Tuesday 10/07/14 by The State News

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‘Batman v Superman’ MSU police address bicyclist safety issues to film at MSU A source close to production confirms filming near the Broad Art Museum — page 5 T ue s day, o c to BER 7, 2014

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MSU police will launch an educational campaign to teach students about campus bicycle and pedestrian ordinances before increasing enforcement — page 4

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Check out the four takeaways from MSU’s football game against Nebraska Football reporter Robert Bondy goes through his top four observations Spartan fans should note from Saturday’s game — page 10

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Opinion

Celeste Bott Editor in chief editorinchief@statenews.com @thesnews

Student section reaction to “It’s on Us” campaign disrespectful During the Nebraska game this Saturday, students booed President Obama during an advertisement against sexual assault — completely ignoring the message behind the campaign

By emily jenks ejenks@statenews.com

During the Nebraska game this past Saturday at Spartan Stadium, an ad came on the big screens for the White House’s “It’s On Us” campaign, which is a call to arms for everyone — not just men — to stop perpetuating a culture that generates sexual assault. The stadium watched quietly as the commercial played. Faces of men and women on the screen mumbled words that, let’s be honest, couldn’t be heard well over the stadium’s shoddy sound system, yet “It’s on us” was repeated again and again. Near the end, the faces and voices unified to say, “It’s on us to stop sexual assault.” There was a pause, and President Obama appeared on the screen. Before he opened his mouth, the student section booed — arguably louder than they booed the Nebraska band. I was stunned. Not stunned that the stadium booed Obama, but that they booed the message Obama’s face was

attached to. Between this and students leaving at or well before halftime, our student section this year has been absolutely awful. Mark Hollis and Mark Dantonio have both expressed their disappointment in the student section. But the issue is not only with the dwindling numbers. This was the cherry on top. “Stop sexual assault.” That’s what the message said. Not “We’re giving aid to Syrian troops to fight against ISIS,” or “Let’s talk about the Affordable Care Act.” No. The message the White House sent in that 30-second block was a universal one. It wasn’t partisan. I don’t care if you’re liberal, conservative, moderate, white, black, green, old, young, male, female, scrambled or sunny-side up. I don’t care if you like Obama or not. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but sexual assault needs to stop because it is wrong. And yes, it is on us — all of us — to

DEON HOWARD

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perhaps not the right time to air that ad. Sure, it would reach a wide audience, but that audience was in the middle of cheering on a team winning (at the time) by a landslide. I know that football games are supposed to be fun and have a healthy, competitive rivalry. I’ve joined my voice countless times with the thousands of others shouting the vulgar, offensive chants directed toward another team because it’s all in good fun. But ending sexual assault is never, ever a joke. It is something that should always be taken seriously, even at a football game. In this case, silence would have been better than boos. But students, please speak out against sexual assault. We are better than our collective behavior at that game. We’re Spartans and we need to stand up for what’s right — not boo at our president for taking initiative against an important issue.

LETTER: Graduate Employee Union endorsement for Democratic nominee Mark Schauer

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take steps toward ending it. Booing that message was completely unacceptable. The White House is saying we need to change the culture that has made the discussion of sexual assault taboo, the culture that blames victims and excuses unacceptable behavior because “boys will be boys” or “she asked for it.” The student section booed that incredibly important message just because they saw Obama’s face. Now, I do believe students should take issue with President Obama. The U.S. government as a whole exists to be questioned and challenged. But as an MSU student and a citizen of this country, I’m disgusted. Not only because our student section can’t be bothered to figure out what the hell they’re actually booing, but because sexual assault is taken as such a joke that it’s considered cool or funny to boo at an ad campaign for trying to end it. I understand that a football game was

This November, the people of Michigan — including MSU students, professors, staff and family — will have a choice to make as to who will be their governor for the next four years. We, the executive board of the Graduate Employee Union at MSU are proud to endorse Democratic Nominee Mark Schauer for governor. Over the past four years, our current governor, Rick Snyder, has waged an unceasing attack on students and the working people of this state. When he filled the gap left by repealing the Michigan business tax, he did so by taxing pensions, removing the child deduction and increasing individual income taxes. This tax restructuring not only shifted costs to vulnerable groups, but also cut funds that were specifically designated as part of the School Aid Fund. Seven hundred million dollars that would have been available annually to help stem cuts to public schools disappeared. Mark Schauer has pledged to reverse these cuts and to increase college affordability by increasing need-based financial aid for students and by creating a new lending authority for refinancing student loans. Furthermore, Mark Schauer has pledged to repeal Michigan’s Right to Work law, an existential attack on unions passed by Governor Snyder during the 2012 lame duck session. Right to Work erodes the solidarity of workers and unduly burdens their unions by allowing individuals to opt out of dues while still requiring that the union negotiate their contract, enforce its provisions and represent them in individual labor disputes. This transparently seeks to undermine unions and the quality of life that Michigan workers have fought for as members of the labor movement. More specific to the labor concerns of gradu-

