State News The
The body image issue
Breaking free From coping with eating disorders to not tolerating what society decides is beautiful, students discuss different issues they face with body image on pages 4-9
Jane, an unidentified arts and humanities junior, poses for a portrait as she cuts a measuring tape from her waist Thursday. Read more about eating disorders in college and Jane’s struggle with anorexia nervosa on pages 4-5. PHOTO: ALLYSON TELGENHOF F RIDAY, AP R IL 10, 2 015
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Olivia Dimmer and Simon Schuster Trends and issues editor Breaking news editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews
Take Back the Night events met with indifference after tumultuous year James Madison freshman Casey Paskus makes a sign for Take Back the Night on Tuesday, in B115 Wells Hall. Paskus made 16 signs with anti-sexual assault messages on them for a march to the state capital that will take place April 8.
BY MARIA BRAGANINI MBRAGANINI@STATENEWS.COM
At Take Back the Night, symbolic acts play a large role in the events. The Clothesline Project, in which survivors of domestic and sexual assault hang up shirts emblazoned with their experiences, is close to the spirit of the movement. It’s also intended to help passers-by be more aware of the issue. This year, though, the steel poles stood bare. Last year when sexual assault on university campuses was emerging at the forefront of the national dialogue, the Take Back the Night events had been powerful, moving experiences. There was momentum and participation. But when I walked into the Union Tuesday evening for a consent workshop, the first in a series of events for Take Back the Night, I walked into an empty room. It wasn’t the wrong time or place. No one had shown up. This emptiness became a trend over the next two days. Later in the evening “Hunting Ground,” a film about sexual assault, was screened. With Director Kirby Dick in attendance, the room overflowed with students, faculty and staff attending the film. Despite the broad interest in the movie, next door was a room reserved for making posters littered with poster board and supplies, but was otherwise mostly vacant. I wasn’t quite discouraged, though. A year earlier, Take Back the Night began with a slow start followed by a large participating audience at the “speak out” event. When I arrived, it seemed the movement still had some energy. People had turned out and for the first time during Take Back the Night the speak out showed promise, until the conversation opened to the audience and silence spread. One minute turned to 20 and a class with a professor stood up, leaving less than five students there. The lone speaker was Take Back the Night chairwoman and public relations and policy senior Emily Kollaritsch, who was previously interviewed about her assault in The State News. She broke
PHOTO: ALLYSON TELGENHOF
the silence by sharing a poem from her own experience. Following the speak out, at about 6 p.m., a group of about 15 marched around campus and Grand River Avenue, holding signs and yelling chants, eventually stopping at Student Services and Administration Building to shout a list of demands. Senior Admissions Counselor Florensio Hernandez was initially confused when walking out of Administration Building as the march participants turned away from the building — he didn’t know if it was a march or a protest, he said. “It’s after work, most of the administration leaves at 5 (p.m.),” he said. “Protests are to educate. It’s having a strategy and being effective. Protests are as effective as the audience. They should have come at lunchtime. You have to be strategic to have results.” Kollaritsch said this year’s lackluster participation could have stemmed from survivors choosing to distance themselves from people who don’t take it seriously. “People laugh off rape by laughing at posters and protests,” Kollaritsch said. “People didn’t want to be a part of sexual assault awareness. I wish more people cared about the cause and understood the gravity of it.” It’s worth saying that the weather wasn’t great. And this year’s march didn’t have the draw of a speaker like MSU alumna and sexual assault survivor Gretchen Whitmer — who spoke last year — for clout, but it still seemed like the fervor that had once been felt for the issue was fading from MSU. International relations freshman Casey Paskus, the only person who made posters for the event, said it’s an issue that even family members don’t always grasp. “My dad was surprised when I told him I didn’t feel safe walking on campus,” she said. “I’m always checking over my shoulder.” But for this year’s Take Back the Night, no one marched to the Capitol. They took a bus. The candlelight vigil, honoring and recognizing survivors of sexual and domestic assault, was canceled altogether.
