Michigan State’s Independent Voice
During Black History Month, diversity and inclusion efforts at MSU are in full force STARTS ON PAGE 4
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Vol. 110 | No. 23
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2020 Protestors line the sidewalk at the East Lansing Police brutality protest in front of the East Lansing Police Station and 54B District Court on Feb. 23. PHOTO BY ANNIE BARKER
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Madison O’Connor
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SPOT L IG H T
LEFT: Members of the MSU Black Students’ Alliance paint the Rock on Farm Lane as a part of their Black Revolt Week on Feb. 19. PHOTO BY MATT ZUBIK ABOVE: Members of the MSU Black Students’ Alliance paint the Rock on Farm Lane as a part of their Black Revolt Week on Feb. 19. PHOTO BY MATT ZUBIK BELOW: Black Students’ Alliance President Sharron Reed-Davis on Aug. 28, 2019 at The Rock on Farm Lane. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO
‘We’re here’: Black women are making a difference on Michigan State’s campus By Jada Penn jpenn@statenews.com Efforts for diversity and inclusion at Michigan State are in full force by black women on campus during Black History Month. The Black Students’ Alliance, or BSA’s, ongoing fight against racism on campus is making an impact on the black community. BSA president Sharron Reed-Davis leads the organization and fosters change with the support of her black peers. “We are here as an advocate for black students on campus,” Reed-Davis said. “Historically, we were founded to fight for the rights of black students — because we didn’t have those.”
BLACK WOMEN IN STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The movement created by BSA that began in 1967 is still a dominant force in 2020. Campus-wide initiatives like a power rally in October 2019, community forums and recently a Black Revolt Week have amplified the voices of Reed-Davis, the organization and those affected by racist acts on campus. Last semester, a toilet paper noose was taped to the dorm room door of two black students and a survey distributed to the MSU community contained racist slurs. Earlier this semester, a display in the Wharton Center’s gift shop depicted current and historical black figures hanging from trees. BSA held a commemoration march at the end of Black Revolt Week themed “Still We Rise.” 4
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“We made it to the Hannah (Administration Building) and I’m so proud of us,” Reed-Davis said at the march. “I know being black at MSU, being a person of color at MSU, being a woman ... is very hard at this university — and this is for us. This university is for us. It wasn’t made for us, but we’re making it for us.” Reed-Davis said the events of Black Revolt Week were inspired by the Wharton Center incident. “We had a protest last semester, but when this happened on the eve of Black History Month ... we wanted to do something to say, ‘OK, this is it,” she said. “We’re here. Black students belong and we’re going to make sure that y’all know it.’” Reed-Davis said BSA serves as an umbrella organization for more than 120 other black organizations on campus. As a result of their efforts to create change on campus, BSA has succeeded in getting funding not only for its own organization, but for the organizations they represent as well. They also played a major role in the push for a free-standing multicultural building to be established at MSU, something Reed-Davis said they’ve been fighting for since at least 2011. Apparel and textile design senior Alyeea Turner and journalism sophomore Kennedy Walters said they are proud to be members of BSA. “BSA has really been very influential on campus, on the black community,” Turner said. “It creates a family environment for people to feel comfortable in, and to feel free to be themselves as a black
“OK, this is it. We’re here. Black students belong and we’re going to make sure that y’all know it.” Sharron Reed-Davis BSA President individual.” Walters said being a part of BSA has put her in a place where she can advocate for her community. “And also (to get) people to focus on what’s next and what can we do to be a part of history,” Walters said.
BLACK WOMEN IN THE MSU ADMINISTRATION
Chief diversity officer and senior advisor Paulette Granberry Russell said BSA should respond to what their community has faced at MSU in a healthy way. “The incidents that target them based on identity do not define them,” Russell said. Russell said her work is influenced by her understanding and appreciation of her roots. “I have to pay homage to my people and to my ancestors, and as a black woman raised by black women, I know nothing else,” Russell said. “That is how I am hard-wired.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
2020 SPRING
HOUSING GUIDE
H O USI N G G U I D E
H O USI N G G U I D E
H O USI N G G U I D E
Navigating East Lansing’s off-campus housing
A breakup letter to Hubbard Hall
Marrying to get out of a housing contract
Finding an apartment or house off campus can be complicated. Here are some tips for navigating it all
“‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ I wish I could tell you that was the case, but in reality, it is because of you”
How this State News reporter’s roommate nearly got married to switch from a dorm to an apartment
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H OU S I N G G U I DE
How to navigate East Lansing's off-campus housing By SaMya Overall soverall@statenews.com The complexity of off-campus leases can be confusing to students who think an apartment or house is the next logical step after living in the dorms. Students can feel pressured to sign their off-campus lease by November to avoid “missing out” on apartments. However, this fear is unnecessary, said Erik Maillard, assistant director of student life at Michigan State.
TAKE YOUR TIME
“There’s usually a big push by a lot of our (housing) vendors off-campus to get people signed up before October,” Maillard said. “My main thing is to make sure that students are shopping around and they understand that there is no shortage of apartment living. There may be a shortage of houses, but in terms of apartments, there are plenty of options out there.” Students often don’t realize the permanence of signing leases, said Suchitra Webster, the community liaison for off-campus housing. “I think people don’t realize sometimes that a lease is a legal binding document,” Webster said. “So we also have students who will find
something and then a few days later or a week later go, ‘You know, I don’t want to do that.’ They’re really disappointed to find out that it’s a legal document.”
READ THE LEASE
Leases can have wordy and confusing language, which can put students at risk of being ill-informed on what they are agreeing to. “The first thing I was surprised by was, for my apartment at least, there was an $800 security deposit,” human biology freshman Gabby Wilson said. “That kinda confused us because we didn’t know if we each had to pay $800, which is an extreme amount of money.” Wilson, who will live at Old Canton Apartments next school year, said even though she felt rushed by friends to sign her lease early, she consulted her parents and asked questions to ensure she understood the terms of her lease before signing it.
