State News The
$32,581 CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
State legislators have introduced bills to help alleviate college costs, but it hasn’t kept students from questioning if higher education is worth the expense. See pages 6-7
$29,492 GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
$32,579 WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY WE DN E S DAY, A P R IL 1, 2 015
@THESNEWS
ILLUSTRATION: RYAN LOGAN SOURCE: PROJECTONSTUDENTDEBT.ORG
Unnecessary burden?
$25,821
$27,163
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
STAT ENEWS .COM
Opinion
Greg Monahan Opinion editor opinion@statenews.com @thesnewsopinion
The reason MSU has a shot in this year’s Final Four? Tom Izzo
BY JEQUCORY DAVIS JDAVIS@STATENEWS.COM
At this point we need to all come to grips with something: Tom Izzo may be a coaching god. Sunday night’s game against Louisville proved it. There is simply no other way to explain the fashion in which MSU won other than great coaching. To be completely honest, I didn’t have us going past the Sweet 16. Not many did. On the other hand, I knew if we made it past the Sweet 16, we would go further
than anyone expected. Now that we have made it to the Final Four, it is safe to say it’s all thanks to Izzo. Izzo has taken a team with no significant star, weak free throw shooting and a knack for being down at the half to the Final Four. When the second half hits, the Spartans become a different team and Izzo starts to resemble a wizard of some sort who can do no wrong. The defense locks down in the second half, which can be credited to Izzo. Louisville went 5-for-25 in the second half, and 1-for-7 in overtime. Combining those together, that’s good for 18.8 percent, which is nothing short of amazing if you’re on the defensive side of the ball. All over social media, there has been crazy amounts of praise for Izzo and the Spartans. MSU alumnus and NBA legend Magic Johnson even tweeted, “This run to the
Final Four showed everyone why Tom Izzo is the best coach in College Basketball!” This is Izzo’s seventh appearance in the Final Four, but this one might be the most special. As a No. 7 seed entering the tournament, plus constant struggles during the season, there were times a trip to Indianapolis seemed unreachable. But here we are. Izzo would even go on to call this Final Four appearance “the most improbable.” With a roller coaster of a game in the books and the Spartans now in the Final Four, there’s a great question to be asked: Can the team knock Duke down? With Izzo on the sidelines and the Spartans’ confidence at an all-time high, anything is possible. Hopefully you will be somewhere near a television this Saturday to witness whatever happens, because I sure will be.
MIKE HOLLOWAY
T U E S DAY ’ S R E S U LT S
OPINION P O LL
Would you characterize the celebrations in East Lansing this weekend as “riots”?
TO DAY ’ S Q U E S T I O N
Did you participate in the bagel throwing at Cedar Village? To vote, visit statenews.com
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22%—Yes. Things were set on fire and police were making arrests in riot gear.
78%—No. There was no major damage, other than the few bagels which were sacrificed. TOTAL VOTES: 68 AS OF 6 P.M. TUESDAY
THE STATE N E WS
WEDNESDAY, APRI L 1 , 2 01 5
SEE TOMORROW ’ S PA P E R To read our editorial staff’s opinion on the police’s reaction to the revelry at Cedar Village, pick up tomorrow’s issue of The State News
Choose your major based on desire, not on the ranking of a program
BY PATRICK BADE PBADE@STATENEWS.COM
Students of MSU have a luxury that is often taken for granted. The university offers over 150 majors, allowing for a wide range of options for a career path. Not only is there a plethora of classes offered, but MSU is consistently ranked highly in many of those programs. MSU has 25 graduate and undergraduate programs ranked in the top 20 by the U.S. News and World Report. Despite those rankings, students need to maintain a level of discretion when considering their field. As someone majoring in one of MSU’s most popular programs, supply chain management, there’s an obvious discrepancy between students who actually have an interest for logistics, and students who are more concerned with the status of the No. 1 ranking the program currently holds. Too often, a student decides their major by a process that is factored by how high the program is ranked. In most cases, students don’t have a solid grasp on what they want to do, or they’re afraid they won’t be hired with a degree that they consider to be weaker. They decide to play things safe. There’s not necessarily anything wrong in doing this. It makes sense. Having said that, deciding a major is not a process that should be made too conservatively. The whole reason for pursuing a degree is to establish a platform that will allow students to excel and ultimately achieve career goals. Students need to maintain a level of honesty with themselves, and make decisions based off what they really want to do, not what they think will get them employed. Students certainly need to be realistic in planning for their career. Obviously it’s going to be more difficult to get a job in certain fields where competition is higher, or where there is lower rates of job placement. With that in mind, that doesn’t warrant disregarding any aspirations due to a fear of failing. It’s a great thing to be hired out of college with a well-paying job, but that initial excitement is going to fade and be replaced with hours of hard work. If you find yourself in the wrong field, then those hours are going to feel like days. Don’t regret the choices made now for the sake of being conservative. In reality, the real way to “play it safe” regarding the choice of a major is to pick the field you know you’re going to love far after college is over.