Downtown could see more housing development BY AJ MOSER AMOSER@STATENEWS.COM
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The old Taco Bell building, at the corner of East Grand River Avenue and Bailey Street, may finally be replaced after remaining vacant since the early 2000s. A proposal to replace the vacant restaurant with a five-story apartment building is being reviewed by the East Lansing City Council’s Planning Commission, who met Wednesday evening. Located at 565 E. Grand River Ave., the restaurant was constructed in 1972 and remained in business until Taco Bell moved across to the northwest corner of Bailey Street. At this site, David Krause from the Stonehouse Village development company is proposing a five-story building featuring 30 apartment units designed for students on the upper floors. The ground floor would be designated for commercial space. The city’s planning department is currently reviewing the proposal, and will be further discussed during the Planning Commission meet-
ing on April 22. If approved, construction would begin this summer with the goal of being completed within 12 months. At Wednesday’s meeting most of the planning commission’s time was focused on a Site Plan and Special Use Permit Application staff report, brought forward by Lingg Brewer, for a revised proposal previously brought forward in the fall of last year. It detailed a four-story building at 500 Albert Ave. and 122 Division St. The building would be constructed between existing apartment buildings and require bulldozing the house on the corner of Division Street. The proposed development would include six studio apartments and seven two-bedroom units on the upper floors. The first floor would be entirely commercial in use. Apartments in the new building would be marketed towards upperclassmen and graduate college students, with rent expected to remain similar to the current level of the apartment building at 500 Albert St. To read the rest of the story, visit statenews.com
Contents EDITORIAL: ASMSU must follow through on safe rides EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF Celeste Bott OPINION EDITOR Greg Monahan STAFF REP Meagan Beck MINORITY REP Sergio MartínezBeltrán
If ASMSU has its way, MSU will finally be getting its own safe ride program to get students home safe after a night of drinking. As The State News reported last week, MSU is currently the only school out of 14 in the Big Ten that does not have a safe ride initiative. But ASMSU has allocated $57,000 toward the implementation of such a program, which could begin as early as next fall. In theory, the idea seems like a no-brainer, and long overdue. However, if the program actually gets its wheels turning, it will end up costing significantly more than the original $57,000 price tag, and with ASMSU’s history of planning initiatives without following through, the entire plan needs to be looked at with discretion. First of all, the initial negotiations would team the program up with a popular ride-sharing service, which can-
not currently be named because plans are not finalized. But ride-sharing services have recently come under fire in the state of Michigan because of legal issues, which are still unresolved. If such programs become illegal under Michigan law, that would obviously and quickly squash the potential for this type of a safe ride program in East Lansing. Other questions have arisen as well. If the program is only offered to MSU students, would friends or family visiting in town be allowed to receive a ride with said MSU student? And how would East Lansing taxi services be affected by this change? It doesn’t take a business degree to understand that it could significantly hurt their businesses. But behind the questions is one bottom line — ASM-
Senior forward Branden Dawson attempts a basket over Duke center Jahlil Okafor April 4 during the semi final game of the NCAA Tournament in the Final Four round at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Basketball reporter John Neidhart gives his opinion on next year’s Final Four prospects on page 11.
SU has a reputation for pitching and planning bold initiatives without coming through. The student government’s bike share program has gone down as a well-documented flop. Originally, the program called for 40 bikes in ten different locations on MSU’s campus. But the final result, at least as of now? Eight bikes at one location. If legal issues are hurdled, enough money is allocated and the program is modeled after other successful safe ride programs at universities around the nation, the idea could literally help save lives. But if not, the proposed safe ride initiative could end up just being another seldom used, but expensive program in which undergraduate students are ultimately left to foot the bill.
INSIDE
If you’re seeking help with body image issues, here are some resources PAGE 6
Beauty doesn’t need to be within the bounds of cultural norms
PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON
PAGE 9
ONLINE To read about the two commencement speakers that have been announced, see statenews.com
VOL . 105 | NO. 127 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 MANAGER Kelsey Taber COLOPHON The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created
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TRENDS AND ISSUES EDITOR Olivia Dimmer SPORTS EDITOR Geoff Preston FEATURES EDITOR Casey Holland PHOTO EDITOR Erin Hampton COPY CHIEF Elena Cronick OPINION EDITOR Greg Monahan Copyright © 2015 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.
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Spotlight
Psychological conditions, not just weight, affect eating disorders Societal pressures, as well as environmental stressors, play big roles in these disorders BY JESSICA STEELEY JSTEELEY@STATENEWS.COM
As an 8-year-old girl, Jane was encouraged by her father to go outside and play, not for fun, but with the goal of maintaining a healthy weight. “He said that all the women in our family have had issues with their weight, and he didn’t want that for me,” Jane said. “I was only 8, but it made a huge impact on me.” Jane, an arts and humanities junior, whose name has been changed for anonymity, said she developed an eating disorder her freshman year of high school because of the pressure she felt to be perfect. “There’s a lot of social pressure and societal pressure to look a certain way, to feel accepted,” said Anne Buffington, a nutritionist at MSU Student Health Services and a registered dietician. Jane said she was never clinically diagnosed with an eating disorder, but she had some of the common symptoms of anorexia, such as controlled eating, skipping meals and over-exercising late at night so no one would know. She suffered in silence for more than a year before telling her parents and getting treatment.
“FAT”
“Because of the stigma that comes with it … people tend to look at you differently,” she said. “I’d rather people see me as who I am today.” Jane claims that as her reasoning for anonymity, adding that having an eating disorder is something personal she doesn’t want to share with everybody.
“There’s a lot of social pressure and societal pressure to look a certain way to feel accepted.” Anne Buffington, nutritionist at MSU Student Health services
STARVING SELF-ESTEEM Buffington said eating disorders are not about food and weight, but are psychological conditions. They are also not limited to gender or race. Psychology professor Kelly Klump said there are four different types of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and feeding and eating disorders that are not otherwise classified.
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Anorexia nervosa is characterized by restricting food intake to the point of becoming in a star ved or semistar ved state, Buf f ing ton said. She said the self-esteem of someone who is anorexic is completely based on how they look. By contrast, bulimia nervosa is when someone binge eats and then purges themselves of the food ingested through vomiting, laxatives or over-exercise, Klump said. Bulimics also base their self-esteem on their looks, but they have a normal body weight or above and are not extremely thin, she said.