PLAN A BUDGET
Finances are another important aspect of leases that students sometimes fail to consider, Webster said. “I also encourage students to sit down and look at your finances and divide everything out by the 12 month period, unlike the nine-
month period,” Webster said. “That’s something people need to think about to make sure they are budgeting not only for meals but — if they are deciding they want to drive to campus — you might want to think about where you’re parking, are you going to have tickets, what’s that going to cost?”
roommates if you are going to live with roommates and that you know what you’re getting into before you get into it,” Wilson said. “Once you
sign a lease, you can’t really do much to get out of that lease, so just be cautious and prepare for all circumstances.”
USE AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Maillard said he encourages students to take advantage of the MSU housing fair and other resources on campus that are there to support them in their off-campus apartment search. “We do have free legal services for our students on campus,” Maillard said. “Student legal services are provided by (the Associated Students of Michigan State University) and (the Council of Graduate Students). It’s free fore students and one of the main things they work on is lease reviews and when students get their lease they should bring it into student legal services for a free consultation.” Above all, students should be mindful of what they are signing, and they should weigh all their options before deciding on an off-campus apartment. “Just make sure your parents are okay with it and that you have good
ILLUSTRATION BY HOPE ANN FLORES
What it’s like to live in suite-style dorms vs. quad-style dorms SUITE-STYLE: MCDONEL HALL
By Sara Tidwell stidwell@statenews.com Coming into my freshman year, I knew one thing: I did NOT want to live community-style because I did NOT want to have to share a bathroom with an entire floor of other girls. However, now that I’m finishing up my sophomore year and my two-year-too-long residency in the dorms, I realize it might have been a viable option to try living somewhere like North Neighborhood, and I wholeheartedly regret not taking the chance to house myself in halls like Landon or Yakeley. From cleaning horror stories to roommate feuds, my experiences in both Akers and McDonel Halls have truly been a trip and a half, but I wouldn’t trade the memories for anything.
QUAD-STYLE: AKERS HALL
When it came time to sign up for my first-year housing, East Neighborhood was the only corner of Michigan State’s campus that had availability — and wasn’t community-style, of course. I knew one of my roommates going in, thankfully. We had been online friends for roughly three years prior to being accepted to college and thought it be a good idea to take freshman year by storm together. The other two girls were blindly added to our space on the fifth floor. Move-in day was hot — it was more than 90 degrees outside — making it physically hard to breathe when we crammed my three roommates, myself, a cart and my five family members into the claustrophobic space that was our dorm. That was the day I took my first cold shower. The window in a quad-style bedroom is tiny, and a draft never reached above ground level, so I had to buy a clip-on fan for my bedrail.
A quad-style dorm room in Akers Hall. PHOTO BY JACK FALINSKI
The beds were lofted over a desk. Thankfully, I was blessed with my mom’s genes and I’m no more than 5 foot, 3 inches tall, meaning I didn’t have the same problem of hitting my head on the ceiling when sitting up in bed that my roommate had. The dressers were built into that same dividing wall and there were only six drawers between the two of us. We both owned way too many clothes to begin with. One thing everybody loved was the living room, which made for an extra hangout area. The bathrooms were contained within the dorm, making it easy to tell if it was occupied or not by whether the door was opened or closed, and you knew who exactly was around your towels and toothbrush. However, having three roommates in this
small of a surface area turned out to be a lot worse than I expected. You never got your own space. There was almost always somebody else in the dorm, making it hard to ever get alone time, as every reasonable person needs once in a while to survive in life. It also made for a lot of discomfort if you and one other person didn’t get along. Trust me, do your best to get along with everybody who lives with you, especially the person you’re living the closest with. Overall, my time with quad-style living was more personal than professional, but that’s a story for another day. Rating: 7/10
There was no hesitation in my mind when second-year housing sign-up came around — I knew I was staying in the dorms. Originally, I had picked South Neighborhood after hearing only good things from my dad who attended Michigan State in the early 1990s. However, that contract fell through and I found myself frantically signing up to live only feet away from my old building in McDonel Hall one week before registration closed with no idea who my roommate was. But it turned out to be one of the best choices I’ve ever made, hands down. Freshman year destroyed me mentally and I saw this as a fresh start. I returned to Spartan stomping grounds for my second year of adventure with more eagerness than imaginable — especially for living in the dorms again, while all of my friends had moved on to bigger and better apartment lifestyles. The difference of having only one roommate compared to three was like a breath of fresh air. The beds here can be lofted, or not, depending on if you bring extra furniture like a futon or television set. This allows for more adjustments and a special homey comfort, because you have more free will in designing your space. However, one problem I found was that, while my current roommate and I have built our own personal sisterhood, we do NOT get along with our suitemates at all, making for a passive-aggressive battle over the bathroom nearly every day, if not multiple times a day. If I had to sum the relationship up, I’d tell you our suitemates have never physically said a word to us, opting for sticky notes on the bathroom mirror and replying with thumbs-ups to my texts. Overall, my time with suite-style living has been a lot better than quad-style living. I feel like I have my bubble back and I’ve truly started to enjoy coming home again. Rating: 8/10
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Dear messy roommate: By SaMya Overall soverall@statenews.com
To my lovely but messy roommate, This isn’t a breakup letter. Really, it isn’t. But we need to talk about us. You’re an amazing person to have in my life. You’ve been a shoulder to cry on, a friend to laugh with and a partner in crime. I’ve learned to ignore most of your peculiar habits — sleeping with the fan on (you need the noise), procrastinating doing your homework (if it isn’t due tomorrow, you’ll do it tomorrow) and even your intolerance for my natural indifference (you need me to say something). But I can’t ignore the messiness anymore. It started subtly. It was a brush
left out here and there or a napkin that ever-so-slightly missed the waste bin. It was your desk overflowing with graded essays, opened envelopes and paper crumpled up in frustration. Then it became bigger. Your clothes started to take up more of the floor than the floor itself. The one napkin became two napkins, which became an abundance of napkins. Your desk and my desk were taken over by endless papers and you now have a designated corner of my desk for your stuff. I was angry and annoyed. How can someone allow their things to be everywhere and not be uncomfortable? Then I realized you probably felt the same way. How can someone need everything to be clean all the time? I understand I can be a “neat freak.” I understand I am always sweeping and rearranging and wiping and dusting, and it’s worse when I’m stressing. I’m not perfect, but I need you to meet me halfway. We don’t have to live in a crystal-clean room. But we shouldn’t have to live in a pigsty. There has to be a healthy medium. You can leave your brush out when you wake up late. You can
leave your shoes in the middle of the floor for me to trip over — I’m clumsy anyway. I don’t care about how your desk looks — that’s your space. In return, I will continue to constantly sweep the floor, but I’ll ease off the tweaking, fixing, sanitizing and dusting unless it’s my desk, aka my space. We are different. I find cleanliness comforting, but you find it abnormal. I find clutter stressful, but you find it homey. However, this difference doesn’t change our similarities. We still love yelling at President Fitzgerald Grant III from Scandal while enjoying our combos from Sparty’s. We enjoy racing to get ready before a party and rapidly trying to close the elevator to avoid sharing the elevator with people we don’t know. This isn’t my breakup letter to you, my messy roommate. It’s an offer to compromise on our natural differences.