Contents
RELIGIOUS GUIDE
INSIDE
Thirteen arrested after weekend revelries, DTN most likely won’t evict
MSU official says students cannot leave if a professor is 15 minutes late to class
APRIL FOOLS’: Read some of our satire in honor of the holiday
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Look for this directory in the paper every Wednesday and online at: www.statenews.com/religious Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Rd., E. Lansing Between Hagadorn & Park Lake Rds. (517) 337-9703 Sunday Worship: 10am Sunday School: 9am Adult Bible Study: 9am Maundy Thursday: April 12, 7pm Good Friday: 1pm & 7pm Easter: April 5, 10am ascensioneastlansing.org Edgewood United Church, UCC 469 N. Hagadorn East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-8693 Sunday: 10am LGBTQ Celebrating, Justice and Peace Congregation www.edgewood.org Faith Fellowship Baptist Church 1001 Dakin St. Lansing, MI 48912 517-853-9897 Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 10am Wednesday Prayer and Bible Study: 6:30pm Van service available to church Campus Bible Study: Thursday at 7:30pm in Chemistry Bldg. www.ffbc.us
Sunday Worship Service: 10am-12 Noon. Fellowship Lunch after the service Weekly Bibly Studies & Students’ Meetings. littleflock.msu@gmail.com littleflock@hotmail.com www.littleflock.org Martin Luther Chapel 444 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-0778 martinlutherchapel.org Sunday: 10:30am & 7:00pm Wednesday ON FIRE : 7:09 pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) Okemos Community Church 4734 Okemos Rd. Okemos, MI 48864 (517) 349-4220 www.okemoscommunitychurch.org Sunday Worship: 10am Sunday School: 10am-11:15am Adult Studies: 9am & 11am
One Community-Lutheran (ELCA)/ Episcopal (TEC) Campus Ministry 1020 South Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-2559 www.facebook.com/onecommunitymsu First Baptist Wednesdays: On campus Church of Okemos Student Worship 7:00pm 4684 Marsh Road (at MSU Alumni Chapel) Okemos, MI 48864 Sundays: 8:30, 10:45am (at (517) 349-2830 University Lutheran Church) www.fbcokemos.org Worship Celebration - Sundays Sundays: 8:00, 10:00am (at All Saints Episcopal Church) at 10:45am
Fans brace themselves as the game moves into its final moments before overtime Sunday during the East Regional round of the NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight against Louisville at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. Read more about the Final Four on pages 10-12. PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON
EDITORIAL STAFF (517) 432-3070 VOL . 105 | NO. 120
CONTACT THE STATE NEWS (517) 432-3000 NEWSROOM/CORRECTIONS (517) 432-3070 feedback@statenews.com GENERAL MANAGER Marty Sturgeon (517) 432-3000 ADVERTISING M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (517) 432-3010 ADVERTISING MANAGERS Kelsey Taber COLOPHON The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.
The State News is published by the students of Michigan State University, Monday through Friday during the academic year. Subscription rates: $5 per semester on campus; $125 a year, $75 for one fall or spring semester, $60 for summer semester by mail anywhere in the continental United States. One copy of this newspaper is available free of charge to any member of the MSU community. Additional copies $0.75 at the business office only. State News Inc. is a private, nonprofit corporation. Its current 990 tax form is available for review upon request at 435 E. Grand River Ave. during business hours.
W E DN E SDAY, APRI L 1, 2015
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Celeste Bott MANAGING EDITOR Anya Rath BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Simon Schuster TRENDS AND ISSUES EDITOR Olivia Dimmer SPORTS EDITOR Geoff Preston FEATURES EDITOR Casey Holland OPINION EDITOR Greg Monahan
Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St., E. Lansing (517) 332-1916 Friday Night Services: 6pm, Dinner: 7pm September - April Islamic Center of East Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4309 www.Lansingislam.com info@Lansingislam.com 1st Friday Prayer: 12:15 pm 2nd Friday Prayer: 1:45 pm Little Flock Christian Fellowship A Non-DenominationalEvagelical Church MSU Alumni Chapel (Basement Hall)
Peoples Church 200 W. Grand River Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-6264 www.peoples-evolution.org Sunday Worship: 10:30am Tuesday: Love Life: 7-9pm Wednesday: Dinner at 5:30pm, Journey at 6:30 Quan Am Buddhist Temple, MSU Meditation Center 1840 N. College Road Mason, MI 48854 (517) 853-1675 (517) 347-1655 www.quanamtemple.org 7-8:30pm Every Thursday Red Cedar Friends Meeting 1400 Turner St. Lansing, MI 48906 (517) 371-1047 redcedarfriends.org Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 10:30am River Terrace Church 1509 River Terrace Dr, East Lansing, MI (Across from Hubbard Hall)
Trinity Church 3355 Dunckel Rd. Lansing, MI 48911 (517) 272-3820 Saturday: 6pm Sunday: 9:15 am, 11am http://trinitywired.com College/Young Adult Service Sundays at 11am in the Student Auditorium Unity Spiritual Renaissance 230 S. Holmes St. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 484-2360 or (517) 505-1261 Sunday: 10:30am Wednesday: 6:30pm meditation Office: Monday-Thursday 9:30-12:00 University Baptist Church 4608 South Hagadorn Rd East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-4144 www.ubcel.org 10 AM Worship service Balancing Your College Life Workshop: 5:00-7:30 PM University Christian Church 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 332-5193 universitychristianwired.com Sunday: 11:15 am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15 am University United Methodist Church MSU Wesley 1120 S. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 351-7030 universitychurchhome.org msuwesley.org Sunday: 10:30am 9:00am Garden Service in the summer TGIT: 8:00pm Thursdays Sept. - April WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbott Road East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 580-3744 www.msu.edu/~weisluth 6:00pm Saturday
Religious Organizations: Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory! Call 517-432-3010 today to speak with an Account Executive
PHOTO EDITOR Erin Hampton COPY CHIEF Elena Cronick Copyright © 2015 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich. THE STAT E NE WS
Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823 (517) 898-3600 Sunday Worship: 8:45am Sunday Bible Study: 10:15am Sunday Evening: Small Group Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm www.greaterlansingcoc.org
(517)-351-9059 riverterrace.org Sunday: 9 am & 11:15 am w/ Shuttle Service St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C. Ave., E. Lansing (517) 337-9778 Sunday: 8am, 10am, 12pm, 5pm, 7pm www.stjohnmsu.org
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News Arraignments begin for students arrested in weekend revelry A statement from ELPD initially said those charged could possibly face eviction from DTN properties, but DTN’s CEO Colin Cronin said it’s “doubtful”
A police officer picks up a charred backpack and bagels that was set on fire Sunday at Cedar Village Apartments after the Spartans defeated Louisville in the East Regional championship of the NCAA Tournament.
