They used that energy to rip off
eight straight, which included a standout win against in-state rival Michigan. It seems like they’re in the same place right now, putting out arguably their worst performance of the season at Purdue. But, if there’s one thing to k now about Izzo-coached teams, it’s that they’ll use this loss as a motivator to prove themselves even more in the future.
Classified Your campus marketplace! statenews.com/classifieds TO PLACE AN AD …
DEADLINES
BY TELEPHONE (517) 295-1680 IN PERSON 435 E. Grand River Ave. BY E-MAIL advertising@statenews.com ONLINE www.statenews.com/classifieds OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
LINER ADS 2 p.m., 1 business day prior to publication (includes cancellations) CLASSIFIED DISPLAY 3 p.m., 3 class days prior to publication
NOTE TO READERS The State News screens ads for misleading or false claims but cannot guarantee any ad or claim. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.
Employment
Apts. For Rent
Houses/Rent
CHILDCARE AIDE. School year/ summer program. High school diploma/GED req. Must be 18 yr+. 6:45am-8:30am & 3pm-6pm. M-F. Send resume to minnemjp@haslett.k12.mi.us Community Education, 1590 Franklin Street, Haslett, MI 48840
NEWLY RENOVATED apartments-Grand River+MAC. Free heat+water! Email mmarcinko@ landmarkcres.com to receive detailed information.
4 Bdrm. house Lic. 4. AUG 2020. Right across from MSU $1900/ month www.gutowrentals.com call 517-749-4767.
FE E DBACK@STAT E N EWS.COM
T H U R S DAY, JA N UARY 1 6 , 2020
AUG 2020-2021 HOUSES. Lic. 3,4,5,6,7,8. Excellent Locations. Top Conditions. Extensive Updates. Call or Text: 517-4903082. STATEN EWS.CO M
11
ML K ED I TI O N
Martin Luther King Jr. Day events guide By SaMya Overall soverall@statenews.com
For the 40th anniversary of Michigan State’s commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Spartans can participate in a week-long campus celebration from Jan. 18 to Jan. 24. This year’s theme is “Still I Rise,” referencing the famous poem by Maya Angelou.
SATURDAY, JAN. 18
SUNDAY, JAN. 19
MONDAY, JAN. 20
The Residence Hall Association, or RHA, and the Women’s Advisory Committee for Support Staff, or WACSS, will sponsor a viewing of two MLK Commemorative Celebration Films — “On the Basis of Sex” and “Hidden Figures” — followed by a group discussion. The showings are at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Saturday through Monday in the Campus Center Cinema in Wells Hall. The event is free and open to students, faculty and staff with an MSU ID. Free popcorn will also be provided.
The College of Music’s Jazz Ensemble and the MSU Professors of Jazz will host and perform thier annual “Jazz: Spirituals, Prayer and Protest Concert” at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Fairchild Theatre. Tickets for the event are free, but must be obtained in Room 102 of the Music Building.
To celebrate MLK Day, the MSU community will be able to engage with audiovisual material about the civil rights movement in the MSU Library on the second floor in the west wing. This material, titled “Turn the light of truth upon them,” will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will continue to play through the remainder of the week between classes. The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of MidMichigan’s 35th Annual Holiday Luncheon will take place at 11 a.m. at the Lansing Center. The luncheon, where the theme is “There Comes
a Time Where Silence is Betrayal,” will commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Selma, Alabama marches as well as celebrating the life and legacy of King. The top 20 artists from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan Art Contest will also be honored at the luncheon. Artists created entries relevant to the luncheon’s theme along with a 250word narrative that connects the piece to social justice and inequity. Tickets for this event are $50 per person, and can be purchased at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center or Lansing City Hall.
Later that day, a commemorative march from the MSU Union to Beaumont Tower will be held at 3 p.m. to symbolize the fight for social justice, equity, civil and human rights. A community scholarship dinner at Hubbard Dining Hall with MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., senior advisor to the president Paulette Granberry Russell, vice presidents, deans and board members in attendance will follow. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. and students must register to attend.
TUESDAY, JAN. 21 The MSU IDEA Coordinators’ Committee and the Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives will hold a coffee and conversations event from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. to honor “the contributions of historically underrepresented professionals at MSU.” Invited guests include Vice President and Associate Provost for Student Affairs and Services Denise Maybank, Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions Coordinator Emily Sorroche and more.
FRIDAY, JAN. 24 The third-annual Social Justice Art Festival will be held in Snyder-Phillips Hall. The event is a way for students, faculty and other members of the community to convey social justice issues through art.
12
T HE STAT E N EWS
THU R SDAY, JA NUA RY 16 , 2020