All the love, SaMya Overall, your clean roommate
ILLUSTRATION BY DAENA FAUSTINO
A breakup letter to Hubbard Hall
By Elijah McKown emckown@statenews.com
Dear Hubbard Hall,
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I wish I could be writing this letter under better circumstances. The old cliché is, “It’s not you, it’s me.” I wish I could tell you that was the case, but in reality, it is because of you. When I first wrote about you, we were simply in the infatuation stage of our relationship. I was young, immature and unaware of what I wanted. I thought what I wanted was the traditional dorm experience, but you quickly made me realize there are better fish in the sea. I won’t lie to you — distance was a problem. The long walks from work and class every day over the recent weeks have become too much. I thought, as a former long-distance runner, the walks would be a breeze. But as the days got colder, and the assignments got bigger, it has become too much. I know you cannot help where you
were built, I don’t blame you for it, but it is something I can no longer deal with. Despite my own issues, I want to be honest with you and your faults, because I think you deserve the chance to improve upon yourself. First off, who designed you? Not in terms of architecture, but rather the interior. The 11th floor hallway starts off with a light teal, then a puke green, then pink? To say the least, your choice of wardrobe throughout our relationship was highly questionable. Also, I have never have been on a sketchier elevator ride in my entire life. Every time I got on, I honestly feared for my life. Not just because of the weird creaks and moans your elevators would make or even the crazy amount of people I have seen get stuck inside, but because of the things that would occur inside of them. Walking into a fresh pile of vomit in the corner, Sparty’s chicken tenders scattered across the floor and, for whatever reason, a Supreme sticker stuck to the ceiling, quite honestly made me feel like I might catch a newly-developed plague. Lastly, the water you provided me with was, frankly, not even usable. I used a water filter at the beginning, but after testing the pH levels with the toll that was provided, I realized that putting that liquid into my body was not a healthy practice. However, one thing I will
miss is your Sparty’s. The ease of access to hot food and my combo that comes with our relationship will be a big loss for me. Also, I will still forever cherish our moments together down in the basement studying. You provided me a comfort level that I’m not sure any other building could have provided better during my freshman year. Throughout all of this, I do hope that one day we can still be friends. I hope that I can come back and you can make me those delicious chicken tenders that got me through finals. Or maybe I can even head on down to the basement to study, just like the good old days. I hope by then, you clean up the puke in your third elevator and make yourself a better residence hall. When my friends try to tear you down and make it seem like you meant nothing to me, I will defend you through thick and thin. Not because some of the rumors about you might not be true, but because you will always hold a special place in my heart. You were my training wheels, you made my freshman experience a fun one, and I cannot thank you enough for that. If there is one thing I ask of you Hubb-Nasty, just always remain true to yourself.
Your friend now and always, Elijah McKown
H OU S I N G G U I DE
Dear clean roommate: By Karly Graham kgraham@statenews.com
Dear clean roommate, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I struggle to keep my side of the room clean while you maintain the motivation each morning to nicely make your bed with one swift fold. I’m sorry I have a heap of papers and makeup palettes piled on top of my desk — I’ve expressed this before, but flat surfaces will always be my kryptonite. I don’t know where I’d be without you. Probably living surrounded by piles of my dirty clothes. I respect that you’re a clean person, because I don’t have the energy to be one. I try my best, and believe it or not, what you see is better than what others have seen.
But wow, I’m sorry. You’ve seen the worst sides of me throughout our time living together. But despite all of that, we continue to have a good time. When I spent days on my futon after experiencing a terrible illness, you let me keep my crackers and Gatorade next to me on the ground because they were easier for me to reach than in the snack bin located directly next to the tragically uncomfortable piece of dorm furniture. When we became the designated hostesses for our friend group’s gatherings, you don’t bat an eye when we walk to the community bathroom to wash the pop residue out of the bottom of the cups used the night before. I think you’re awesome. I commend your innate ability to determine the best organizational systems for our belongings to exist in a shared space. I think it is safe to say we are the Command Hook queens of Shaw Hall, and quite frankly, there is nobody else with whom I would like to rule with an iron fist. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is much we can do to save myself from returning to my messy habits.
THE GATES 500 Michigan Ave East Lansing, MI
I will continue to let my laundry fill up my hamper in the closet and I will continue to leave a collection of water bottles up on the shelves near my bed. I’m not proud. I can almost guarantee my grandparents — who made it a weekly routine to check the cleanliness of my room before treating me to lunch — are rolling in their graves. For each folded blanket and trip to get a vacuum, I appreciate your patience with me and the messes I create. I think it is very fitting that I — a person who typically does not have my life together — create messes, and you — a person who will not stand for less than they want — clean them up. My dear clean roommate, you have been my rock. Thank you for that. But mostly, thanks for agreeing to do it all again next year.