ate students, Mark Schauer agrees that research assistants at MSU and throughout the state do real work that deserves to be recognized. Whether they design new parts for the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams or publish papers and books that increase our knowledge of Detroit’s history, research assistants are vital to our campus and our state for the good work that they do. Schauer believes all graduate employees should be able to unionize if they vote to do so. Finally, Mark Schauer will fight for the rights of every Michigander. Unlike Governor Snyder, Mark Schauer believes in and will fight for marriage equality and the rights of all Michiganders not to be fired from their job or kicked out of their homes because of who they are, or whom they love. Schauer will work to overturn the Republican-passed “rape insurance” law, which requires women and transgender people to have purchased abortion insurance preemptively, even in the case of rape. Rick Snyder’s tenure as governor has been an unmitigated disaster, whereas Mark Schauer will provide new ideas and genuine concern for all Michiganders. We urge all MSU employees and students to register and vote this fall for Mark Schauer for governor. Sincerely, Sylvia Marques, President, Graduate Employee Union, AFT-6196, AFL-CIO Sophia Pavlos, Vice President of Contract Negotiations and Enforcement, Graduate Employee Union, AFT-6196, AFL-CIO Charles Loelius, Treasurer, Graduate Employee Union, AFT-6196, AFL-CIO Kate Fredrick, Information Officer, Graduate Employee Union, AFT-6196, AFL-CIO

Contents i ns i d e

Residents displaced by Chandler Crossings fire collecting possessions

ASMSU considers opening up presidential election to the student body

African Tea Time event fosters community and spreads knowledge

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Taking down the Wolverines

47 da i ly N um b e r

Minimum ticket price for the State Farm Champions Classic, which will feature the MSU men’s basketball team on Nov. 18.

“As a program, we are prepared to make the changes that will fill Spartan Stadium with Spartan fans that want to be there.” Tweet by Mark Hollis, athletics director on the lack of student support at the Nebraska football game. Freshman middle blocker Alyssa Garvelink spikes the ball Friday during a game against Michigan at Jenison Fieldhouse. The Spartans defeated the Wolverines, 3-1. Read more on page 12.

Read more on page 11.

PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON

VOL . 105 | NO. 29

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 Alex Hubert Kelsey Taber Colophon The State News design features Acta, a newspaper type system created by DSType Foundry.

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editorial staff (517) 432-3070 Editor-in-chief Celeste Bott managing editor Anya Rath BREAKING NEWS EDITOR Simon Schuster TRENDS AND ISSUES EDITOR Merinda Valley SPORTS EDITOR Omari Sankofa II FEATURES EDITOR Emily Jenks PHOTO EDITOR Julia Nagy COPY CHIEF Elena Cronick Copyright © 2014 State News Inc., East Lansing, Mich.

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News

Simon Schuster and Merinda Valley Breaking news editor Trends and issues editor campus@statenews.com @thesnews

Residents cope with aftermath of Chandler Crossings fire

Firefighters attempt to put out a fire Sunday at The Landings at Chandler Crossings. PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON

Cyclists who stick to sidewalks may face fines after enforcement increases Severe accidents on campus led to police department’s campaign on pedestrian and bicyclist safety

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By Olivia Dimmer odimmer@statenews.com

Cyclists that ignore campus bike lanes and paths in favor of sidewalks may face fines in the near future as MSU police ramp up enforcement of bicycle ordinances. MSU police are launching an educational campaign as an effort to remind students of the ordinances before enforcement increases in a few weeks. Bicyclists who are found riding their bikes in sidewalks instead of making use of bike lanes or paths are subject to fines under MSU traffic ordinances. Additionally, bicyclists who are using paths should dismount their bikes on crosswalks, so drivers are not caught off guard by a bicyclist suddenly appearing in the crosswalk. For now, fliers and educational material are being distributed

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in residence and dining halls to raise awareness, but soon MSU police be issuing citations if bicyclists and pedestrians are caught not adhering to local ordinances. Because of severe accidents police have already seen this fall, MSU police Sgt. Florene McGlothian-Taylor said the department wanted to educate students on where and how they should ride their bikes, and educate pedestrians on obeying traffic laws. MSU police Lt. Randy Holton, who is also working closely with the campaign, said because of the transient nature of the student population, some students might not know where it is appropriate to ride their bikes. “Some of the common things are bicyclists riding their bikes on sidewalks and through crosswalks,” Holton said. “And that’s where a lot of our accidents occur.” Of almost 400 accidents

By AJ Moser and Olivia Dimmer amoser@statenews.com odimmer@statenews.com

Residents whose apartments were charred by the fire that destroyed part of a building in The Landings at Chandler Crossings on Sunday will have a chance Tuesday to return to their apartments and claim valuable belongings, WestPac Campus Communities Manager Adam Martin said. Although damage estimates to the building won’t be available until the apartment complex receives a statement from their insurer, Martin said a dozen apartments were affected and residents in the building were relocated to other units within Chandler Crossings. While some apartments on the third floor were burned, others were damaged by smoke and water that firefighters used to douse the blaze. “All the residents are housed and well taken care of,” Martin said. While no residents were injured, many were temporarily out of a place to stay for the night. Supply chain management senior Gi Min was in the library studying for two upcoming midterms Sunday evening when she received a phone call from a close friend saying her building in Chandler Crossings was on fire. She immediately rushed back home. By the time Min arrived the flames had been extinguished, but her apartment and most of the third floor rooms on the building’s east side were destroyed. Several students who lived in the building were driving by when they saw smoke and pulled into the parking lot to discover their building was on fire. They were able to enter their room on the second floor and retrieve some of their belongings without getting wet from the fire hoses. Students who were in the building smelled smoke and noticed a fire on the third floor balcony and began to evacuate as police arrived. Police received the call just after 6 p.m. and arrived on the scene within six minutes. There is currently no cause known for the fire, but police have no reason to suspect foul play. Many of the students, like computer science junior Jingwei Xu, are unsure if they have renter’s insurance to cover them from the damages. “My passport was in there,” Xu said. “I have no idea what I am going to do next.”