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Buffington said binge eating disorder is characterized by eating large volumes of food in a short amount of time, but no purging follows it. Jane said she knows many people who used to have an eating disorder or currently have one. The last group deals with eating disorders that don’t meet the criteria for a specific eating disorder, or are some combination of the eating disorders, Buffington said. The prevalence of those disorders is 8-10 percent of the population, Klump said. However, Klump said people with anorexia often engage in
binge eating and purging, and the only difference between anorexia and bulimia is body weight. COLLEGIATE TRIGGERS Buffington, who specializes in eating disorders, said one could be triggered by a traumatic experience or a major life transition, such as starting college. K lump said eating disorders are most common among women ages 16 to 25, and there tends to be an increase of clinically significant eating disorders in college. Buffington said 1 in 3 college women will have strug-
gled with weight, food, body image, disordered eating or an eating disorder by the time they graduate from college. “It can be difficult in the college environment to handle some of the stresses and complexities that come along with being a college student,” Buffington said. Jane said her freshman year was particularly stressful and she had a strong urge to start restricting her eating and dieting again, but got through it by talking to a friend who was going through the same thing. Seventy percent of MSU students report being at or slight-
Anya Rath Managing editor arath@statenews.com @thesnews
ly under their normal weight, and 35 percent, who are not overweight, report still trying to lose weight, Buffington said. Environmental studies and sustainability junior Angie, who has also had her name changed for anonymity, has been binge eating since she was a little kid and started restricting her eating in high school. She would skip breakfast and lunch, then eat huge portions at dinner. She no longer restricts her food intake, but she still struggles with binging.
“People started noticing that I wasn’t eating at school and they would ask me if I was anorexic. That, in itself, was embarrassing.” Angie, environmental studies and sustainability junior
Female to Male Ratio ANOREXIA NERVOSA AND BULIMIA NERVOSA:
BINGE EATING DISORDER:
70%
of MSU students are either at normal weight or slightly under normal weight
0.4%
“People started noticing that I wasn’t eating at school and they would ask me if I was anorexic,” Angie wrote in an email. “That, in itself, was embarrassing, so when the school year ended, I changed my eating habits.” A RANGE OF CAUSES Klump said eating disorders can be inherited, and the likelihood of that occurring ranges from 50 to 80 percent. However, she said they are usually triggered by environmental factors, including living in the weight-focused culture of the United States. Buffington said if someone has a family history of depression, anxiety, or eating disorders, it’s also more likely that person will develop one. This applies to Jane, as well. Jane said depression runs in her family, and after she told her parents about her disorder, she said she was diagnosed with depression by her doctor and obsessive-compulsive disorder by a therapist. “It was more like OCD based on … thoughts, like forever thinking of the pressures that I need to be perfect … and how that manifested through controlled eating,” Jane said. A ng ie sa id she beca me depressed near the end of her sophomore year in high school, and that’s when the restricted eating started. She said her binging has caused weight gain and stress, and has also led to her developing depression and anxiety. Once somebody develops an
PERCENT OF POPULATION
ANOREXIA NERVOSA
35%
of MSU students who are not overweight said they wanted to lose weight
1-1.5%
BULIMIA NERVOSA
2.4% BINGE EATING DIS.
SOURCE: AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION. DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS - FIFTH EDITION (DSM 5)
eating disorder, it eventually takes on a life of its own and becomes harder to treat, Klump said. Jane said people often don’t realize that having an eating disorder isn’t a choice, that it can just happen because of a combination of factors. Klump said a part of this is difficulties in terms of their cognitive functioning. “It ’s called … cognitive inflexibility, where they can’t change course,” Klump said. “So, if they’re on a course where ‘I’m on a diet, I must lose weight, I must lose weight,’ now they’re starving. Starvation is going to make it
even more difficult for them to shift out of that cognitive set of ‘I must starve myself.’” FINDING TREATMENT Klump said the best treatment for eating disorders tends to be cognitive behavioral therapy, but anorexia nervosa patients have to gain weight before any kind of therapy becomes effective. Buffington agrees therapy is crucial and the key component of treatment, but she said a multidisciplinary team of a therapist, medical provider and dietician is best to address all aspects of an eating disorder. Klump said the best time to
get treatment is before they have a full-blown eating disorder, because if they wait treatment will be more difficult and take longer to complete. Early warning signs of eating disorders are typically increased rigidity, dieting, excessive exercise, vomiting and binge eating, Klump said. “In high school, the counseling really did help,” Jane said. “I think it was a combination of counseling and medication … that helped me realize … not everything has to be perfect, and what I’m doing to myself is unhealthy.” Angie said she has come to terms with her eating disor-
der and she recommends others to talk to people they trust to help support them and overcome their eating disorder. “I haven’t overcome this eating disorder … and I know that I have to work on it, but honestly, it’s hard,” Angie said. Buffington said MSU students can get help from Olin Health Center or the Counseling Center on campus if they are struggling with an eating disorder, or just body image and weight in general. “It takes a lot to change your attitude and to learn to love yourself,” Jane said. “So, you need to know it’s going to be hard, but it’s so worth it.”