With endless love, Karly Graham, your messy roommate
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Column: How my roommate almost got married to get out of a housing contract By Wendy Guzman wguzman@statenews. com As I was getting ready to finish my freshman year of college and looking forward to my housing situation for my sophomore year, how my roommate and I ended up preparing to live in a dorm for a second year is quite the story. My original plan was always to live in the dorms for two years. I didn’t really feel the need to live off campus right away. I don’t have a car — or a license, but that’s a different story — and I wasn’t really sure if I could even afford an apartment, so I didn’t mind the idea of dorms for two years. My roommate Rane and I met through one of those roommate search websites and were incredibly lucky we found each other. We hang out more than most roommates I know and get along almost freakishly well. When it came to figuring out where we were going to live our sophomore year, we were both okay with the idea of living in the dorms again. So one night in early December, we impulsively signed up to live next door to each other in Mason Hall in North Neighborhood. We both loved North campus and honestly regretted not trying to live there this year, so we
thought living in Mason Hall would be a good idea. I would be close to The State News and most of Rane’s classes would be nearby. We were excited and confident in our decision. Once we got back to school after winter break, Rane’s boyfriend of four years, Jacoby, told us he was transferring to MSU in the fall. Out of curiosity, Rane decided to research apartments nearby for three people – her, Jacoby and me. As Rane fell into the wormhole of apartment hunting online, she managed to find one that was not bad at all. It was starting to sound like a pretty good idea. I love both Rane and Jacoby — who visits so often he is basically already a third roommate — so I wouldn’t mind living with them. I’d get my own room, and the price was not bad at all. After a few phone calls with our parents and various landlords, we decided. We were getting an apartment. Rane scheduled a tour of a place at the end of the week, so all we had to do was cancel the dorms we signed up for. That’s when we realized we couldn’t. MSU only gives a 14-day cancellation period, which we weren’t aware of. Once those 14 days pass, you’re sucked in, unless you’re willing to pay for 60% of the room and board price for a dorm you aren’t living in. Not ideal. I’d like to think of myself as a “master researcher” and “impeccable problem solver,” so
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I made it my mission to solve our dilemma and get us out of our housing contracts. I sent emails to a ton of housing officials and found documents on the appeal process. Basically, the only way we could get out of our contracts was if we had a legitimate reason supported by legal documents. That sounded absolutely terrible. The only part of the release application that didn’t seem to require any follow-up was the marriage section. Now if you’re thinking, “They’re not going to … ” Yes. That is exactly what is happening here. Rane knows a lot about legal matters and was able to figure out enough convincing evidence to possibly get my contract released, but when it came to her, there weren’t many options. So we thought she and Jacoby should get married! This sounds stupid. It was stupid. It is stupid. But I mean, why not? They’d been dating for four years so no one would think it was suspicious, it would get her out of the contract and we could all live happily in our little apartment. We could make each other breakfast every morning, host get-togethers with our friends and maybe get a dog or a cat or something. How cute would that be? We called Jacoby, who was completely down. Then we called Rane’s mom, who might win the award of most chill mom ever, seeing as she did not seem to care one tiny bit. If they broke up, we figured they could always get an annulment, because how hard could that be, right? It was a done deal. They were getting hitched. All they needed were their marriage licenses and then we had to call the Ingham County Clerk’s office to see when we could schedule a courthouse marriage. This was early in the week and they do weddings on Thursdays, so we were going to apply for the licenses, have the wedding on Thursday, then go tour our potential apartment on Friday. We gathered the witnesses. I got Jacoby to agree to wear a veil, since Rane refused to wear anything aside from sweatpants. But the wedding didn’t go through. You could have assumed this would be the outcome, but I swear for a period of about three days we were 100% set on this happening. I think as the week went on, we realized this would end up being more work than we thought. Also, if this did get Rane out of her contract, we had no idea if I would be able to get out of mine. Then, they’d be married for nothing. We ultimately had to think back to the reason why we decided to get a dorm in the first place. We picked a super convenient place for us to live on such a beautiful part of campus. There was clearly a reason why we at one point were set on it. So who cares if no one got married — which I’m still sad about because I wanted to be a bridesmaid — and we’re stuck in the dorms for two years? MSU has such a beautiful campus that we get to live on again, and I’d like to think it’s at least kind of socially acceptable to live there for a second year. So, who cares? Here’s to round two!
Best places to grocery shop in EL By Emily Bevard ebevard@statenews.com Living in East Lansing, whether on campus at Michigan State or off campus in one of many residential offerings, residents find themselves within the center of a business-heavy town. Residents are driven to find the best possible place to purchase groceries in order to meet their needs. With a bus system connecting campus to the local Meijer and Kroger and a small-format Target that opened downtown in July, there is an array of options available within reach. Marketing senior Shankho Bhattacharjee, who lives off campus, said he prefers shopping at Meijer because it offers two locations in the area with decent selections and free parking, as opposed to the East Lansing Target. “I would much rather prefer to have decent local grocery stores if I want something,” Bhattacharjee said. For other students, the simplest option appears to be the one that is the cheapest and most readily accessible. Political science freshman Riley Marino, who lives in North Neighborhood, said she buys her groceries from Target because of its accessibility. “It’s super close to where I live and has pretty much everything that I need to get,” Marino said. According to a study reported on by MSU Extension, the average American shopper spends an average of $113 per week on groceries. In a survey of 1,952 adults, Mintel Group Ltd. indicated individuals were more likely to shop at Walmart, supermarkets and club stores, with a reported rate of 19% or more. Sixteen percent shopped more often at dollar stores and natural or organic stores, and 15% at Target, farmer’s markets or online retail offerings. With new apartments like Landmark and The Hub opening downtown this fall, residents find themselves in close reach to the businesses the area has to offer. Located above the downtown Target, Landmark provides easy access for its occupants to purchase groceries from the selections offered. With this, some residents still feel the need to seek out additional stores, with the small-format Target being limited in its selection. “Sometimes I go to Whole Foods, but that’s when I have the money and I want to be healthy,” business-preference freshman Kelly Bai said. On campus, MSU provides students with a variety of Sparty’s convenience stores, where students can purchase simple non-perishable goods and a select variety of frozen or grill offerings. At the 1855 Place apartments, Sparty’s Market provides students with an urban market-style grocery store, featuring a variety of dry grocery goods, deli items, select produce, prepared foods and grilled items. For those in need, MSU offers a student food bank, with the goal of providing supplemental support to cut students’ grocery bills in at least half. The food bank is located within Olin Health Center, operating every Wednesday of the fall and spring semesters. Items offered at each distribution include fruits, vegetables, soups, pasta or rice, proteins and cereal. Additionally, they provide fresh produce, bread and MSU Dairy Store cheese at a majority of distributions.