between cyclists and automobiles from 1993 to 2011, 85 percent of them occurred because a cyclist was riding, not walking their bike through a crosswalk, MSU police have previously reported. Besides knowing where to ride bikes, bicyclists also are required to have a headlight and rear light mounted to their bike at night. “The visibility part of safety is important because cyclists need to have some headlights or tail lights so motorists can see you,” MSU Bikes Manager Tim Potter said. “If a path is coming to a place where it crosses a road, if motorists aren’t seeing you they aren’t going to stop. It helps to dress in brighter colors, too. Being a ninja cyclist might make you look cool, but it’s not good for odds of being seen when you need to be.” Potter said distractions also play a role in pedestrian and

bicyclist accidents, and many students he sees on campus aren’t aware of their surroundings because of headphones or cell phone distractions. Students who are wearing headphones might not hear a bike coming up behind them, and might turn suddenly and be hit, Potter said. Bicyclists can have a similar problem knowing when cars are approaching. Pedestrians are also subject to citations if they are not using marked crosswalks properly. Holton said many pedestrians believe they have the right of way whenever they enter a crosswalk, but that is not always the case. “Basically, you’re supposed to cross the street at a marked crosswalk,” Holton said. “Cars have the right of way on the road, unless a pedestrian is legally in the crosswalk.”

News

Hollywood will come to the Broad for filming of ‘Batman v Superman’ A little over a week after an artificial wall was constructed along the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum with little explanation, a source close to the production of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” confirmed filming will occur at the art museum Oct. 13-20.

The worst-kept secret on campus is true — superheroes are coming to MSU. “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” will be filming at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum on the north side of MSU’s campus the week of Oct. 13. The fact was confirmed by a source close to the production of the film who declined to be named because they were not yet authorized to speak on the issue. The museum’s website confirms the building will be closed from Oct. 13-20, though they do not specify a reason beyond the fact that it has been rented out for the week. It will reopen Oct. 21. MSU spokesman Kent Cassela was similarly vague, stating in an email the museum will be closed as “part of a private function the week of Oct. 13.” But Monday, the California-based source confirmed the “private function” is indeed for the filming of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Const r uc t ion last week around the museum fueled spec ulat ion t hat f i l m i ng

would occur there. Crews installed artificial walls and hedges made from plywood near Grand River Avenue on the north side of the museum, and another smaller structure partially blocking the windows looking into the museum. It is not yet known what type of work, if any, will take place in the building’s interior, or how the building will be used in the film. The unexplained structures have left passersby wondering exactly what was going on. Apparel and textile design junior Rachael Damman said she had heard the rumors, too. “They started building all of this last week,” said Damman, who noted she walks by the museum on a near-daily basis. “And there’s still stuff here so it doesn’t look like they’re done.” Besides Monday’s confirmation of filming at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum and last month’s announcement of an open call for Lansing-area extras to appear in the film, details on the shoot have been very hush-hush from the filmmakers. “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is slated for a 2016 release.

“It’s important to have these conversations now,” Schrage said. “We only have until the end of December to get this done.” The proposed changes would first have to be approved by the policy committee and then the general assembly. T he proposed change includes opening up the presidential election to all students who pay the ASMSU tax. Opting out of the tax prevents students from accessing ASMSU resources, such as iClicker rental, free yearbooks and also the chance to vote for a representative in the college they belong to. By opening the presidential election to students, the committee hopes that not only will students have a better understanding of how ASMSU oper-

ates, but the candidates themselves will get a better view of what students think can be done. Through debates and town hall meetings, t he g roup would allow candidates to reach out and connect with the student body at large. However, these events might be expensive to run. A nother concern among members was the possibility of the election turning into a popularity contest. “What happens if we get a candidate who is popular among students but who may not be the best choice for the job?” Wiebrecht said. The group will continue to meet and discuss the best options for the election process but is very interested in learning the student opinion.

By Greg Monahan gmonahan@statenews.com

Walls under construction stand Monday outside of Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum. PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON

ASMSU weighs allowing direct election of president Representatives are considering changing ASMSU’s election code, but lack of student involvement remains a concern.

By AJ Moser amoser@statenews.com

In an attempt to give students a larger say in how the student government is run and to increase interest in the program, ASMSU members are weighing the pros and cons of opening the next presidential election up to the student body. However, the number of students turning out to vote for their college representatives has been very low, and that is a major deterrent to a direct presidential election. “Right now, students can vote for t he people who directly elect the president,” social relations and policy senior Colin Wiebrecht said. “And they don’t.” Public policy senior Evan

Schrage believes that when the president is up for election, it will drive up student interest in the vote. “A lot of schools across the Big Ten have popularly elected presidents and higher turnout rates,” he said. One of the group’s concerns is to glean student opinion about an open election. “We need to reach out and make ourselves available to students,” said Domonique Clemons, ASMSU’s vice president of student allocations. “But they have to meet us in the middle. It’s a two-way street.” The ad-hoc election subcommittee, headed by Schrage, met on Oct. 2 to discuss the possibility of changing ASMSU’s election code for the spring semester.