is considering evictions for those that were arrested (if they are DTN residents).” DTN Management Co. owner Colin Cronin Facing two misdemeanor charges of disorder- said residents can face evictions for getting ly conduct and one minor in possession of too out of hand, as that is one of the only alcohol charge, 19-year-old Dylan Carl Bonell disciplinary actions the owners of Cedar Vilwas arraigned in 54-B District Court Tuesday lage can take. "(Residents) can face in connection with the revanything up to eviction,” elry in Cedar Village after Cronin said. “In terms of MSU’s Sweet 16 victor y misbehav ing residents, over Oklahoma, according eviction is pretty much to an East Lansing police our only tool.” statement. However, describing the Bonell, listed as a finance celebrations on Sunday as sophomore, was one of peaceful and energetic, he three arrested early Satursaid it’s “doubtful” evicday morning in Cedar Viltions will be handed out, lage. Other students arrestalthough “there could be ed face charges of illegally arrests were made by something I didn’t see.” remaining within 300 feet East Lansing police Other actions that could of a fire and propelling “be grounds for more conobjects, namely bagels, into versations,” or possibly the air or at police. The statement did not specify what objects merit eviction, include “throwing things out of Bonell had allegedly thrown, but it is known your windows, jumping off balconies (or) not that bagels were not present at the Sweet 16 being responsive to requests if staff comes by.” In an effort to prevent post-game celebracelebrations. Ten more were arrested Sunday afternoon tions from getting to the point where police just after another upset victory against Lou- intervention is necessary, Cronin said an offiisville. As of deadline, only Bonell has been cially run celebration would be something he arraigned out of the 13, however ELPD is plan- would like to see happen. “What I would really like to see, to somehow ning to have those arrested “prosecuted to the actually have an organized event in my mind fullest extent of the law.” Ninety days in jail and a $500 fine aren’t the would be better,” Cronin said. “If you’re not coaching it, you’re letting it happen. They’ve only punishments those arrested face. After both disturbances in Cedar Village, been allowed to happen. Let’s put an event on an ELPD press release stated “in addition to campus, on Munn Field, give everyone a reathe court proceedings, DTN Management Co. son and a location for everyone to celebrate.” BY CAMERON MACKO AND MICHAEL KRANSZ FEEDBACK@STATENEWS.COM
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Twitter users capitalize on Sunday’s revelry with host of bagel jokes and confusion As celebrations broke out in Cedar Village on Sunday evening following MSU’s victory against Louisville, chants and shoes weren’t the only things flying through the air. “As soon as we got onto the streets ... people were coming out and immediately people just went right out into the streets and I was just kind of there when it first formed. It was wild,” Residential College in the Arts and Humanities sophomore Jassadi Moore said. MSU students have become notorious for wild celebrations following important sporting events, and while the celebration that took place early Saturday morning following the victory against Oklahoma took on a more traditional form — burning shoes, loud chanting and lots of people — Sunday’s events turned interesting when bagels began fly-
ing among the celebrating students. “I didn’t know what it was. At first I thought it was a potato and I was like ‘That’s just dangerous’ … I was just walking through it, someone next to me actually got hit in the head with a bagel,” Moore said. Chants of “Bagels, bagels, bagels” broke out among the crowd in between traditional chants of “Go Green, Go White” and “Final Four.” The bagel throwing has turned into something of a sensation, sparking a social media frenzy with students tweeting and bringing national attention to MSU’s newest celebration ritual. MSU police even joined in on the trend on Sunday, tweeting “Guys, what’s with the bagels?” and receiving more than 2,000 retweets. Despite their humorous response on social media, police did not take the events lightly. Police in riot gear lined Cedar Village and several students were arrested during the riots.
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BY ZOE SCHUBOT ZSCHUBOT@STATENEWS.COM
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Moore believes that while there has been backlash in the aftermath of the riots, nobody involved intended any ill will. “I think the intention isn’t there … I don’t think that when people pull out their phones they’re thinking ‘Oh this is how we represent ourselves,” Moore said. “It’s more just trying to capture the excitement of the moment and it’s just the State spirit. People just being reckless and wild and wanting to capture that because they know it’s worth capturing.” The uproar surrounding the celebrations has spread like wildfire, and even those who were unable to attend the festivities on Sunday are well versed in the events that transpired. “I was actually in my dorm doing homework, but I heard a lot of screaming,” zoology sophomore Mariam Gesler said. “I was pretty removed, but I’ve heard a lot about it through my chemistry class by overhearing people talking about it.”
ON TWITTER
@CVBagel Following the disturbances this past weekend, students took to Twitter to express their thoughts. @nickvandyken Guys there’s already a twitter account for the bagel thrown in cedar village yesterday hahahah @CVBagel #FinalFourBagels #TeamBagles @honestlyboxey You’re under arrest for assault with a breadly weapon!” #FinalFourBagels #Bagels #GoGreen @CGypp The fact that @CVBagel just followed me just made my day In Izzo and Bagels we trust #FinalFourBagels
Olivia Dimmer and Simon Schuster Trends and issues editor Breaking news editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews
Student group raises funds for orphanage BY CAMERON MACKO CMACKO@STATENEWS.COM
Malawi is a small African country sandwiched between Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia. And on a cold Saturday morning, hundreds of community members gathered in front of Conrad Hall at the start of a 5K in the name of HIV-positive orphans in an country many may not be able to find on a map. Hope Project, a recent MSU student group founded in November 2014, organized the event to raise money to build a secondary school for HIV-positive orphans being taken care of by HOPE Village Children’s Home, run by its parent group, Hope Endeavors. The organization’s name is sometimes stylized as H.O.P.E., which is an acronym for “Helping Orphans, Prospering Everyone.” “ T he br a nc h (of Hop e Endeavors) that we’re working closely with is in Malawi, Africa,” said biomedical laboratory science senior and Hope
Project co-president Mackenzie Robson. “The care center houses 30 HIV-positive orphans and we provide spiritual care, nutritional care, medical care and education.” Nursing junior and Hope Project member Jess Harris said the care center was the only one of its kind, and aimed to “provide hope to those who don’t have hope.” Robson said 30 students are affiliated with the group. “We started Hope Project after spending the summer in Malawi, Africa,” said human biology senior and co-president Morgan McLane. McLane’s parents are co-founders of Hope Endeavors. A group of MSU students went to Malawi during the summer of 2014 and lived at the care center. The experience inspired them to do what they could on campus to support it. “Because of our experience there, we wanted to come back to Michigan State’s campus where we have such a community of people who we can
reach out to,” McLane said. The 5K even had a symbolic aspect, since the walk from the Malawi care center to the nearest secondary school is five kilometers as well. Robson said a main aim of Hope Project was to provide an opportunity for students to get involved with projects that go beyond their local communities. “We’re interested in providing international perspective even with local volunteering,” Robson said. The school Hope Endeavors aims to build will cost $15,000 and preliminary estimates put the amount of money raised by the 5K, from both registration fees and sponsors, at $4,000. This put a significant dent into the total needed. Hope Project plans on holding the 5K annually and continuing operations after the co-founders graduate. "(The project) provides an opportunity to be selfless, and the phrase we’re using a lot is ‘being an anonymous extraordinary,’” Robson said.