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Your guide to living in North Neighborhood By Dina Kaur dkaur@statenews.com If you’re into Harry Potter-esque vibes, a tight-knit community and the convenience of being right next to Grand River, then Michigan State’s North Neighborhood is the place for you. If community bathrooms aren’t your thing and you want to live in a newer building, then look elsewhere. Most of the halls look relatively the same from the outside, but the difference comes from the little details within.
Williams Hall on March 25, 2019. PHOTO BY MATT ZUBIK
SNYDER-PHILLIPS HALL
WILLIAMS HALL
Snyder-Phillips, also known as Sny-Phi, has one of the most convenient locations. It’s an easy 13-minute walk from the center of campus and especially Wells Hall, where you’re bound to have at least one class. The Gallery at Snyder-Phillips is arguably one of the top eating locations on campus. It has some of the best pizza at MSU and a solid late night menu. If you are a part of the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities, then Sny-Phi has a living-learning option for you. This is convenient as some of your classes might be held right in your dorm. “The dining hall is great and the Sparty's is really nice,” Psychology sophomore Natalie Mannino said. “The ceilings are taller than rooms in South or East Neighborhood and they’re not cinder block, so it doesn’t feel like you’re in a prison cell. Due to having one of the best dining halls on campus, Sny-Phi can get a little crowded. If you're not a big fan of noise, look somewhere else. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prime times where it might be difficult to find a seat in your own dining hall. “The Wi-Fi is bad, it’s not the best Wi-Fi here,” interdisciplinary studies sophomore Stephen Kurt said. “With community-style bathrooms, somehow they clean them at the right time in the morning when you’re going to take a shower.”
MASON-ABBOT HALLS
Mason-Abbot sits across from Sny-Phi. It tends to house a good amount of freshmen, so as a first year student, it is easier to make friends with the people on your floor. Floors are separated by gender, which could either be a pro or a con. Mason offers an Honors College living-learning option. There is also a printer located in both buildings, which is helpful. “It is surprisingly closer to everything than people say it is,” marketing freshman Marina Ackerman said. “It’s only about 15 minutes to (Spartan Stadium), which is central campus area I’d say.” The older architecture might not be everyone’s thing, which
Mayo Hall, photographed on Feb. 24. PHOTO BY MATT ZUBIK
is understandable. With older buildings comes the possibility of heater malfunction. Some of the upper floors tend to get on the hotter side during the warmer months. Ackerman said there is only one big con to living in Mason-Abbot. “There isn’t a Sparty's or dining hall in here, but it is really close.”
CAMPBELL HALL
If you decide to live in Campbell Hall, one of the major pros is that you are right by the Union. The Union has the MSU Dairy Store, the University Activities Board and more. The Union late night options offer a variety of different foods such as tenders, tacos and Mediterranean food. Campbell’s study lounge has tall glass windows, and is fairly quiet and spacious. “The building has a lot of character as a lot of the ones in North Neighborhood do,” psychology freshman Erin Kane said. “The location of Campbell ... I think it's perfect.” Kane said she thinks Campbell wouldn’t be so convenient if you were to major in something different. “If I was an engineering major, I would probably be better in South Neighborhood since that’s where those classes are,” Kane said. “Sometimes it can be a little bit loud being right across the street from all the bars and Grand River, but I love it here.”
LANDON HALL
Landon is also fairly close to the Union. What’s even better is that there is a dining hall right inside, Heritage Commons. Heritage Commons stays true to North Neighborhood aesthetics inside and out. Having a dining hall in your building is super convenient for those freezing days when everyone else has to trudge in the snow to the closest dining hall. Landon also has had some re-
cent renovations and includes music practice rooms. “I’d say you live at a cafe, and it’s a good cafe,” computer science sophomore Sam Walls said. Heritage Commons is a bit on the smaller side and doesn’t have much seating, thus it fills up really quickly during prime eating times. Having the same food over and over can also get old fast. Walls said he believes the biggest issue is the community bathrooms. They can be a struggle to get used to at first, and wearing shower shoes gets old.
MAYO HALL
Mayo has also had some recent renovations. It has a game room, music practice rooms and quiet floors. According to the Live On website, Mayo has both single and double-style rooms which allow you to choose whether you want to live with a roommate or not. Pre-nursing freshman Annie Abbott said only positive things about the dorms in Mayo. “The dorm itself is really nice, and I heard that we have the best bathrooms in North, which is nice,” Abbott said. There are rumors of Mayo being haunted, so if that creeps you out a little bit, stay away.
GILCHRIST-YAKELEY HALLS
Sarah Williams, a resident assistant in Yakeley Hall, said some of the benefits of living in Gilchrist-Yakeley have to do with the sense of community it creates. “It is a very friendly atmosphere, I would say,” Wiliams said. “Everyone’s doors are always open, and it’s just very positive.” Yakeley also holds a lot of hall events, some of which include pizza and mug decorating nights. “It has some really beautiful architecture, big fan of the old architecture,” Williams said. “However, one does get lost
the first few times they enter the building. The bathrooms are not great. They’re fine, they function, but they’re not anything to write home about. Yakeley is also an all girls hall, which can be a pro or a con.
Williams Hall remains pretty quiet and empty on most days. This can be a pro for students who are pretty serious about schoolwork. The study lounges are also fairly large and roomy, which is a big plus when you need to work with a group of people. Williams also has some fireplaces that add a nice warm touch to the building, and students do not need to select a dining plan when living there. “I kind of like how small it is,” elementary education fresh-
man Ashley Bloom said. Williams Hall tends to be upperclassmen only. Bloom said this was one of the major downsides for her. “Freshmen technically aren't supposed to live here, so it’s been kind of hard with having all upperclassmen here,” Bloom said. Being a freshman surrounded by upperclassmen can make it harder to create friendships. Williams is off on its own when it comes to the West Circle area, which makes it that much more private.
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The pros and cons of living at home while attending MSU nancially with necessities and that they don't live too far from campus. Let’s get the negativity out of the way first and start with the cons.