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“I think it was a combination of counseling and medication ... that helped me realize ... not everything has to be perfect, and what I’m doing to myself is unhealthy.” Jane, arts and humanities junior
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Body Image
Resources for a healthy self-image in East Lansing BY MEAGAN BECK MBECK@STATENEWS.COM
In a world of stick-thin models and shaming people for their
race, having a positive body image is an issue many people struggle with. But students don’t have to go through these struggles alone.
Here are a few of MSU’s different options for people who might need help or just want someone to talk to about their personal struggles.
COUNSELING CENTER 556 E. Circle Drive 207 Student Services The Counseling Center con-
ducts walk-in visits for initial appointments as opposed to scheduling appointments. Walk-in hours are from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6
p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday through Friday hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Within the Counseling Center are also a variety of support groups, including an eating disorder group and African-American female therapy group. Certain groups do require a pre-interview before attending meetings. OLIN HEALTH CENTER 463 E. Circle Drive Olin Health Center is the central hub for all things pertaining to student and faculty health and wellness. In addition to the many services they offer, Olin Health Center also provides information and resources for people who may have issues with eating or their body image. Psychiatry services are also available and located at Olin Health Center. A referral from a counselor at the Counseling Center or a student’s current primary care doctor or counselor is needed for Olin Health Center’s psychiatry services. CONSULT ONE OF MSU’S REGISTERED DIETITIANS If students have concerns with their weight, eating or other issues regarding food, one of MSU’s registered dietitians is available to help. Anne Buffington, a registered dietitian who works within Olin Health Center, is available as a resource regarding health education for students. Buffington is also the adviser of Spartan Body Pride, a student group associated with Olin Health Center. SPARTAN BODY PRIDE
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The mission of Spartan Body Pride is to raise awareness about eating disorders, body image issues and the diversification of beauty. Spartan Body Pride hosts many events regarding these issues. Toward the end of February, the group hosted events for Eating Disorder Awareness Week. They also worked with the Women’s Resource Center and University Activities Board to provide a night of relaxation and rejuvenation. To be a member of the group, students are required to attend one meeting per semester and be currently enrolled as a student.
Body Image A positive body image begins with accepting who you are and the way you look
BY ZOË SCHUBOT ZSCHUBOT@STATENEWS.COM
It often seems we put far too much effect into improving our appearance to please others. We want to look good for the people we are attracted to, in order to make a good impression on our peers, to please our parents and to feel good about ourselves. The list goes on and on. This pressure associated with body image comes from many different sources in our lives. Of course, there are media ideals that are presented to us every day that portray an unrealistic standard of beauty that is almost
impossible to attain. But I would argue these media standards are not nearly as influential on our body image as the people in our lives who make comments on our appearance. I have an incredibly close relationship with my mom, who happens to be much thinner than I am. At many points throughout my teenage years, she would make comments about my weight and how much happier I would be if I lost just a few pounds. The comments were never cruel, but they still played a large part in how I saw myself. The result was me spending a large period of my teenage years obsessing about food. I was constantly dieting and always trying to lose weight. Then about a year ago, I realized that what my mom thought was right for my body and what was actually right for my body were two very different things. She had no malicious intent in encouraging
me to diet. In fact, it was quite the opposite. She genuinely wanted me to be happy, and to her, skinny meant happy. But I am not my mother. For me, happiness is not about fitting into size zero jeans or looking great in a bathing suit. Happiness is being able to eat another piece of pizza without feeling guilty, or going out to eat ice cream with my friends and actually being able to order something. While I still have to work every day toward loving my body, I no longer live a life that is controlled by the food I choose to eat. What we fail to realize when we alter ourselves to meet some kind of societal standard is the only person who really matters when judging your appearance is yourself. The best way to come to love your body is to start making decisions that are best for you. Not your parents, not your friends, but the very person who is living in the body they are trying to love.
OPINION P O LL T H U R S DAY ’ S R E S U LT S
Should a first- and second-offense for minor in possession be reduced to a civil infraction instead of a misdemeanor? 34%— No, students know the law
66%—Yes, current law is too strict TOTAL VOTES: 58 AS OF 5 P.M. THURSDAY
TO DAY ’ S Q U E S T I O N
Do you have a positive body image?
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Take a couple of classes.
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Save Time
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Transfer credits to the college of your choice.