No, you aren’t allowed to leave if a professor is more than 15 minutes late for class
The care center, which houses 30 HIV-positive orphans at HOPE Village Children’s Home in Malawi. Hope Project, a student group, hopes to raise enough money to build a secondary school in the village. PHOTO COURTESY OF MORGAN MCLANE
HST 202
(Early American History)
Online with
Prof. Helen Veit
this summer!
Despite the prevailing myth, university Ombudsman Robert Caldwell said students are taking a risk by ditching class BY JESSICA SATTLER JSATTLER@STATENEWS.COM
When an instructor is late to class, a number of things tend to happen in the classroom. Initially, students might be silent. They might pull out their laptops or phones to refresh their email in anticipation of word from their professor. At around the five minute mark, students begin louder conversation and, as time drags on, the atmosphere grows tense with anticipation. Inevitably, someone will say what everyone else is thinking:“We can leave if our professor is more than 15 minutes late.” The so-called 15 minute policy has been a part of the college rumor mill for years now, and is introduced every semester by students. The idea behind this “policy” is simple — if an instructor is more than 15 minutes late to class, the students can leave without repercussion. The concept makes sense. After all, if a person arrives 15 minutes late to a medical appointment, most offices will ask you to reschedule. But in the context of the classroom, the 15 minute policy is no more than a myth. The Office of University Ombudsperson website contains a wealth of information that thwarts many classroom myths, including the 15 minute policy. According to the information available on the list
of frequently asked questions, “MSU has no guidelines for early classroom departures based on faculty tardiness,” meaning that how to handle these types of departures is entirely up to the instructor. So some professors may be more lenient than others. Although the rumor can easily be disproved through a quick search of the Internet, its prevalence on campus remains commonplace. “We are all busy people and chafe when we feel our valuable time is being wasted,” MSU Ombudsman Robert Caldwell said. “I think it is natural that we all wish for a policy that would protect us from ... wastefulness.” While typical syllabuses don’t include information about what to do in case of a tardy instructor, the best way to avoid being marked absent or missing credit for an in-class assignment is to ask the instructor early on what their own policy is if they happen to be late to class. The only mention of faculty attendance is listed in the Code of Teaching Responsibility, which says instructors “shall be responsible for meeting their classes regularly and at scheduled times” and “shall notify their units if they are to be absent and have not made suitable arrangements regarding their classes.” That being said, it’s up to a student’s individual discretion on whether or not they choose to leave in the event of faculty tardiness.
Second Summer Session (July 6th - August 20th)
http://history.msu.edu/online-course-list/ WE DNE S DAY, AP RI L 1 , 2 01 5
TH E STATE N E WS
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Spotlight
With mounting student debt, some doubt the value of a degree A lack of funding from the state is pushing universities to raise tuition costs, only adding to the massive debts some students face. A bill introduced by state Sen. Curtis Hertel Jr. might alleviate the burden
A sampling of average student debt by state MAINE $29,934
MICHIGAN $29,583
NEW HAMPSHIRE $32,975
IOWA $29,370
DELAWARE $32,571 PENNSYLVANIA $32,528
Education junior Calvon Sheridan really hopes to make it big as a recording artist. Sheridan, who is currently $25,000 in debt, said he knows that becoming wildly successful might be his only way out of the debt that is creeping up. A debt that’ll most likely only grow before he graduates. “I hope I’ll blow up and make millions. And if not, I’ll be like every other teacher — struggling,” said Sheridan, who also added that his real passion is teaching. Sheridan is just one of many students who are facing a massive student debt as a result
of constant tuition hikes and other costs of attending college. When MSU alumna Erica Shekell was applying for college, she knew paying for it was going to be difficult. In 2013 Shekell graduated with two bachelor’s degrees in journalism and media arts and technology a degree in journalism. She had $25,430 in student debt, she said. Shekell said she was able to pay off her debt in less than two years, something not everyone can afford to do in such a short period of time. “I have been able to pay for it because of my middle-class privilege and having the support of a few hundred family members, neighbors and scholarship donors,” Shekell wrote in an
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BY SERGIO MARTÍNEZ-BELTRÁN SMARTINEZ@STATENEWS.COM
THE STATE N E WS
email. “I recognize that far too many of my friends are in debt up to their eyeballs.” According to the Institute for College Access and Success, seven out of 10 students who graduated from a public institution will have to deal with student debt. In 2013 the average per borrower was of $28,400 and, according to the Institute for College Access and Success, Michigan’s borrower average is higher — in Michigan, the average student debt is $29,583. In the Michigan Senate House of Representatives, a couple of bills have been introduced that would grant tax credits to students who decide to stay in Michigan after graduating. Under the bill introduced by state Sen. Cur-
ILLUSTRATION: RONNIE GOLEC | SOURCE: DEBT.COM
tis Hertel Jr., D-East Lansing, graduates who choose to stay in the state would be eligible to claim an income tax credit equal to the 50 percent of the amount paid on student loans during the tax year. “The state needs to provide proper funding to higher education ... and we need to do something with students who have massive debt,” Hertel said. “IT’S NOT WORTH IT” MSU alumnus Dan Birkholz graduated in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and $40,000 of debt. Birkholz said when he was considering MSU there were not a lot of alternatives besides