CON: YOU HAVE LESS PRIVACY By Wells Foster wfoster@statenews.com If you’re from the Greater Lansing area like I am, chances are you’ve considered living at home while attending Michigan State. For many, living at home isn’t really an option due to distance, a toxic home environment or other circumstances. But if you live near East Lansing and are on good terms with your family, living at home isn't a terrible idea. I have experience of both renting a house near campus and living at home while attending MSU, so I’m going to break down the pros and cons of living at home. For this pros and cons list, I’m going to assume you have a good relationship with your family, that they help you fi-
Being around your family 24/7 means you’re not going to have as much privacy as you would in an apartment or house. If you live on your own or with roommates, you are free to do whatever you want in your own space. But if you live at home, chances are someone is going to be checking up on you frequently.
CON: DATING IS HARDER
It’s hard to get to know someone when the threat of parental intervention is looming. Bringing your Tinder date home to your parents is just generally a bad idea.
CON: NO PARTIES
Chances are your parents don’t want any ragers thrown in their house, so living at home means you can’t host parties. It also might mean you’re less
likely to attend parties near campus since there’s a possibility that you’ll be questioned as to where you're going.
CON: SCRUTINY OF YOUR GRADES
weigh the cons. So let’s take a look at them.
PRO: IT'S MUCH, MUCH CHEAPER
Being questioned about school at family gatherings is already a meme, but it’s based in reality. When you’re around your family all the time, the likelihood of being questioned about your grades increases exponentially. Parents often hyper-fixate on grades, especially if they help pay for tuition, which can be detrimental to your mental health.
Many students who live at home receive financial assistance, whether it’s with tuition, food, clothing, housing, hobbies, anything. Even having the bare necessities covered is a benefit. If your parents are especially generous and are paying for all of your needs, you might not even need a job. Even so, just having your groceries and housing paid for is remarkably helpful. It’s also nice not having to stress about rent or utilities.
CON: POTENTIAL CONFLICT
PRO: YOUR PETS ARE THERE
Everyone’s fought with their parents, it’s human nature. The more time you spend with them, the more likely you are to argue. It’s harder to get in a screaming match with your mom when you live in separate cities. But, it’s really not all bad. To many, including myself, the pros of living at home out-
If you’re an animal lover, this might be the deciding factor for you. Most apartments near campus restrict animal ownership, and you can’t bring your dog to a dorm. So if you're like me and can't live without your animals, living at home might be a good option.
PRIVATE BATHROOMS
PRO: IT'S GREAT FOR ANXIOUS PEOPLE
If you have anxiety, new places can be scary. To many, attending a new school in an entirely new place might be too much. Living at home can be a great way to ground yourself in something familiar while you’re going through new experiences. It’s hard to adjust to a new home and community at the same time, so keeping some familiarity can help.
PRO: THE FOOD IS PROBABLY BETTER
Sure, campus food is okay, but nothing beats home cooking. If you have a family member who cooks, chances are their food is better than what’s served on campus. It also is likely much, much cheaper. And you might have a say in what's made. It's a no brainer.
PRO: YOU DON'T HAVE TO MOVE YOUR STUFF
This might sound silly, but I’ve moved twice in the past year and a half, and let me tell you, moving sucks. It’s so much nicer not hav-
PRIVATE PARKING
CLOSE TO CAMPUS
OUTDOOR GRILLING
ing to uproot your things and move them somewhere else. You’ll eventually have to move when you do move out, but it’s better to move once than the three or more times if you come back home for the summer.
PRO: YOU HAVE A SUPPORT NETWORK
For many, this is the deciding factor. Being around your family and friends means you have easier access to your support network. The people you care about are closer and can be there for you in times of need. Sure, families fight, but there’s no other feeling of comfort that compares to that of family. This guide isn’t the end-allbe-all, and shouldn’t be the only reason for deciding where to live. Your list may look completely different than this one, but I hope it gave you something to think about. There's no objectively “best” place to live while going to MSU, so decide for yourself, but use this guide as backup if needed.
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“I love being a black person ... I love who we are, how we overcome things we shouldn’t have had to. The love that we have, the bond that we share is just amazing to me.”
Kelly High McCord RHS Strategic Innovation and Lean Performance Manager
LEFT: Associate General Counsel Nakia White Barr photographed on Feb. 26. PHOTO BY ALYTE KATILIUS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Russell has worked at the university for almost 22 years and said she is honored to have helped MSU navigate challenges to affirmative action, which created a foundation for a lot of the work they’re able to do today. “I’m proud of the way in which both myself as a leader and others that were leaders on this campus chose to lead in ways that said, ‘We will be inclusive. If it means to retain those programs, that we make them more inclusive.’” She said she has also helped increase the number of black students in STEM programs and was involved in the Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant Funds, which incentivizes new program initiatives by faculty, staff and students. Russell is transitioning to her new role as a special adviser to President Stanley. Russell, a former MSU Title IX coordinator, is also a key witness in the trial of ex-MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, who is charged with lying to police about knowledge of Larry Nassar’s sexual abuse. “Twenty-two years,” she said. “I’m ready.” Residential and Hospitality Services Strategic Innovation and Lean Performance Manager Kelly High McCord said Russell has made positive changes in her role. “Paulette is a person that’s paved a way for us too … because of where she sits,” McCord said. “I know she is transitioning out of her position, but she will be greatly missed.” McCord said she loves working and serving students at MSU. “I love trying to make this a better environment for students,” McCord said. “I feel like
that is what we’re here for.” McCord’s efforts to make improvements on campus involve instituting restorative justice practices in residence education and trying to address harm between parties, she said. McCord said she worked with BSA in the past, responded to their demands and wants to get feedback from students on how the administration can work on being more transparent and helping the community move forward. McCord said she encouraged BSA to “find their allies.” “Their true allies can be honest and candid within spaces where they feel comfortable,” she said. While working together to implement change and create a more diverse environment for the black community, black women remain true to their identity. “I love being a black person,” McCord said. “I love black people. I love who we are, how we overcome things we shouldn’t have had to. The love that we have, the bond that we share is just amazing to me ... and I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Associate General Counsel Nakia White Barr said her role at the university doesn’t take away from her identity as a black woman. “I’m a black woman and this is part of who we are, and I’m not going to be afraid to show my culture and celebrate that,” Barr said. Barr said being in an administrative position, and therefore at the center of a lot that’s happening on campus, has been interesting. “I love my job, it’s challenging times right now,” she said. “We’re dealing with a lot of dif-
ficult things at the university.” Barr said the racist incidents are “upsetting (and) disappointing,” but believes the shift in top leadership will help with creating change on campus. “Looking at President (Samuel L.) Stanley (Jr.)’s record ... I think I’m optimistic that he will do the right thing and that there will be a change in tone and change in culture,” Barre said. “It would be hard for me to sit here with a straight face as a black woman working at this level of the administration if I didn’t really believe in him as a leader.” However, BSA has been disappointed in the lack of action from the university following racism on campus, including the ‘Molly Muck Gorilla incident’ in 2016, a shoelace noose in 2017, racist slurs on social media in 2018 and the incidents of this academic year. “All these incidents and MSU did NOTHING,” according to the timeline BSA posted to its social media accounts. They’ve expressed they’re tired of the administration’s ‘I’m sorry’ emails and want real change and actual consequences for the perpetrators of the racism black students experience. Their hashtag “#NotAgainMSU” has become a part of the movement and was painted on the Rock on Farm Lane during Black Revolt Week. Barr said she believes BSA should keep pushing and that people are listening. She brought up the progress that’s being made with the multicultural building and diversity, equity and inclusion training. “Keep it up and hold people accountable,” Barr said. “Use your voices ... I think there’s strength in numbers.”