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Spotlight

Anya Rath Managing editor arath@statenews.com @thesnews

Students flock to certain majors based off job security and interest The Eli Broad College of Business and the College of Engineering see the highest numbers of students enrolled. Advertising is also a top contender for popular majors chosen by students

From left, chemical engineering freshmen Charles Shinska, Daniel Marceau and computer science freshman Nick Lojewski watch as their robot completes its task Friday in Wilson Hall. The team put in about 50 hours work into their robot, “Wall-O.” PHOTO: Dylan vowell

By Meagan Beck

A robot performs the task of navigating a course Friday in Wilson Hall. It was a sixweek long project for the EGR 100 Lab.

mbeck@statenews.com

echanical engineering senior Mariya Titova rarely ever sees other women in her classes. But that’s not stopping Titova, who chose her major because of the degree’s job flexibility after graduation. Whether a student picks their major for job security or other purposes, a select few majors see a larger number of students than others. This year, the College of Engineering saw a large number of students declare engineering as their major – making it one of the most popular majors this fall. Out of more than 38,000 undergraduates at MSU, one-third of the students are in the College of Engineering or The Eli Broad College of Business. Finance, supply chain management, mechanical engineering, advertising and accounting make up the current top five majors for fall 2014. Trends in enrollment in certain colleges have also carried over from school year to school year.

PHOTO: dylan vowell

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Spotlight From left applied engineering sciences senior Luke Voelker, finance junior Alex Allen and applied engineering sciences senior Ryan Bertrand work in groups at the beginning of COM 360 on Monday at the Communications Arts and Sciences Building. Voelker asked to be in the class because of his interest in technical sales.

Supply chain management in The Eli Broad College of Business has grown while mechanical engineering in the College of Engineering continuously sees large numbers of enrollment. While some students might decide a major which will guide them to a career with guaranteed job security and paid well, others may choose a major more in tune with their interests. Senior counselor in the office of admissions John Hoffschneider said despite trends to follow safe major paths, other students are proactive with considering their choices. “I’m starting to see more students becoming assertive and exploring their interests, whether it’s residential colleges or new programs,” he said. A PROMISING FUTURE The Eli Broad College of Business holds three of the five most popular majors — finance, accounting and supply chain management. Chairperson in the Department of Supply Chain Management David Closs said unless a student has parents in the supply chain management career path, he or she may not know what it is. “Once students get involved and see what they do, many of them find it matches their skills and interests,” Closs said. Students enrolled in business majors may find themselves enrolled in COM 360, or Advanced Sales Communication, which teaches interpersonal communication with clients and how to effectively produce a sales presentation. Following the top business majors, mechanical engineering is a popular major, especially for men. Working off the male dominance in the major, Titova said as a senior, she’s not worried about finding employment after graduating. “I’ve heard if you’re a woman, it’s easier to get (a job in engineering) because they want diversity in their company,” Titova said. Director of the Cornerstone and Residential Experience in the College of Engineering Patrick Walton said within six months of graduating, 96 percent of engineering students are in a place they want to be, whether it is employed or in graduate school. “What drives engineering enrollment the most is the dollars and cents,” Walton said. “If you look at companies that are hiring and (the) salaries they pay graduates, engineers get good jobs and they get paid good money.” However, Walton also said 20 percent of students leave the major in their first year and of the remaining 80 percent, an additional 20 percent leave in their second year. The Cornerstone and Residential Experience, or CoRe experience, works with first-year students to help them be admitted to the college and continue on to their second year. “I hope, and I believe students choose engineering not just because they can make money but because they know engineering is critical for the future,” Walton said. Introductory course EGR 100, or Introduction to Engineering Design, is a required class in which students learn the roles engineers play in society, in addition to design basics and project management. Titova said not just mechanical engineering majors take the class and she liked it because of the hands-on aspect and working with other students. “We’ve got to experience new things, like building a robot and first-time programming. ... You learn what engineering is about,” Titova said. INTERNATIONAL INTEREST Training in the various aspects of business is also part of the reason many international students come to MSU. Former Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars Peter Briggs said most international students used to come to MSU for post-graduate studies, but in the last eight or nine years it has flipped. “Chinese (students) are going to a lot of plac-