Anya Rath Managing editor arath@statenews.com @thesnews
“I have friends who didn’t go to college, and they are making a lot of money right now. They don’t have any student debt.” Dan Birkholz, MSU alumnus
“I called (the student loans company) and found a way to have my payments deferred until next January,” Birkholz said. “I’m not making any payments.” Birkholz said it is not worth it to have a degree in exchange for thousands of dollars in student debt. “I have friends who didn’t go to college, and they are making a lot of money right now,” Birkholz said. “They don’t have any student debt.” Sheridan is similarly opposed to high tuition prices. “We should not have to pay that much when (it) is necessary for us to have these degrees to even function in societies nowadays,” Sheridan said. He said there has been a cultural shift in which a college degree is valued in places where it is not necessarily important to have one. “If you even look at basic jobs, such as McDonald’s, they are requiring a high school diploma. But to be into management positions ... they are wanting you to have some type of hospitality and business degree or some type of finance degree,” Sheridan said. English sophomore Parris Jones said having student debt can be overwhelming. “It’s not guaranteed that we are going to get a job after graduating anyways, so we may have to settle for less,” Jones said. “Then we’ll struggle.” TUITION HIKES ARE HURTING STUDENTS Across the United States, there has been a trend that follows the increase in tuition costs. MSU is not the exception. According to the MSU Office of the Controller website, since 1979 the cost of attending MSU has increased significantly. A credit hour in 1979 costed $24.50, which is equivalent to about $79 in 2015. This is a stark comparison to the cost of credit hours now — students paid $440 per credit hour last fall. In order to be counted as a full-time student and to receive financial aid, a student must take 12 credits. That adds up to $5,280 in tuition costs per semester. That’s not counting books, coursepacks, online access, fees or housing. The case with tuition increase is an example of a positive feedback loop. Val Meyer, the associate director of the MSU Office of Financial Aid, said when the state government decreases funding to higher education institutions, universities tend to increase the costs of tuitions to maintain an economic balance. When Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder’s assumed office, his first budget recommendation called for deep cuts in higher education appropria-
tions and MSU’s funding decreased 15 percent. Each year afterward, higher education has received 1 to 2 percent increases, with the exception of last year. Still, funding has yet to return to levels before Snyder entered office. “If the state doesn’t have as much money to give to higher education, how are they going to pay for the increase cost?” Meyer said. Meyer said it all comes down to the MSU Board of Trustees to decide whether a tuition increase will be in place or not. “In the long term, yes, tuition does tend to go up. And in the long term, we try to do other financial aid so that doesn’t go up as fast,” Meyer said. In June 2014, during the most recent budget approval by the Board of Trustees, members voted to raise tuition between 2.6 and 3.6 percent. In February MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon testified in front of the higher education joint committee comprised of state senators and representatives. In the hearing Simon said the state has a “long-running disinvestment in its public universities.” “MSU has worked hard to remain affordable, especially given the challenges we faced regarding state disinvestment over the last 50 years,” Simon said on Feb. 24. IS THERE STILL HOPE? MSU alumnus Kevin VanLiew graduated in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in social relations and policy. “I wanted to do public policy, and I was looking for a program and here it was pretty obvious it was going to be a good choice,” VanLiew said. “The opportunities I would get at Michigan State were better than staying in a state university in New York.” VanLiew graduated with $20,000 in student debt, an amount he is still paying. He said he pays $155 monthly toward his student loans. But there is still hope for college students. Under Hertel’s bill, graduates who choose to stay in the state would be eligible to claim an income tax credit equal to the 50 percent of the amount paid on student loans during the tax year.
“In the long term, yes, tuition does tend to go up. And in the long term, we try to do other financial aid so that doesn’t go up as fast.” Val Meyer, associate director of the MSU Office of Financial Aid
Hertel said retaining graduates in the state can be beneficial to the economy and to the workforce of the state. Sheridan said he is not sure how it will all play out yet. “We have to see how those bills play out because all the things seem good at first, especially when we have a thirst for change,” Sheridan said. “The only thing I’ve seen right now is an increase in my per credit rate, so until we see some changes, I can’t really say if these things are making a change or not.” State Rep. Andy Schor, D-Lansing, reintroduced a version of the same bill in the Michigan House of Representatives on Wednesday as well. “You can’t get a good job without a college degree,” communication junior Ryan Boudreaux said. “You can’t really live your life, you can’t really reach your full potential if you have to keep paying.”
Price per MSU credit hour by the year 1979 $24.50 1984 $41.00 1989 $60.75 1999 $147.25 2006 $234.75 2009 $290.25 2011 $380.50 2014 $440.00 *numbers not adjusted for inflation WE DNE S DAY, AP RI L 1 , 2 01 5
TH E STATE N E WS
ILLUSTRATION: RONNIE GOLEC | SOURCE: MSU OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER
taking student loans. “I didn’t even consider student debt,” Birkholz said. “It seemed normal to me, and I expected to be in a lot of debt when I graduated.” Birkholz said he doesn’t like to think about his $40,000 of student debt. He uses this strategy to avoid stressing out.