Contact your local Community College for details. F RI DAY, AP RI L 1 0, 2 01 5
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Crossword
L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
Body Image
Students work out not just to get results, but to feel healthy
ACROSS
1 Roam 4 Got ready for company, perhaps 9 Norse shape-shifter 13 Word often following “further” 14 One adopting a puppy, say 15 The Tempter 16 Trivial amount 17 *Bargain dairy product? 19 Go out 20 Dedicated lines 21 Eliminates completely 22 Bar supply 24 Farm cries 25 Vessel with a spout 26 Database command 27 Spots 30 __ of roses 32 *Nickname for a roller coaster highlight? 34 Reclined 35 Easily provoked 36 Soap containing ground pumice 37 *Security workers asleep on the job? 39 Only Dwarf without a beard 40 Had 41 Goes after 42 Oath for toondom’s Dick Dastardly
43 Provide money for 44 It’s named for a trapeze artist 47 Turkish tabby 50 Deaden, as a piano string 51 Reason for an extra period 52 *Really hot cold drink? 54 Violin ending 55 Cuckoopints, e.g. 56 Merge 57 “Well now!” 58 Bar offerings 59 It’s a stunner 60 Reject
DOWN
1 They may be noble 2 __ Reader 3 Holiday rate, perhaps 4 Loser-to-be? 5 Stray 6 Arab potentate 7 Muscle mag display 8 Green Day drummer __ Cool 9 Lorenzo of “Renegade” 10 Man with rising aspirations? 11 Iron-rich cabbage 12 Signs 15 Layered clouds
18 Neighboring 23 Bluegrass characteristic 24 Transvaal settlers 26 Shakes off 27 2002 Cage/Streep film 28 Honky-tonk 29 Fix, in a way 30 Goya’s “The Duchess of __” 31 Stretched 32 Overused 33 Unsportsmanlike look 35 Regional animal life 38 Seizes unlawfully 39 Medicine dispenser, and, in another way, a hint to the answers to starred clues 42 Bump at the office, maybe 43 Bar heads 44 Blue gem, briefly 45 Hindu sage 46 Withdrawal process 47 Open a touch 48 Not 49 Kindergarten staple 50 Spanish lady 53 Hardware item
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 THURSDAY’S PUZZLE
4/10/15
8
© 2015 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
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Mechanical engineering sophomore Conner Archey lifts some weights on Dec. 3, 2014, at IM Sports West. “Working out most definitely relieves me from a lot of the stress from finals week,” Archey said. “I work about for about an hour, 4 times a week.” STATE NEWS FILE PHOTO BY KATIE WINKLER KWINKLER@STATENEWS.COM
In the mornings, the sound of clashing weights, groans and the rippling of the treadmill track can be heard by students who frequent IM Sports-West to achieve their fitness goals. After having a baby boy two years ago, political science prelaw junior Keshava Kirkland finds inspiration from Carmen Gets Fit, a blog with posts related to personal training, weight loss and getting healthy. Since she wanted to slim down after having a baby, Kirkland found this blog compelling and a way to stay motivated. Kirkland focuses on heart health with cardio, which she combines with specific focus areas, like back, abs and legs to appear toned. “I don’t always eat the right things so I need to balance it out,” she said. “I’ve seen lots of improvements — more strength in my legs and arms, more toned, fat turning into muscle, losing weight in my face and abs getting harder.”
Working out in the mornings is something that Kirkland and finance sophomore Patrick Lane do to start their day out right. “I like to make it a part of every day. I feel better when I work out, especially in the mornings. It brings me more energy during the day,” Lane said. “I used to sleep in, go to class, then go to the gym, but I figure out that I didn’t really have much free time when I did that. I like to come early and leave the rest of my day wide open to get homework done and just relax.” With summer break only a month away, students like mechanical engineering junior Andrew Boyer create time in their days for workouts to get their “summer bod,” in addition to staying healthy. “Some days my legs feel like Jell-O (after), but I feel rejuvenated. ... If I start my day with a workout, then I’m really active for the rest of the day,” Kirkland said. “After I work out, I don’t want to eat fattening food — I want some fruit. Working out makes me feel healthy, and I want to be healthy.”
Spartan Body Pride works to spread message of body positivity, self love BY ZOË SCHUBOT ZSCHUBOT@STATENEWS.COM
Since it was founded in 2012, Spartan Body Pride has aimed to spread body positivity and self love across MSU’s campus. The organization is devoted to stressing the importance of health and positivity, regardless of shape or size. They also work to break down social norms created by unrealistic media standards of beauty. They focus heavily on eating disorder prevention and encouraging healthy relationships with food. “People think that (eating disorders are) caused by the person themselves and they’re just a psychological prob-
lem,” said Spartan Body Pride President and social work junior Sage Gauss. “But I think its a bigger thing I think that its caused by a campus environment and a societal environment that favors unrealistic body types and doesn’t celebrate everyone,” From free fitness classes to informational documentary screenings, the members of Spartan Body Pride are committed to educating the MSU community and promoting body positivity. Spartan Body Pride is active during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week which is put on in association with ASMSU, Residence Halls Association, and The National Eating Disorders Association every February. The organization puts on events through-
out the week to inform students about the dangers of eating disorders and common myths surrounding them. One key part of their message is the idea of what they call intuitive eating as a way to improve health and combat eating disorders. “If you practice intuitive eating, which is paying attention to your body and how you feel about food and developing a good relationship with food, we can help lessen the prevalence of eating disorders which is a really big problem on college campuses,” Gauss said. While their mission is large, Gauss said she believes that Spartan Body Pride is making a difference among the community.