PHOTo: aerika williams

“What drives engineering enrollment the most is the dollars and cents.” Patrick Walton, director of the Cornerstone and Residential Experience in the College of Engineering

es around the world, but all the Big Ten schools are seeing big uptakes in the number of Chinese undergraduates,” Briggs said. In the Eli Broad College of Business, finance, accounting and supply chain management make up top major choices among international students. Chairman of the department of supply chain management David Closs said the department is made up of 22 percent international students, and since it is a highly-ranked program, the students see it as an opportunity. Supply chain management sophomore Yaqi Wang from China said she chose the major for its security. “I think in the world, especially in China, supply chain management majors have more space to develop,” Wang said. Although there is a demand for supply chain management, Closs said issues can arise with companies supporting international students. “We try to make students aware there could be potential problems (with companies hiring them),” Closs said. The supply chain management department will try to work with companies and find different ways for them to work with international students, such as hir-

ing them for a company’s international division, he said. ELECTIVES IN DEMAND Outside of major-related classes, students are required to take a certain number of courses in the form of electives. Electives can range from foreign languages to physical activity, but some are more popular with students than others. The Eli Broad College of Business offers the elective HB 409, Introduction to Wine, in The School of Hospitality Business. The class currently has more students of other disciplines than hospitality business students enrolled. Introduction to Wine, taught by associate hospitality business professor Carl Borchgrevink, teaches students about production of wine, wine and food pairing and classes of wine. Borchgrevink said the class teaches students what certain wines might be like before a student tries them. “(HB 409) is relevant for everybody and every walk of life. ... It’s popular because it’s an upper level elective with no pre-reqs,” Borchgrevink said. Though there is no alcohol consumption in the class, it is not open to freshmen and sophomores. A newer elective on campus in the social work department has drawn the attention of not only MSU students, but others across the country. Social work professor Glenn Stutzky is the brain behind SW 290, “the zombie class.” The class, called Disasters, Catastrophes, and Human Behavior: Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse, is an elective offered exclusively online and during the summer semester.

Percent of the students enrolled in the supply chain management major are international students

“I think in the world, especially in China, supply chain management majors have more space to develop.” Yaqi Wang, supply chain management sophomore

T u e s day Octo b er 7, 2 01 4

Stutzky said while the class has its own story and gives students the opportunity to be creative, students are learning problem-solving and cooperation skills. “We don’t give students the answers, we give them the situations and then they have to figure out ‘what do we do in these situations?’” Stutzky said. “This goes beyond being smart academically.” COM 225, a class in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, is widely talked about on campus and is taught by married communication professors Steven McCornack and Kelly Morrison. The class, which is an Introduction to Interpersonal Communication, teaches students effective forms of interpersonal communication. Communication junior Megan Karney said taking the class, specifically with the couple, is an interesting experience. “It brings a whole different dynamic to the classroom,” Karney said. COM 225 is required for the major, but Karney said the professors do a nice job of keeping the topic interesting and engaging the 600-person lecture. “A lot of their examples are personal stories so it makes it fun when they tell stories together,” Karney said. “They switch up the lecturing too, so you’re not listening to the same voice all the time.”

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Crossword

L.A. Times Daily Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

News

Students discuss their African roots at tea time The bi-weekly African Tea Time brings African students together to talk about the challenges faced in their respective countries

ACROSS

1 18th Greek letter 6 Instagram account creator 10 Gunpowder container 13 Contest submission 14 Campus sports gp. 15 Call, retro-style 16 Symbol of a good try 18 To be, to Cato 19 Just okay 20 Place to apply gloss 21 Use unwisely, as time 22 Movie for all 26 Organ near the stomach 29 Playground threat 32 Rips 33 Clash of clans 34 Ornamental pond fish 35 JFK postings 36 Straight-A student’s bane 38 Show sleepiness 39 Christmas tree 40 Follow one’s new job, in Realtor-speak 41 Private student 42 Go up alone 44 Persian Gulf ships 45 “Lady Chatterley’s Lover” author 48 Gaze intently 50 Before, to Frost 51 Like skyscrapers

55 Bee flat? 56 Noted O.J. Simpson attorney 59 Bone-dry 60 Bartlett cousin 61 Like the man of one’s dreams 62 Marry 63 ‘‘Yeah, sure!’’ 64 Tractor maker

DOWN

1 Goes out with 2 Data 3 Classic Pontiacs 4 “Won’t you be my neighbor?” TV host 5 Nautical consent 6 Not up to the job 7 Check (out) 8 Musical skill 9 Singer in an interrogation room? 10 Musical inspired by “The Taming of the Shrew” 11 Fort Worth-to-Dallas direction 12 Merriment 15 Passed out cards 17 Caramel-topped custard dessert 21 Like some very bad pitches 23 Legal matter

24 God, in Grenoble 25 Reasons for school absences 26 Sheet music quintet, and with 31-Down, what the first letters of 16-, 22-, 36-, 45and 56-Across represent 27 Danger 28 “Seinfeld” co-creator 30 Farther down 31 See 26-Down 33 Progressive Insurance spokeswoman 36 “Dracula” star Lugosi 37 Furrow the fields 38 Christmas season 40 Part on stage 41 Muscle spasm 43 Destroy, as files 44 Premium plane seat, usually 46 Pee Wee in Brooklyn 47 Upright 48 “Pygmalion” playwright 49 Radial __ 52 Out of the wind 53 Goneril’s father 54 Country singer Lovett 56 Source of DVD warnings 57 Easy throw 58 Help out

Get the solutions at statenews.com/puzzles Level: 1

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 MONDAY’S PUZZLE

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Graduate student Eva Tetteh gets a cup of tea during African Tea Time on Thursday at the International Center. Tea time is run by the African Studies Center. This week the topic of discussion was Cameroon, Angola and the Congos. PHOTO: JESSALYN TAMEZ