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Crossword
L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
News
HUMANS OF EAST LANSING
BY ASHANTI SEABRON, PHOTO: HANNAH LEVY
ACROSS
1 “Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening” rhyme scheme 5 Govt. org. with a “Safety Compass” blog 9 Under-the-tree pile 14 Silly smile, maybe 15 Snack with a white center 16 Garnish 17 “Gotcha!” 19 Brawl 20 Menlo Park initials 21 Those, in Oaxaca 22 __ mater 23 Gear on a tour bus 24 “Gotcha!” 28 They blow off steam 30 Bugged by a bug 31 Like a twisted remark 32 Within: Pref. 33 Hive-dwelling 35 “Gotcha!” 41 College declaration 42 Feminizing finish 44 Icarus, to Daedalus 47 Snooze 48 Add to a scrapbook, say 51 Significance of this puzzle’s circled letters (gotcha again!) 54 Map rtes. 55 Drop-off point
56 Charlie’s fourth wife 57 201, on a monument 58 Carillon sounds 60 Today’s “Gotcha!” 62 Cookout spot 63 Willing 64 “A __ for Emily”: Faulkner short story 65 Not in a slump? 66 “Iliad” deity 67 Stops equivocating
DOWN
1 Stir up 2 Military equipment 3 Designated park trail 4 DiFranco of folk rock 5 Greets wordlessly 6 Three-note chords 7 Have a feeling 8 Peat source 9 Leg, to a film noir detective 10 Model of perfection 11 Trail 12 Seismometer detection 13 Duplicitous 18 Self-produced recording, perhaps 25 Slangy golf term for nervousness while putting, with “the” 26 Everything-in-the-pot stew
27 __ Bator 29 Mary Oliver output 33 __ Lingus 34 Babushka’s denial 36 Actress Kaczmarek with seven Emmy nominations 37 Ventura County resort city 38 Keystone force 39 Kid-sized ice cream order 40 Price per can, e.g. 43 Stores in a farm tower 44 Vast grassland 45 “Goodness gracious” 46 Cancel out 48 “I have the worst luck!” 49 John Denver’s “__ Song” 50 Corporate emblem 52 Dig find 53 Wall Street phrase 59 Pink-elephant spotter, stereotypically 60 Ottoman bigwig 61 To and __
Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1
2
3
4
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk SOLUTION TO TUESDAY’S PUZZLE
4/1/15
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WEDNESDAY, APRI L 1 , 2 01 5
Daniel Ninsiima Fact: Ninsiima attended Makerere University in Uganda before becoming a telecommunications graduate student at MSU “I’m from Uganda... It’s warm and nice in Uganda and of course it’s been cold for a very long time … the sun is up again and it’s kind of getting warm again. It’s nice for sure. … In terms of infastructure here, that’s kind of different and it’s nice here, it’s good. … The airport is actually close by. ... First I wanted to become a radio presenter ... but then I also had passion for computers so then I studies information technology at college so from there then I enjoyed everything that I was doing It’s very cold here. We never have winter in Africa … But the when the sun comes life starts up again.”
***(Nothing on this page is real)
April Fools’ Day FAC E - O F F
What type of bagel would you be? “I would be an everything bagel, since I’m the woman who has it all.” Lou Anna K. Simon, University president
“Jalapeño cheddar. I’m a spicy man, who sometimes get cheesy for my #SpartanDawgs.” Tom Izzo, Basketball head coach, king of the universe
“I think I’d be an onion bagel. Let’s be honest, it wouldn’t keep the girls at Rick’s away.” Connor Cook, Junior quarterback, ladies’ man
“I’m a familyfriendly and go-to favorite. I would be a plain bagel.” James Conwell, ASMSU president
Former MSU punter awarded with Heisman Trophy
Then junior punter Mike Sadler adjusts his helmet Sept. 14, 2013, at Spartan Stadium. STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO
In the first ever unanimous re-vote of the award, the Heisman Trophy Trust has decided to rescind the 2014 trophy from former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota and gift it to former MSU punter Mike Sadler. “With a career rushing average of 18 yards per carry, the trust had no choice to change our decision from a few months ago,” Heisman Board of Directors President William J. Dockery said. “Sadler is the absolute right man for the award and we can’t believe he didn’t even
receive an invitation to the ceremony.” Sadler was the starting punter under Coach Mark Dantonio for four years at MSU and became famous for — among other things — his Twitter account, punts inside the 10 and key first down running plays. “I’m extremely proud to have won this award for my school,” Sadler said. “I knew I was snubbed back in December but I’m glad they were able to finally sort out their obvious blunder.”
Couches BOGO for Final Four The MSU Surplus Store is offering “buy one, get one free” deals on couches to prepare for the inevitable couch burnings MSU men’s basketball team being in the Final Four will bring. Joe Person, a 14-year-employee of the store, said after last year’s Big Ten football championship, students were in desperate need of futons. “We just want to do anything we can to help out our fellow Spartans,” Person said. “If they don’t have anything to sit on because they torched their couch in the street, we’re here to help them through difficult times.” Person also said that store employees would be available to deliver the futons to Cedar Village in exchange for Oberon and a bagel.
Pike to help put out couch fires with truck The MSU fraternity Pike is refurbishing their fire truck to fight any couch fires that may arise this weekend. “After seeing the chaos last year’s Big Ten championship football game brought on, we’ve always wanted to do something to help our city’s great firefighters,” member Test Testerson said. “Couch fires are not something that should be taken lightly. ” The popular 2000’s MTV series “Pimp my Ride” will be making a comeback to do the refurbishing of the truck — a process that will take 48 hours and $80,000 to complete.