Body Image
Social media campaign expresses love for black skin, in all its tones
Criminal justice freshman Hamani Thompson
Office of Supportive Services tutor Kelli Wall
ISS senior Jaalyn Washington
Media and information freshman Terrel Edmondson
Linguistics senior Hilena Tibebe
Sociology senior Alexandra McLenan PHOTOS COURTESY OF RASHAD TIMMONS
BY MARIA BRAGANINI MBRAGANINI@STATENEWS.COM
It started with one social media campaign celebrating black beauty and fighting against negative stereotypes of black body images. The first #BlackOutDay hashtag designated March 6 to be a day for black people to fight against negative sterotypes and draw attention to black beauty. It inspired students at MSU to continue the tradition by declaring it would be honored the first Friday of every month. #BlackOutDay has given students a voice to raise awareness about unrealistic beauty standards placed on society. On April 3, the second Blackout Day of the year, president of the Black Student Alliance and journalism senior Rashad Timmons began posting images on his Twitter account for the day. Timmons said about 30 people responded to his post. “I think social media platforms in general have continually created spaces for black people to exist unapologetically,” Timmons said. “Blackout Day is one of the most efficient and powerful movements in that long trajectory of agency and community.” Faculty and staff accompanied students with having their portraits taken to be a part of the movement. “They understood that by engaging, they were communicating two things — my black is beautiful, our black is beautiful,” Timmons said.
Graduate student Marion Bakhoya said she remembers admiring celebrities Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, Brandy Norwood and Serena Williams as a child. It wasn’t until middle school, Bakhoya said, when her peers vocalized they didn’t understand or approve of her role models because of their dark complexion. “For me, it was about the music and the sport,” Bakhoya said. “It made me feel more validated, because I saw women who looked like me at the pinnacle of success in their (respective) fields.” As an identifying heterosexual black woman, Bakhoya sees the value in having a social movement such as #BlackOutDay advocating for black men and women. “Girls see other girls who aren’t even celebrities, girls who are their age, their peers, whoever they are, whether they’re (non-transgender), trans, whatever they look like and whoever they are in real life,” Bakhoya said. “It’s important to have these and the use of social media transcending cultures, generations, ages and seeing people who look like you.” Social relations and policy freshman Dominique McCormick views the extensive divide between light skin and dark skin in the community as a form of mental slavery. “Darker-skinned people are seen as angry, bitter, militant, ugly, unattractive,” McCormick said. “Lighter-skinned women are closer to femininity and are seen closer to whites, so black men are attracted to lighter-skinned women. There’s a divide between light-skinned
black men and dark-skinned black men, and a divide between light-skinned black women and dark-skinned black women.” McCormick said society has unconsciously linked specific connotations to certain skin colors. “Even when you’re looking at definitions of black or white, black is assumed as evil, dark, and sinister and white is pure,” McCormick said. “So when you use a definition for color and those that are white, then you say this is my validation to greater dehumanize you for being a darker-skinned person and praising Jesus for being white and pure.” Some Latino students say they also feel the pressure to conform to white standards.
“It’s important to have these and the use of social media transcending cultures, generations, ages and seeing people who look like you.” Marion Bakhoya, graduate student
“A guy said to me, ‘Aren’t all Latina women curvaceous?’ There’s something wrong there,” comparative cultures and politics junior Lizbeth Lopez said. “Latinas, Latinos, black women, black men — they’re monolithic. If they’re F RI DAY, AP RI L 1 0, 2 01 5
either this or if not they’re supposed to be one way, but it’s just a lack of understanding.” Lopez said the standard of white beauty embedded in all communities in the world where Europeans have colonized. “Even in African communities and Asian communities and Indian communities and Latino communities, it’s always the standard of who’s closest to having the lighter skin is always praised the most,” Lopez said. As a young girl, Lopez described spending hours straightening her hair. Transitioning to college was a period of growth, Lopez said, accepting herself as a woman and becoming comfortable in her own skin, still receiving judgement from peers. “There were points of contention of being exoticized for being a Latina woman and being accepted,” Lopez said. “There was a point of acceptance and embracing differences, but there was a point where you exoticized.” The Black Student Alliance plans to continue encouraging and facilitating dialogue around realities along with sustaining spaces for healing, self-love and learning. Timmons said the richness of Blackout Day resides in the fact that it allows black people to acknowledge innate beauty, simply on the basis of multifaceted identities and existence. “I think it gives us the opportunity to divorce ourselves, even if briefly, from the politics of the many institutions we are a part of, and say, collectively, that, ‘I am black, in that blackness I am unique, I am human, and I matter,’” Timmons said. TH E STATE N E WS
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Body Image
Good Eats: Healthy options for lunch outings with your friends BY LESLIE HEMENWAY LHEMENWAY@STATENEWS.COM
JOSE’S CUBAN SANDWICH AND DELI “It should definitely be a top choice for students, as opposed to Jimmy John’s or Menna’s. I’d say Jose’s is way better than either of those.” – Nick Farris, MSU alumnus Jose’s Cuban Sandwich and Deli, located at 2315 E. Grand River Ave. in Lansing, offers a variety of wraps and sandwiches that are healthier than the average sandwich shop. Jose Miroquesada, owner of the restaurant, said pretty much everything offered on the menu is made daily and grilled. “We don’t use any deep frying,” he said. When Farris went to Jose’s, he said he ordered the Caribbean chicken sandwich, which is priced at $5.95. He said the sandwich didn’t seem like it’d be anything amazing. But then he took a bite of it. “The bread was perfectly toasted, the chicken was tender and well-seasoned, there was a good proportion of sauce, the veggies were fresh-tasting,” he said. Farris said he would definitely recommend students try Jose’s because he thinks it’s a lot fresher and healthier than the average sandwich shop. “The food’s a little bit mixed, from a traditional Cuban sandwich to BLT, or French dip, so we mix it a little bit but we still keep our Latin American flavor,” Miroquesada said. LEAF SALAD BAR “I buy the soup regularly to bring home for my family, I get the gluten-free and vegetarian offerings normally,” – MSU alumna Teresa Tarn Leaf Salad Bar, located at 1542 W. Grand R iver Ave., feat ures a n abunda nce of healthy options, including soups, salads and smoothies. Regan said the salad bar offers more than 100 different options for vegetables, cheeses and meats to put in salads for an extra amount
Owner and Lansing resident Jose Miroquesada packages an order to go Thursday at Jose’s Cuban Sandwich and Deli on East Grand River Avenue in Lansing. Jose’s provides authentic Cuban sandwiches and Cuban deli. PHOTOS: HANNAH LEVY FAC T Leaf Salad Bar features more than 100 vegetables, cheeses and meats for salads so customers can customize their meals.