By Nolly Dakroury ndakroury@statenews.com

For doctoral student Abubakar Idris, the African Studies Center is his home on MSU’s campus. “Since I’ve been here, I’ve been very close to the African Studies Center because I think it’s my second home because I’m away from home,” said Idris, a native of Nigeria. That is how Idris found out about African Tea Time, a biweekly social event organized by the African Studies Center and a student group called Kongamano. Assistant to the Director Damaris Choti said the event was launched in 2012 as a means to get more students involved with the center. “When the African Studies Center was operating (then), student services was not cooperated in the program,” Choti said. She said they wanted to start an initiative that would engage students in an informal discussion, instead of research and lectures. “In most African countries, family and friends get together over tea for interaction,” Choti said. The event is geared toward bringing together students, faculty and community members who are interested in Africa, Choti said. Attendees can learn while socializing and having the traditional tea and snacks of the featured countries. Each meeting is focused on two or

three African countries within a specific region. Choti said it’s usually a student, faculty or a community member from the particular countries who lead a short presentation about various aspects of their home countries, like geography, culture and social life. Lansing-based singer and songwriter Freddy Nyembwe attended the tea time focused on Angola, Cameroon and the Congos to speak about his country, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nyembwe, a specialized bilingual educator in the Lansing School District, said having such an event is important so that people can be informed about the latest news in African countries. “If there is something happening in Congo you can’t see it (on) CNN,” he said. Idris said the event is also meant to provide students from Africa the chance to reflect on the issues that are affecting their countries and trying to collectively find a solution to fix them, using the knowledge and education they get here at MSU. “One big takeaway from today is understanding that we share a lot of challenges as Africans, regardless of which country or region in Africa everyone comes from,” Idris said. African Tea Time is hosted in room 303 of the International Center. The next tea time will be hosted on Oct. 16 and will be focused on Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.

54 independent countries in the continent of Africa

Features

Emily Jenks Features editor features@statenews.com @sn_features

MSU Bhangra dance team a blend of tradition, modernity MSU Bhangra is a co-ed student group that competes and performs the bhangra style of dance, which originated in northern India. For the dancers, being on the team brings a sense of community and culture By Brittanie Chludzinski bchludzinski@statenews.com

As communication senior Navmeet Dhillon spontaneously walked into the MSU Bhangra dance team tryouts as a freshman, she had no idea how important it would eventually become to her. This year marks her fourth year as a member on the team, and Dhillon said she has gained lifelong friendships, a sense of community and a family away from home. “I used to think it was fun to watch bhangra competitions, but now that I’m on a team, I question why I never thought of joining one before,” she said. “The happiest I am is when I’m dancing.” The MSU Bhangra dance team is a co-ed student group that competes and performs in a style of dance known as bhangra. According to human biology sophomore Amit Raizada, bhangra originates from Punjab, which is located in northern India. “It’s a folk dance that is very high energy, and involves a lot of fast, upbeat movements,” Raizada said. After being an all-girls team for a few years due to the lack of males that showed up for tryouts, the team returned to its co-ed status last year. With this original structure, the team has the opportunity to add new elements to their performances through partnering work. Beginning his second year on the team, computer engineering senior Gurwinder Singh said he tried out because he wanted to learn more about this style of dance that he had been exposed to throughout his life. “It’s way more technical than you would think, but it’s great,” Singh said. “Performing is like an out of body experience. At first you’re nervous, but then it’s pure adrenaline and you’re just out there having fun.” Every year, the team sends in a video of their routine to the specific competitions that they want to attend. They receive feedback from the judges who are responsible for deciding if the team will be invited to compete. In the past, Dhillon said they have competed in Dallas, Tampa Bay and Washington, D.C., against bhangra groups from all over the country. “Over the years I have met so many people that I still keep in touch with,” Dhillon said. “It becomes a sense of community, and it has helped me learn how to connect with others in a different way.” For human development and family studies senior Neha Gohel, being able to connect with other collegiate bhangra dance teams and share their own experiences and culture with one another is one of her favorite aspects of competitions. “We’re not an all-Indian team, so it’s really cool to see how everyone interacts with each other, and how non-Punjabis can be on the team, too,” Gohel said. Gohel said the bhangra dance style is all about drawing the audience in, so it’s important that the team members use a variety of facial expressions that they call “nakra.” “We all hype each other up,” Gohel said. “You just get this energy from your team members.” Although bhangra has its traditional roots, Dhillon said she enjoys bhangra because the style can be modern as well. She said a lot of their performances combine American music with the traditional Punjabi songs.