The Black Sheep ceases publication, citing lack of humor The Black Sheep is being sheared away from campus. In a decision which, according to recent student polling, literally 100 percent of people saw coming, the MSU chapter of the so-called publication The Black Sheep will fold today due to its failure to be funny enough to keep anyone — and we do mean anyone — entertained. “It’s disappointing, but definitely deserved,” said a Black Sheep reporter who chose not to divulge his name because he is too embarrassed to admit he works for the publication. “I’m actually just surprised we were able to keep this charade going for as long as we did.” It’s worth mentioning that the The Black Sheep’s brief but notably terrible history has not even been noticed by MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon. “What the hell is The Black Sheep?” Simon asked when prompted to comment on the imminent demise of the paper. “I’ve been president-ing for 10 years now and I pick up The State News on a daily basis, but I have definitely never heard of this ‘Black Sheep’ you speak of. Sounds stupid to me. I’m glad it’s gone. “By the way, yes, I did just use the verb ‘president-ing,’” Simon said. The good news for The Black Sheep is it WE DNE S DAY, AP RI L 1 , 2 01 5
will not go down in history as completely devoid of worth. A maximum of one student has found a way to make the dish rag — wait, I mean newspaper — of use. “Yeah, I’m aware of The Black Sheep,” said advertising junior Cameron Riddle. “But only because I use it as kindling sometimes if I need to start a fire in Cedar Village. It burns really well.” As a fire starter, there is no denying The Black Sheep’s merit. However, due to the fact that there is a lot of other paper around which will also start fires, it was not enough to sustain the floundering business. “Plus, in a pinch, I will use it as toilet paper,” Riddle also mentioned, even though no one asked. In the end, the downfall of the so-called publication came down to this one key issue — no one on staff is literate. “I think our biggest problem was that we, as a group, do not know how to read or write, much less cleverly execute satire,” said the unnamed Black Sheep reporter, who was chosen by executives of the so-called publication to represent the paper because he was “by far” the smartest member on staff. “As it turns out, wit plays a bigger part than any of us realized.” TH E STATE N E WS
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Final Four Recent run anchored by upperclassmen leaders Tom Izzo credited the Final Four run to his older players mentoring their younger teammates
Final Four adds another chapter to the historic Duke-MSU series BY ZACH LIBBY ZLIBBY@STATENEWS.COM
The city of Indianapolis is no stranger when it comes to intriguing matchups between MSU and Duke, as both programs have squared off twice at the capital of Indiana in two different locations. It was only last weekend that the Spartans punched their ticket to the Final Four after knocking off Louisville in the East Regional final at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, making this the seventh time in which MSU has competed in the national semifinals underneath head coach Tom Izzo. As the lone No.7 seed among the four teams remaining in the tournament, this will be the 10th time in which Izzo and fellow coaching legend Mike Krzyzewski do battle on the sidelines since Izzo became the head man in East Lansing before the 1995 season. Krzyzewski is riding an impressive 8-1 record over Izzo, including 2-1 in tournaments since 1999. This weekend’s showdown inside Lucas Oil Stadium is already shaping up to be another memorable showdown between the two. Here are three of the most noteworthy MSU vs. Duke contests, with the most recent coming in the beginning of this season:
Junior forward Matt Costello is supported by freshman guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. after a foul is called on him Sunday, during the East Regional round of the NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight against Louisville in Syracuse, New York. PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON
BY JOHN NEIDHART JNEIDHART@STATENEWS.COM
In an age in which some of the top college basketball players look to increase their own playing time and career prospects, the unselfishness within MSU basketball has vaulted the team to the Final Four. Quite a few relationship dynamics exist across the roster but three stand out among the rest. Senior forward Branden Dawson and freshman forward Marvin Clark, senior guard Travis Trice and freshman guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. and finally junior forward Matt Costello and sophomore forward Gavin Schilling have all formed bonds, and the strength of these unions are taking the team to places that previously seemed out of reach. Although each pair is in a constant battle for minutes, the players have used the competition to help and improve one another. “I’m just not sure in this society this day and age that’s normal,” head coach Tom Izzo said. “But for this team, it’s normal,
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and it’s probably what’s taken a decent to good basketball team, and on Saturday night (we’re) gonna play in the greatest weekend of sports in our country.” Clark has added depth to a bench that wasn’t always supportive and has played crucial minutes since the end of the regular season. When Costello fouled out with 2:21 left in Sunday’s Elite Eight matchup with Louisville, it was the freshman Clark who entered the game and played the ensuing overtime minutes. Earlier in the year, Izzo was fed up with Clark. He thought his freshman forward wasn’t being attentive and was falling into a pit of freshman struggles. It was Dawson who uncharacteristically mentored Clark and helped mold him into the role player he is today. “Since I got here, BJ (Dawson) has taken me under his wing, showed me what I’m supposed to do and what I’m not supposed to do,” Clark said. “He’s helped me get through this process. He’s like a big brother to me, just a great person.” Coaching can only do so much for a freshman. The experience and maturity of a senior can have a deeper reach
WEDNESDAY, APRI L 1 , 2 01 5
to a young player, and years ago, when Draymond Green and Goran Suton wore the Michigan State ‘S,” that aspect was never more clear than in an early season practice. According to Izzo, Green and Suton clashed with one another, making the situation “a little more heated than normal.” Izzo watched the two bark back and forth, and decided not to break it up. After practice, Suton pulled Green aside and said a few words to him, words that changed the relationship between the two and was the exact sort of action a senior should take, Izzo said. Izzo has spoken of the importance of the play of his upperclassmen all year long. What they have done behind the scenes, however, has proven to be one of the largest reasons why the Spartans are fighting for a national championship berth. “This is one of the things that has separated this year’s team from top to bottom,” Izzo said. “There is a — I don’t know if you can use the word — but there is a true love for one another and that is a powerful, powerful thing.”
2014 CHAMPIONS CLASSIC Jahlil Okafor had the potential of being a lottery pick in the 2015 NBA draft before the season even began, but his performance against MSU in the Champions Classic at Bankers Life Field House back in November might have been the boost needed to upgrade his stock at an early part of the season. The true freshman finished with 17 points and five rebounds against then-No. 19 MSU to cap off an 81-71 victory. Justise Winslow, who is predicted to be a high lottery pick, added 15 points. Duke outscored the Spartans in points off turnovers with 24-4 that night, while MSU finished with their worst points off turnovers differential (-20) in the last four seasons. 2011 CHAMPIONS CLASSIC A long lasting memory for Krzyzewski during the first ever meeting in the Champions Classic between Duke and MSU was seen at Madison Square Garden in front of a sellout crowds of 19,979,. Krzyzewski surpassed Bob Knight as the most winningest Division I college basketball head coach, who defeated the Spartans to garner his 903rd victory. “I was in a no-win situation,” Izzo told reporters following the 74-69 loss. “I was either going to be the guy who threw the ball to Henry Aaron for the record breaker or the guy who shot Bambi.” 2005 REGIONAL SEMIFINAL Being ACC Tournament champions with a 27-6 record was enough for Duke to receive the No. 1 seed in the Austin Regional. After blowing through the first two rounds, only MSU stood in their way of hoisting their first NCAA championship since 2001. Coming out of the locker room for the second half tied up at 32, Maurice Ager and company pulled away late to advance to the Elite 8. The Spartans would eventually face future champion North Carolina in the Final Four at St. Louis. It was the first time that MSU competed in the Final Four since 2001.
