Who’s starting? Senior quarterback Andrew Maxwell.
Take a look at football’s fall depth chart
Senior right tackle Fou Fonoti. state News file photo
SPORTS+FEATURES, Page 6
state news file photo
statenews.com | 7/29/13 | @thesnews
Dining plan prices set to increase for 2013-14 academic year at MSU Campus+City, Page 3
Michigan State University’s independent voice
L e g i s l at u r e
Rep. Barnett proposes sales tax increase to ease tuition cost By Michael Gerstein mgerstein@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Photos by Danyelle Morrow/The State News
Lansing resident and MSU alumnus Justin Love, left, watches as genomics and molecular genetics senior Zachary DeRade cooks July 17 in their home in Lansing. The two enjoy cooking vegetarian meals, though neither of them are vegetarian.
A fresh foundation By Soundarya Lakshmi slakshmi@ statenews.com the state news nn
Lansing resident and MSU alumnus Justin Love, left, and genomics and molecular genetics senior Zachary DeRade, right, laugh while playing video games on Friday in their home in Lansing.
Lansing resident and MSU alumnus Justin Love, left, and genomics and molecular genetics senior Zachary DeRade, right, hold hands during a nature walk on July 26 at Fitzgerald Park, 133 Fitzgerald Park Drive, in Grand Ledge, Mich. The couple enjoys the nature trails of the park in addition to the disc golf course.
MSU students examine past, look ahead in fight for LBGT equality
For genomics and molecular genetics senior Zachary DeRade and his partner, MSU alumnus Justin Love, one of the major factors of coming to MSU was the chance to be a part of a larger, more diverse area accepting of their homosexuality — a chance to find a home. “I feel very safe and secure at Michigan State University, and I also feel confident and safe to express pride in my identity,” DeRade said. “Justin and I both came from a really small town where in the late '90s the community had chased a teacher from their town for being a gay man. I feel confident, safe and proud to be an openly identified gay man at Michigan State University.” Since the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in June 2013, members of the LGBT community across the country rejoiced that the piece of legislation, which allowed states
to refuse same-sex couples the benefits of marriage, had been struck down. And although many college students are several years away from marriage, it's painting a picture of the progression of LBGT rights on campus in addition to building a hopeful avenue for MSU students to pursue their relationships in the immediate legal future. A plethora of organizations that includes students, faculty and alumni caters to the needs of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender, or LGBT, community at MSU. Coming from a town of fewer than 4,000 residents in Byron Center, Mich., DeRade said he and Love expected MSU to be accommodative and understanding to their needs, and for the most part, they got just what they wished for. "Sometimes, the best support you can show is not making a big deal about it and making it as ‘normal’ as everything else around you," DeRade said. "Also, I try to remind people that my experiences are my own, and what I say, how I act and how I feel are not representations
See FOUNDATION on page 2 u
What if Michigan covered the cost of college tuition for every high school graduate in the state? Well that ’s exactly what Rep. Vicki Barnett, a Democrat from Farmington Hills, Mich., proposed in a joint resolution, which is among the things Michigan legislators can act upon when they return from summer break in August. Barnett's proposal would raise the sales tax by 1 percent, which the Senate Fiscal Agency estimates would generate more than $1.3 billion every year, Michigan Information Research Service Inc. reports. It could open the door for many low-income high school graduates who feel they have no way to pay for college, said Va l M e yers, associate director for t he MSU Office of Financial Aid. And it w ou l d l i f t some of the debt burden for the 24,155 students or their parents who borrowed money between 2012 and 2013 to cover the many costs of attending college. “I think it’s a great idea,” said Jimmy Johnson Jr., a psychology senior at MSU, working in the MSU Union. Johnson said he's preparing to graduate in December and start paying back the $20,000 in student loans he owes — debt he wouldn’t have if the state covered tuition costs. But Bernie Porn, president of the Lansing-based polling firm, EPIC-MRA, said he thinks it’s a proposal with a “slim to none” chance of passing because of Tea Party influence on the GOP. “Unless they are willing to look the other way or support such a notion, the odds are they would put tremendous pressure on Republican legislators not to support it," Porn said. “I would be amazed if the
The proposal would raise the sales tax by 1 percent, generating more than $1.3 billion every year
See TUITION on page 2 u
Ec o n o m i c s
Automobiles
Dempsey: ‘It’s too early’ to understand effects of Detroit bankruptcy on E.L.
Classic cars on display in Lansing
By Derek Kim dkim@statenews.com THE STATE NEWS nn
Could the banks of the Red Cedar feel the ripple effects of Detroit’s bankruptcy filing? That exact issue is something many in the area still are determining. On July 24, Judge Steven Rhodes of the United States Bankruptcy Court chose to freeze all litigation against the city. Potential pension cuts will be addressed in coming hearings. Communities around the state are keeping their eyes on the Motor City’s forthcom-
ing legal challenges — East Lansing is no exception. “It’s way too early in the process to really understand what ramifications the city of Detroit will have,” East Lansing Planning Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said. MSU economics professor Charles Ballard said depending on the next steps of the courts, municipalities across the state and country could experience a harder time borrowing money. In addition, many cities and states across the nation have unfunded pension and health care obli-
gations to their workers and retirees. “If the bankruptcy results in a very large reduction in those obligations, it could set a precedent that would increase the risks for public employees across the country,” Ballard said. In contrast, Ballard said a positive impact can come from bankruptcy. Michigan can’t achieve its full potential unless the state’s largest city recaptures some of the dynamism it See DETROIT on page 2 u
Justin Wan/ The State News
Middleville, Mich., resident Damion Jordan wipes his car dry on Saturday in downtown Lansing during the Car Capital Auto Show 2013.