MSU Bhangra dance member zoology freshman Akanksha Bawa, right, practices her dance routines with teammates on Wednesday at IM SportsWest. Bhangra is the traditional cultural dance of Punjab, India. The dance group competes nationally in bhangra competitions every year. PHOTO: RAYMOND WILLIAMS

“We’re not an all-Indian team, so it’s really cool to see how everyone interacts with each other, and how non-Punjabis can be on the team too.” Neha Gohel, human development and family studies senior

Redefine your Future Full Council Meeting Wednesday, October 8th from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

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Sports

Omari Sankofa II Sports editor sports@statenews.com @thesnews_sports

Four takeaways from MSU’s win over Nebraska It wasn’t necessarily the finish the Spartans wanted, but the end result bodes well for MSU as the inaugural College Football Playoff draws increasingly near

Despite strong weekend, bad habits continue to plague field hockey By Jonathon Chun jchun@statenews.com

Junior quarterback Connor Cook hands off the ball to senior running back Jeremy Langford during the game against Nebraska on Saturday, at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans defeated the Cornhuskers 27-22. PHOTO: JESSALYN TAMEZ

By Robert Bondy rbondy@statenews.com

No. 8 MSU football prevailed on Saturday against No. 21 Nebraska, but it wasn’t an easy game in the fourth quarter. The Spartans carried a 27-3 lead into the fourth, with players and coaches admitting they had thought the game was in hand. But Nebraska ripped off 19 unanswered points to make it interesting. Lucky for MSU, junior cornerback Trae Waynes was able to make an interception in the final minute to seal the Spartan win. Before looking ahead to Purdue this week, here are four takeaways from this past week’s 27-22 victory over Nebraska. Winning without Cook Saturday’s victory proved a lot of things for MSU, including learning how to win without a great performance from junior quarterback Connor Cook. Cook finished an abysmal 11-of-29 in completions and recorded 234 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Following the game, Cook said he needed to be more accurate in the passing game and the stats surely supported that statement. But finding a way to win when Cook didn’t play his best game was important for MSU. 10

The State N e ws

Getting back to relying on the defense and running game was huge for this team, proving to fans that Cook doesn’t need to be perfect for MSU to experience success. Blowing lead not a trend Saturday didn’t serve as the first time this season MSU let a late lead slip away. MSU also held a nine point lead in the second half against then-No. 3 Oregon before giving up 28 unanswered points in a 46-27 loss. MSU was able to still hold on to knock off Nebraska this past weekend, but letting the Cornhuskers sneak back has created doubt in this team’s ability to close out opponents. However, head coach Mark Dantonio doesn’t consider it a trend that fans should worry about throughout the rest of the season. Following the game, Dantonio said the two games aren’t comparable because of the wider score margin this past week and considered it “uncharacteristic” for his team to blow that lead. Lippett best in Big Ten Is it time to start throwing senior wide receiver Tony Lippett into the Heisman conversation? No, it’s way too early for that. But one can definitely make the argument that Lippett is one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten as of right now. Tuesday, octoBE R 7, 2 01 4

Lippett had another stellar performance on Saturday, playing a role in both the passing and ground game. Lippett recorded three receptions for 104 yards and had the opening 55-yard touchdown that jump started the Spartan offense in the first quarter. Later in the game, Lippett again found the endzone on a 32-yard end around reverse run for what appeared to be the knockout punch at the time. Lippett leads the Big Ten in receiving yards and is by far Cook’s favorite target this season. If Lippett continues to post big-time numbers like he has in the first five games, expect him not only to be crowned best wide receiver in Big Ten by the end of the year, but maybe in the country. Best team in Big Ten It’s now safe to say MSU is the best team in the Big Ten and is back in the conversation for the College Football Playoff. The win over potentially the second best team in the league will go a long way for MSU and with a weak schedule ahead in the coming weeks — at Purdue, at Indiana and Michigan — expect Sparty to be sitting 7-1 when the Buckeyes come to town on Nov. 8. Win that one against Ohio State and there’s no reason why MSU can’t make it two straight undefeated Big Ten regular seasons.

A week after No. 20 MSU field hockey (7-4 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) dropped two Big Ten games, the Spartans rebounded well in the win column. While they did secure the victories, MSU was exposed by its same inconsistencies and bad habits. On Friday, MSU fell behind early to Rutgers to continue their lackluster start to games, and did the same thing against Monmouth on Saturday. While the Spartans can pride themselves on their ability to come back in games, it is a dangerous trend to continue in a stacked Big Ten conference. “We start a little bit passive and teams take advantage of that, get a goal and then momentum’s in their favor,” head coach Helen Knull said. “Then we’re on our heels.” Of the Spartans seven victories this season, six of them have been in comeback fashion. On the other hand, all four of their losses have come when MSU absorbed an early deficit. With all of those losses coming at the hands of ranked opponents, overcoming early deficits likely won’t be as easy for long. “With the conference play and with the post-season play, we can’t afford to be three goals downs before we start playing,” Knull said. “We’ve got to find a way to come out early and set the tone and set our tempo.” This problem has been prevalent since the start of the season, and MSU is beginning to realize that this simply cannot keep happening. The Spartans have tried to find the solution in practice by trying to simulate their aggressiveness in the opening minutes, but the results on the field have been laking. MSU, however, has been extraordinary in late game situations this season and has look unstoppable at times. Against the Scarlet Knights, the Spartans scored three goals in the span of eight minutes late in the first half to take a 3-1 lead. Against the Hawks, they scored two goals in just over five minutes late in the game to force overtime. MSU nearly ended it in regulation, but the apparent game-winner was disallowed during a Monmouth timeout. No time was wasted in overtime, however, as senior forward Abby Barker scored the game-winner less than two minutes into extra time. As Barker and senior forward Allie Ahern added on to their impressive campaigns this weekend, the Spartans got contributions from throughout their roster. Senior back Alli Helwig scored a goal in each game, and redshirt freshman forward Kendal Anderson scored a pivotal goal that proved to be the game-winner against Rutgers. With all of this in mind, Knull still won’t label MSU as a “comeback team.” “I refuse to settle and say that this is how we play this year,” Knull said. “That we’re a comefrom-behind team, because you can’t always rally every game and get a win.” Knull might be correct about not being able to rally every game, especially against tougher competition. Nonetheless, all signs point to the Spartans being a come-from-behind team this year, for better or worse.