Geoff Preston Sports editor sports@statenews.com @thesnews_sports
Final Four tickets have climbed out of many students’ price range A trip to the Final Four could prove costly for MSU fans with costs rising BY ZACH LIBBY ZLIBBY@STATENEWS.COM
Witnessing the first Final Four appearance by the men’s basketball team since 2010 Saturday is going to require a major sacrifice on fans’ wallets, as the ticket and hotel prices for this weekend are increasing at an alarming rate. For anyone planning on taking I-69 down to Indianapolis before the 6:09 p.m. tipoff when the Spartans take on the Duke Blue Devils, be prepared to shack up outside of the downtown area. As of Monday, the closest available hotel room near Lucas Oil Stadium is at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville, Indiana, two hours away from the site of the national semifinals. If a room does become available to purchase for the weekends, it’ll cost a fans 89 percent more than if they purchased it a week ago. The cheapest seats inside the
Spartan fans cheer Sunday during the East Regional round of the NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight against Louisville at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York.
stadium are set at $590.25 by StubHub.com if one decides to purchase tickets for only Saturday’s contest. For those that decide to go to the national semifinals and the national championship game Monday tickets will cost $842.79, according to StubHub. MSU athletics communications director John Lewandowski wrote in a press release that the ticket requests exceeded MSU’s allotment (3,200 tickets). “While we cannot determine what requests will be filled until after the 5 p.m. deadline, we estimate that as of 10 a.m. we will not be able to accommodate requests from Spartan Fund donors at the Green and White Club Level ($500 annual contribution) and University donors at the Presidents Club Level ($10,000 lifetime giving to MSU) and lower,” Lewandowski wrote. “We encourage these fans to pursue other avenues to secure tickets.”
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The JNL Child Development Center in Okemos is looking for both full and part time support staff, lead and assistant teachers to work with children from 6 weeks through 5 years old. Qualified applicants must have a passion for working with young children, an energetic, positive and playful personality and be available to work some or all weeknights until 7pm. Please send resume to cmurphy@cclc.com and we will contact qualified applicants for an interview.
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Final Four
MSU coaches weigh in on Tom Izzo and his current Final Four run Tom Izzo has been MSU’s head coach since 1995 and in that time he has been able to form friendships with many of the coaches in East Lansing, three of them commented on Izzo’s legacy and his latest run Head coach Tom Izzo looks back at his team before receiving the NCAA Eastern Regional trophy Sunday, during the East Regional round of the NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight against Louisville at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON
BY MATTHEW ARGILLANDER MARGILLANDER@STATENEWS.COM
Anyone who spends a significant amount of time around the athletic staff at MSU knows they are a tight-knit group, always eager to support one another. With the men’s basketball team making their seventh Final Four appearance under head coach Tom Izzo, a few of the other head coaches at MSU weighed in on the man Izzo is, the basketball team’s success and Izzo’s ability to keep producing quality teams that make long post-season runs. WRESTLING HEAD COACH TOM MINKEL Minkel, who is in his 24th season as head coach of the wrestling team, has been around Izzo at the university for a long time and said he admires Izzo’s love of the game. “Coach Izzo’s passion for his athletes and the game of basketball is second to none,” Minkel said. “I know of no one who can match his intensity. There is nothing more important than fundamentals and discipline and I know of no one who teaches that better than coach Izzo.” 12
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When Minkel was grieving the loss of his father, he said it was Izzo that reached out to him to see how he was doing. “I lost my father in the fall and the first person to call me was Tom Izzo. He’s not only a great coach but a great person as well.” The wrestling head coach is not surprised one bit that Izzo has another team in the Final Four, even if there were uncertainties surrounding this year’s team. “I don’t think anyone is shocked that Izzo got another team into the Final Four. However, in February it wasn’t certain that they would make the tournament field at all,” Minkel said. “The fact that they not only made the tournament but now are in the Final Four is truly extraordinary, and I think that is coach Izzo’s gift. He finds a way to get it done.” BASEBALL HEAD COACH JAKE BOSS JR. Boss was excited to see the basketball team make yet another run and he believes that their success helps the other athletic programs. “I’m excited for (the basketball team), I think I need to go hang out in the basketball office with them a little more and see if WEDNESDAY, APRI L 1 , 2 01 5
some of coach Izzo’s wisdom can rub off on me,” Boss said. “(Their success) adds to the atmosphere of being here at Michigan State. There’s no question that it helps us. It helps us in recruiting, it helps with our team and the mood around here. We’re those guys biggest fans.” No matter how many Final Four appearances, TV spots and interviews Tom Izzo gets, Boss said he never gets too big for the other coaches in the athletic department. “To his credit, he’s made himself very available to me and the rest of us in the athletic department,” Boss said. “I’ve gone to him for advice on numerous occasions and he’ll come out and watch baseball games with his son. We’ve got a very good relationship. He is the reason our athletic department has the atmosphere that it does.” Throughout the years Boss said Izzo’s teams have shown they have the consistent ability to play hard. "(Tom Izzo) gets (his team) to play hard, they trust him and when it gets to that crunch time in those big games like thats it’s awfully comforting to have a guy that’s been there and done that before,” Boss said.
GYMNASTICS HEAD COACH KATHIE KLAGES Klages said she sees a lot of determination and passion in the men’s basketball team, and they refuse to give up. “(The basketball team has) a lot of heart. They don’t want this game to be their last one and they’ve been carrying that (mindset) all the way through.” Klages loves to support the other athletic programs at the university. During the basketball team’s 76-70 win against Louisville in the Elite Eight, she had the tough task of balancing watching the game with a family event. Klages’s daughter is pregnant, and the baby shower was happening during the Elite Eight game, a problem for Klages. “So as we ate our lunch and played the silly baby shower games I kept on saying we have to speed this up the game’s going to start,” she said. After tip-off in Syracuse, New York family and friends had to take a back seat to MSU basketball. “We finished the baby shower-games and were like ‘What time is it?” and it was 2:22 p.m. So we moved the entire shower back upstairs and my daughter sat under the TV. and opened her gifts. We were all watching the game.”