East Lansing

Hub plans to add a pair of 14-story buildings

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Plans by the owners of the Hub, a new 12-story apartment building, to tear down five fraternity houses for two additional 14-story buildings, are running into some questions.

Campus News
Kat Cooper, the director of communications for RHS at MSU

Apartment boom may challenge university housing

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The increase in off-campus apartments could affect on-campus housing at Michigan State. Kat Cooper, chief communications officer of Residential and Hospitality Services, sees the influx as a complicated situation. Michigan State University offers fewer than 16,000 beds, so while others might see off-campus housing as competition, Cooper sees it as necessary. (Photo by Sylvia Jarrus.)

Michigan State University offers fewer than 16,000 beds, so while others might see off-campus housing as competition, Cooper sees it as necessary. “It’s a relationship that really needs each other in order to be successful,” Cooper said.

News

2020’s new voters are already thinking

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Nearly 2,000 student journalists gathered for the fall conference of the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association at the Lansing Center on Oct. 31. 

Many of the students attending were seniors and will graduate in the next year. With the upcoming 2020 election, they will also have the chance to vote for the first time. The issues that motivate them are as varied as they are for any generation. Diversity

Maia Rostar, Plainwell High School: “I am voting because I would like to see change.

News
Mariah Martinez in zoo classroom.

Potter Park Zoo wins national diversity award

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Alaina AgnelloMartinez setting up an event in one of the zoo’s classrooms.

The Association for Zoos and Aquariums recently recognized Mariah Martinez of the Potter Park Zoo with the Angela Peterson Excellence in Diversity award. The 25-year-old community engagement coordinator won this award through implementation of the zoo pass program. This program allows members of surrounding communities to check out a zoo pass and bring their whole family to the zoo for free. While there are several reasons Martinez believes she was recognized, such as working to create an accessible zoo and training staff about disabilities visitors may have, she believes the zoo pass program was a main reason she was picked. 

“Other zoos do do free programming, but I think the zoo passes was a very different thing and I hope other zoos pick up on it,” Martinez said. 

She says the zoo plans to grow its zoo pass program while working on other ways to accommodate all members of the community at the zoo. One way Martinez is working on currently is getting a grant to repave the zoo’s paths, making them more wheelchair accessible. 

“We don’t want to just have a stand-still,” said Martinez.