Sports

Mark Hollis, Mark Dantonio sound off on lack of student section participation by Robert Bondy rbondy@statenews.com

Saturday’s matchup between No. 8 MSU and No. 21 Nebraska came down to the wire, with the Spartans needing an interception by junior cornerback Trae Waynes to seal the 27-22 victory. But not many students were left to see the thrilling finish. The listed attendance for Saturday’s game against the Cornhuskers was 75,923, but Spartan Stadium seemed vacant for the final moments, including the student section. And the poor attendance has picked up national attention, starting with Mark Hollis, the MSU athletics director. Hollis sent out a string of tweets late Sunday evening stating his displeasure with the student turnout in

recent games. “I spoke with many students & they share my disappointment and embarrassment of the support coming from the southeast corner on Saturday,” Hollis tweeted at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday. “We will work together to build a student section that enhances our teams ability to win championships. From kickoff to the end of the game,” Hollis tweeted at 6:07 p.m. on Sunday. “As a program, we are prepared to make the changes that will fill Spartan Stadium with Spartan fans that want to be there,” Hollis said in his final tweet on the matter at 6:09 p.m. on Sunday. The lack of students attending and staying for the entire game has become an issue throughout recent years, with some calling for the student section to be reduced in size. The

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issue has reached a fever-pitch, with even head coach Mark Dantonio making a point to call out students following Saturday’s game. Despite poor weather conditions of 40 degree temperatures and rain throughout the evening, Dantonio said he was disappointed in the number of fans that stuck around for the ending of the game when the defense needed that home crowd-boost the most. “I don’t call for the fans many times, you know, (but) we needed it to be loud there,” Dantonio said on Saturday. “It’s a big football game and it got a little bit empty there at the end, but I guess it’s Saturday night.” The fans’ emotions and creating an atmosphere in Spartan Stadium is something that helps boost the players’ energy. Senior left guard Travis Jack-

son wasn’t quick to call out the students for not sticking around throughout the evening, but pointed out that the team feeds off their excitement when they are in attendance. “It’s always awesome to have our fans there in the student section there but I don’t know what they had to do, if they had something else to do,” Jackson said. “So we feed off them and they were great in the first half, they’re a huge reason we go up in the first half, feeding off their energy and if it comes down to it we need to finish in the fourth quarter as a team.” In a previous story published by The State News, it was reported that MSU has sold more than 13,000 student season tickets this season, its highest total since selling 16,000 for the 1988 season.

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Sports COLUMN — At season crossroads, volleyball has reason to believe year will finish on good note

by Troy Jefferson

their face, stumbling to a 6-11 finish. In a perfect world, the tables will be turned this season. The Spartans, who have hovered around .500 thus far, will finish on a strong note unlike last year and carry the momentum into the NCAA tournament.

tjefferson@statenews.com

At the midpoint of the season, the volleyball team is at a crossroads. MSU (9-6 overall, 2-2 Big Ten) after defeating Michigan (6-8 overall, 1-3 Big Ten) at Jenison on Friday night is in prime position to contend in a tough Big Ten conference or free fall into oblivion. This time last year was a pivotal stretch for the Spartans, who started the season with a 17-1 record and then fell flat on

Reasons for Optimism Head coach Cathy George and her team have a few things working in their favor going forward. The Spartans are a young team but a deep team. It’s not uncommon to see George cycle through 12 players during a game, and now 15 games into the season, the underclassmen have had time to carve out their niche. Take freshman setter Rachel Minarick as an example. She

has emerged as somewhat of a dual threat for the Spartans, who lost their only other setter junior Halle Peterson to injury. Minarick’s 9.7 assists per set ranks eighth in the conference and her 6 foot 2 inch stature allows her to reach over the net for kills, which is uncommon for a setter. Minarick had seven kills against Michigan on Friday and has 52 total on the season. Speaking of height, the women’s volleyball team average player is 72.17 inches (a little over 6 feet), ranking them second behind Nebraska (72.37 inches) in average height per player in the Big Ten. George and her players routinely preach the importance of using height to their advantage. The Spartans are at their best when they are deflecting shots

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on defense at the net and giving sophomore hitters Chloe Reinig (6-foot-4-inches) and Allyssah Fitterer (6-foot-2-inches) chances to kill. Outlook Over the next three weeks, MSU will play some familiar foes, who they had success against last season. Discounting the upcoming games against Big Ten newcomers Rutgers and Maryland, MSU went a combined 6-2 against Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio State and Penn State, all of whom they play in October. So far so good, the Spartans at the midpoint of the season control their own destiny but in order to make good on their championship aspirations they will have to find some consistency during this crucial stretch.

Freshman setter Rachel Minarick, 12, and redshirt freshman middle blocker Megan Tompkins, 5, attempt to block Michigan defensive specialist Caroline Knop on Friday. PHOTO: ERIN HAMPTON