ABOVE: RHS Strategic Innovation and Lean Performance Manager Kelly High McCord photographed on Feb. 26. PHOTO BY JACK FALINSKI
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RELIGIOUS DIRECTORY Stay up to date at: www.statenews.com/religious
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 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
EL resident snaps up $11,850 on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ game show By Kaishi Chhabra kchhabra@statenews.com An East Lansing resident won $11,850 on “Wheel of Fortune” in a “Girlfriend Getaways” episode, which aired Feb. 19. Dorian Prier, 35, participated in the game show with her friend Ovidia Molina, from Texas, and came in second place. The two used to teach together in southwest Houston in the Alief Independent School District, Prier said. Prier said they will split the winnings equally. “So it’s little under $6,000 between the two of us,” Prier said. “It’s gonna mean a lot because I’m actually getting married ... so I’m going to get a chance to go on a pretty decent honeymoon.” Prier will get married in a suburb of Houston, Texas. She said it is an exciting time for her. “It’s kind of interesting how life works,” Prier said. “I definitely didn’t realize that I’ll be at ‘Wheel of Fortune’ a week before I get married, so that was exciting.” Prier said she had submitted an audition video on the website, indicating she would be willing to participate with a friend.
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The “Wheel of Fortune” team contacted her for try outs in Indianapolis, but Prier had forgotten to tell Molina about it, so she had to convince her to fly out. Prier said they had to go very early and participate in the game in groups, because they shoot four to five shows per day. Prier’s parents were in attendance watching. “It was really exciting because of the fact I’ve been watching with them since I was a little kid, so it was a
bucket-list thing for everybody because they always wanted to watch a taping of a game show and I always wanted to be on one,” Prier said. Prier said she got an opportunity to meet Pat Sajak and Vanna White before they started. “Everybody should try out because I didn’t think I would get picked,” Prier said. “People should try. It’s really fun and it’s a great experience.”
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‘We’re thin in numbers’: Softball leans in during long road trip By Sara Tidwell stidwell@statenews.com Michigan State softball is in the midst of their 2020 preseason run, tallying a 3-10 record during their trip to Florida. In 2019, the ladies ended their season with an overall record of 16-34. “Preseason is really about seeing who can play where and what roles people can do and fill in, and sort of getting a feel for what we’re really capable of,” coach Jacquie Joseph said. “A lot of preseason is (also) about getting outside and being able to practice to get better.” Joseph said that her team has started to lean into the tactic of playing one pitch at a time and it focuses on getting mentally stronger every time it hits the field. She said she has high expectations and hopes that the hard work translates into MSU being “battle-tested” and ready for the Big Ten season. “We really want to make it to postseason,” redshirt, and lone, senior first baseman Katelyn Hendershott said. “When I first came into the program, we were very successful, we had a good run in the Big Ten tournament and then we kind of fell off and we lost our rails a lit-
tle bit.” For her final season, Hendershott said she really wants to see her team get back on its feet. The Spartan pitching staff has shown vast growth and improvement in their skill and stamina after getting a boost from freshman Sarah Ladd. Ladd is the only left-handed pitcher on the roster this season. “I’m just trying to help my team get as high as we can get,” she said. “We started off a little rough, but I feel that we could have a lot of potential.” The Spartans have also cleaned up their defensive strategies and their offensive staff is grinding to get the rookies any opportunity possible to rack up at-bats, while simultaneously looking to improve their overall batting average. Before the Florida Gulf Coast University Spring Break Invitational the weekend of Feb. 21-23, the Spartans were ranked fifth in the league with 29 walks and were next-to-last in the Big Ten for strikeouts with 40 in 234 plate appearances. “There’s no question: We’re thin in numbers and we’re young,” Joseph said. “All of them are playing and contributing, which is somewhat
‘We’ve got a long way to go’: Baseball preps for big season By Sean Reider sreider@statenews.com After finishing the 2019 campaign with their second consecutive 20-win season, Michigan State baseball is already starting to turn things around in 2020. The Spartans (5-3) have benefitted from a less demanding non-conference schedule, winning games through a season-opening sweep of Morehead State and a dramatic 15-14 extra-innings win over Merrimack on Sunday. By racking up these early wins, they’re leaps and bounds ahead of a 2019 squad that didn’t win their fifth game until April 2. Coach Jake Boss Jr. said that an easier schedule has helped but the Spartans must continue to eke out wins in non-conference play. “We’ve got a long way to go,” he said. “I thought we were playing really good baseball at the end of the year and would have loved to play anybody at the end of the year.” Junior right-handed pitcher Mason Erla, senior left-handed pitcher Jarret Olson and sophomore outfielder Zaid Walker were named to the 2020 Big Ten Preseason Honors list. Erla and Olson have found success early, pitching their way to 1.29 and 1.93 earned run averages respectively, while Walker currently sports a .182 batting average to start the year.