of variety in their meals. She said the restaurant has a fruit bar as well, which can add a side to compliment the different salads at the restaurant. Tarn said she loves Leaf Salad Bar. She said she goes there at least once a week and usually gets a mango smoothie with protein powder and chia seeds, which is priced at $5.49. “It’s basically a mix between a fast food restaurant and build-your-own salad bar. (It’s) super easy, quick, everything’s prepared fresh daily.” manager Kalie Regan said. Regan said the restaurant offers three different soups a day, with at least one of the soups being vegetarian or vegan options. On the weekends, gluten-free soups are offered to customers as well. The Friday flavors are chicken noodle, clam chowder and vegetarian black bean. Customers can purchase a cup for $3.49, a bowl for $4.49 or a quart for $12.49. WOODY’S OASIS “It was good (and) moderately healthy.” — interior design junior Chloe Aalsburg
The inside of Jose’s Cuban Sandwich and Deli is open to serve Thursday on 2315 East Grand River Avenue in Lansing. 10
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Woody’s Oasis, with locations at 1050 Trowbridge Road and 211 E. Grand River Ave., is a Mediterranean deli
that boasts on its website that it’s the healthy alternative to fast food. For students on the go between classes, the restaurant can also be found at the Crossroads Food Court in the International Center. Co-owner Dalida Raad said there are only five options on the menu that are fried, but everything else is stewed or baked. “We use a lot of olive oil and garlic, and those are two very healthy ingredients,” she said. Aalsburg said she used her Combo-X-Change at the Woody’s Oasis at the Crossroads Food Court in the International Center. She said she got a chicken dish and the spinach pie. “I think the service with the combination of the food has a lot to do with the reputation,” Raad said. One of the many vegetarian sandwiches offered at Woody’s Oasis is the falafel sandwich, which is priced at $3.99. The sandwich features falafel, lettuce, tomato, pickled turnips and tahini sauce, all wrapped in pita bread. The daily specials also offer healthy options for customers. The oasis chicken stir-fry combo is offered on Fridays every week. The meal features a chicken breast sauteed with peppers and onions with a tomato sauce and Lebanese rice. Customers can purchase it for $8.79, and can add a drink for a dollar more.
Sports
Geoff Preston Sports editor sports@statenews.com @thesnews_sports
COLUMN: MSU not a lock for 2016 Final Four BY JOHN NEIDHART JNEIDHART@STATENEWS.COM
MSU’s season could very well end in Houston next year, but thinking it’s a foregone conclusion is a big mistake. The Final Four returns to the Lone Star State next spring and some already have the Spartans penciled in to make it back to where this season ended. Junior guard Denzel Valentine vowed that MSU will return to the Final Four and freshman guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr. is on a mission to reach that goal as well. There’s no denying that it’s a very realistic possibility next season. But what might be overlooked is the heavy
task of filling the production from graduating seniors Travis Trice and Branden Dawson. Aside from just a few games, Dawson was the most consistent Spartan this year. Trice frustrated some fans and even head coach Tom Izzo at times, but his tournament performance will cement him in hallowed ground at MSU. Trice (15.3 points per game) and Dawson (11.9) were two of the top three scorers, and leaving with Dawson is the 9.1 rebounds per game he averaged. This leaves Valentine with a larger role, regularly being asked to guard the opposing team’s best player. Based on the foul trouble he found himself in this year, staying on the court could be an issue. Even if he can, the 35 minutes per game he’ll be playing could be much more draining when he’s tasked with a tough defensive assignment. While Dawson and Valentine often shared
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BANQUET SERVERS. The English Inn. Huge wedding season. Weekends and great tips. Erik@englishinn. com. (517) 663-2500. BLOOMFIELD HILLS Rental Co. needs summer help! Up to $12/hr, May-Aug. Outdoor work, lifting req. Call Wayne, (248) 3324700. BROOKSHIRE INN & Golf Club seeking experienced servers, flexible shifts, starting ASAP. Call 517-6554694 ext. 12. HELP WANTED Williamston Horse Farm. Weekends, $10/hour, about 8 hours a weekend. Please contact 517-449-0983 LANDSCAPE SERVICES department at MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities seeks highly motivated employees to assist in the maintenance of campus. Please come to IPF Landscape Services at 1060 Stadium Rd East Lansing, MI to fill out an application or send a resume to landscapeservices@ipf.msu.edu
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Senior guard Travis Trice signals to his teammates Saturday during the semifinal game of the NCAA Tournament in the Final Four round at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Spartans were defeated by the Blue Devils, 81-61.