But it’s been names left off the honors list that have jumped out of the box scores for Michigan State. In just eight games, senior infielder/ outfielder Bailey Peterson has thrived in the two-spot, posting a remarkable .613 average and 1.441 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) for the best start to the season of anybody on the team. After battling injuries last season, Peterson said that he’s at the “most comfortable and healthiest” he’s ever been at Michigan State. “I just wanted to make sure that I maintained all the confidence that I had coming from summer ball ... and I just wanted that to carry over into the fall and then into the spring,” he said. “As long as I was healthy physically, I know what my capabilities are.” The Spartans also feature a talented group of freshman in infielder Dillon Kark, outfielder Jack Frank and right-handed pitcher Adam Berghorst, who also plays on the football team. Boss said that the key to success for these underclassmen begins with them being level-headed towards everything that comes their way. “I think with the young guys, especially Jack Frank, Dillon Kark, the freshmen, there’s always going to be a lot of ups and downs,” he said. “You got to ride out the successes and you got to weather the storm when it goes bad. The fresh-
men that can seem to do that and stay a little bit more even keel when they hit a slump are usually the guys that have the most success. With returning and new talent, Michigan State is poised to grow from a team that finished last year with the worst offense in the Big Ten and ranked 290 out of 297 NCAA Division 1 programs in runs scored per game at 3.9. Peterson said that the Spartans’ play thus far makes him believe that this team has the potential to do big things. “I think all of our pieces are starting to come together,” Peterson said. “And you know, as I mentioned before, when we’ve had games this year already where we’ve seen everything come together. … That would make me believe that we have the potential to win a Big Ten Championship.” Boss said that it’s better to be realistic but added that success can go a long in the sport. “We’ve set a bunch of goals as a team, and I think they’re all attainable goals,” he said. “And then, once you attain those goals, you reevaluate and you move forward but certainly getting to the Big Ten tournament is one of them. “As cliche as it is, you take it one step at a time and once you reach that first step, then you look more toward the next one.”
unusual. ... It’s not only ‘Am I using them?’, but we need them to be ready and to go in, whether it’s to pinch run, or pinch hit or to play a different position than normal.” Joseph said that she thinks this kind of adaptability is important for not only her players, but herself, too. “As a coach, you’re constantly trying to stay current, evolve, coach differently,” she said. “Even though you’re coaching the same thing, you are constantly adapting and evolving to the types of skill sets that the players have coming in.” Joseph also said that they look for that trait when recruiting. “Who are the kids that can have a growth mindset? Who are the kids who are a little more resilient? Who are the kids who can adapt to a changing environment?” This is Joseph’s 27th season at the helm of the green and white softball team. She is the longest tenured coach in program history and the second-longest in the athletics department. “Coaching is an incredible blessing, and I’m grateful for the role that I play in (my athletes’) lives,” Joseph said. The Spartans are scheduled to travel to the west coast Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 1, to play in the Amy Harrison Tourna-
Then-freshman catcher Lindsey Besson catches the ball during the game against Michigan on April 13, 2014 at Secchia Stadium at Old College Field. STATE NEWS FILE PHOT0
ment at the University of California-Riverside. They will play a total of 28 games on the road before their scheduled home opener against Oakland (6-3) in East Lansing on March 25.
Oakland County
Parks and Recreation
SUMMER
2020
JOBS Visit us at the Spring Career Fair March 12, 3-6 p.m. Spartan Stadium
Seasonal Hiring Fair March 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Waterford Oaks Activity Center 2800 Watkins Lake Road Waterford, MI 48328
Apply at OakGov.com/jobs
Call 248-858-0530 for more information OaklandCountyParks.com
#OCPRJOBS T H U R S DAY, FE BRUA RY 27, 2020
STATEN EWS.CO M
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SPORTS
No. 1 MKLeo wins Frostbite 2020 Smash Bros singles tournament By Matt Schmucker mschmucker@statenews.com
No. 6 Maister (left) hugs his friend after defeating No. 3 Tweek in Winners’ Finals at Frostbite 2020.
Eventual tournament champion No. 1 MKLeo looks at the crowd before his set with No. 22 Dark Wizzy at Frostbite 2020.
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T HE STAT E NEWS
No. 1 MKLeo was knocked to the losers’ bracket of Frostbite 2020’s double elimination Smash Ultimate Singles bracket by unranked Prodigy in the first round of Top-96 play. That didn’t matter much. The losers’ bracket couldn’t stop MKLeo, who won nine straight sets in the losers’ bracket to make it to the Grand Finals, where he swept Maister, 6-0. “It was really hard for me,” MKLeo said in an interview on stream. “I had to play people that were really good against me, and also against my character.” In his 11th-set run through the losers’ bracket and Grand Finals, MKLeo beat six top ten ranked players: No. 2 Samsora, No. 3 Tweek, No. 4 Nairo, No. 6 Maister, No. 7 Zackray and No. 9 Dabuz. MKLeo looked dominant in this run, taking most of his sets 3-0 or 3-1, only being pushed to a Game 5 against Tweek, Zackray and No. 12 Tea. MKLeo has been a force to be
THU R SDAY, F EBRUA RY 27, 2020
No. 4 Nairo reacts as he’s defeated by No. 1 MKLeo to miss Top 8.
No. 32 Elegant hugs his girlfriend Lauren after defeating No. 46 Kola in Losers. ALL PHOTOS BY MATT SCHMUCKER
reckoned with in Smash Ultimate. He hasn’t finished outside the Top 2 at a major tournament he attended since May 19, 2019, when he finished fourth at Get On My Level 2019, and he’s won seven out of the 11 supermajor
tournaments he’s attended since Ultimate’s release including his Frostbite win this weekend. In the Grand Finals, MKLeo met Maister, who swept through the winners’ side of the bracket to get there. Maister, a Mr. Game &
Watch main, tried switching to play Pichu after the bracket reset to no avail, only to switch back to Mr. Game & Watch for the rest of the set. MKLeo’s Joker looked dominant as ever in the first five games of the set before MKLeo switched his character to Byleth, who was added as a DLC character last month for the last game of the set. The next upcoming US supermajor tournament will be EVO 2020, starting July 31.