some of these assignments, being able to count on Dawson to slow down elite players freed Valentine up in ways that might not be as possible next year. With Trice’s departure, Nairn will take on a heavy load at the guard position.He will be joined, however, by junior guard Eron Harris who could very well end up in the same role Trice took on this year. Before this season, the Spartans lost starters Keith Appling, Gary Harris and Adreian Payne. There were obvious growing pains to start the year as MSU fell to 5-3 and later 9-5 by Dec. 30. To not expect some of these problems next season would be foolish. As great as the 2013-14 Elite Eight team was, Trice and Dawson took MSU to a place the program hadn’t been in five years. They were a pair of seniors that helped raise another banner in Breslin Center, and regardless of the talent on MSU’s roster, moving on from their absence will be a challenge.
Employment MOTOR COACH Driver Are you seeking an exciting & challenging opportunity? We’re seeking skilled Drivers who are professional, friendly, and upbeat! Successful candidates will possess exceptional customer service skills, a commercial driver’s license and excellent driving record, and must be able to pass DOT physical and drug/alcohol screens. Overnight and/ or out-of-state travel may be required. We offer an exciting, fun place to work and competitive wages. Apply in person Mon-Fri at Dean Transportation, 4812 Aurelius Rd, Lansing, MI 48910 or online at www. deantransportation.com/ jobs
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Employment
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PART TIME Laboratory Technician: Lansing based clinical toxicology laboratory is looking for a part-time laboratory technician with a B.S. degree. Duties include, but are not limited to: sample preparation, chromatogram interpretation, instrument operation and maintenance, and other laboratory related duties. Please submit resumes or inquiries to: tafaulkner@psolab.com
1, 2 and 3 bdrm apts available for spring and summer. Private entrances, covered parking, washer and dryer in every apt, walk in closets, huge living spaces and more. Tanning, pool, fitness center. Call for move in specials. 517-351-9400. Summer and Fall waitlists started. Some styles sold out! Huntersridgetownhomes. com.
G L E N W O O D APARTMENTS – 2 & 3 Bdrms. Available August. 517-507-5570.
THREE BDRM 2 bath. Central air, w/d and dishwasher. Pets welcome with deposit, fenced yard. Close to campus. $1000 monthly, $1000 deposit. 5173232146.
HOUSE FOR rent 3BR, 1 bath, hardwood floors, 1 mi from campus. $795 + utilities, all appliances + W/D. Located 2015 Prospect, Lansing. Call/Text Kevin 517.749.1543.
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2 AND 3 bdrm townhomes available for summer and fall. Over 1000 sq ft of living space. Walk in closets, garages, pet friendly. Washer and dryer in every apt. Free tanning, 24 hour fitness, pool and more. Several styles sold out or almost sold out. Spring Specials including a $350 gift card. Call today! 3519400 or huntersridgetownhomes.com
1509 ANNE 3 bed/bath $1200/mon. 1648 Burcham 3 bed/1.5 bath $1000/mon. W/d + dish. Lic 3. www. rentmc.com or call 517-6555941 for more info.
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WATERBURY PLACEgorgeous, newer, highly sought after, 3 Bdrm. 3 bath available August due to a cancellation. 517-833-9064.
Duplexes/Rent
Houses/Rent 2015-16 HOUSE. Licensed for 6. Awesome Location! + Outstanding Condition! 517-490-3082. AUG ‘15. 5 bd & 4 bd houses, Both have been very reduced in price. 645 and 627 Evergreen E.L. 517332-1623 734-717-8513
Textbooks COLLEGEVILLE PAYS top dollar for your Textbooks! Stop by 321 E Grand River Ave.
Services STORAGE-STUDENT special - 1/2 off summer rental - Premier Storage Haslett - call (517)339-9856 for details.
ROBERT LEE AUTO SALES, INC.
WE BUY CARS!
AVAIL MAY or August! 1, 2 & 4 bdrm apts, behind Dublin, great location, very spacious, laundry, a/c & more! www.cronmgt.com or 517.351.1177 BERRYTREE APARTMENTS – 1 & 2 Bdrms. Available now and August. 517-5073841.
517.272.4005 4909 Martin Luther King Blvd. Lansing, MI 48910
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Congratulations on a fantastic season! We enjoyed being your 2015 NCAA® Men’s Final Four® host and hope you’ll be back soon. Yours, Indianapolis #IndyWelcomesAll
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