Campus News

Board of Trustees Approves $100,000 College of Veterinary Medicine Fund

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Earlier this fall, the MSU Board of Trustees met to discuss varying topics that affect students and faculty at the school, including grants, budget and finances, academic affairs, and student life and culture. According to a recently approved proposal, the FFE-MaryDee Sist DVM Scholarship Fund establishes a $100,000 fund as “an endowment to provide scholarship support for students” in the College of Veterinary Medicine. 

But who is allowed to submit an application for the scholarship? Is there any preference for a student? The scholarship is for students enrolled in the College of Veterinary Medicine who have demonstrated financial need and are in good academic standing. The $100,000 for the fund will be transferred from “the University’s restricted gift account,” the proposal said, where additional gifts can be added to the fund. 

Interim President Teresa Woodruff said that the “motion carried” with a unanimous vote of 8-0 to approve the scholarship fund.

Elections & Politics

Governor Whitmer Enacts Legislation Protecting Minors’ Right to Consent in Marriage

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In a historic move, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill, HB 4302, aimed at safeguarding the well-being of minors in Michigan by raising the minimum age of consent for marriage to 18. This action not only represents a continuation of Whitmer’s previous initiatives signed into law in early 2023, but also positions Michigan as a progressive leader, making it the tenth state in the United States to officially eliminate child marriage. Before the bill, the legal age to get married in Michigan was 16 with parental consent. The bill was first introduced on March 16, 2023, and passed on Sep. 26. 

The other nine states that have a ban on underage marriage with no exceptions are Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Rhode Island, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut. 

“I am committed to keeping Michiganders – especially young women – safe and healthy, and today’s bipartisan bill fully implements Michigan’s ban on child marriage,” Whitmer said in a press release.

Federal Government

Supreme Court ruling on LGBTQ+ case sparks controversy in state

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When the Supreme Court ruled that Lori Smith, a website designer from Colorado, could deny her services to those of the LGBTQ+, it was unclear how the decision would affect LGBTQ+ clients nationwide. But Fenton resident Ky Orvis wasn’t too worried — yet. “Specifically in Fenton, I don’t see it foreseeing it being a problem,” said Orvis, the president of the Fenton Pride Collective. “The concern of a lot of people, not just in Fenton, not just in Michigan, but across the U.S. is like what does this set the precedent of and justify discrimination against a class of people.”

The ruling is sparking controversy as to what this means for groups, such as minorities and LGBTQ+, and raises concerns for those it affects. “Why does this exist?

News

Amanda Wilbourne, owner of the Nautical Dog: A photo story

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Amanda Wilbourne, owner of The Nautical Dog, poses with Twinkie, a 12-week old kitten up for adoption at the Cat Cove. The Nautical Dog is located at 5102 Main St Suite B at New Town Commercial Association in Williamsburg, VA. It encompasses three storefronts including: the Local Pet Market, Schwartzy’s Cat Cove and the Dog Wash.Schwartzy’s Cat Cove- Nautical Dog’s First Mate, the official name of the Cat Cove, is named after Nautical Dog’s first shop cat. “Schwartzy won everyone over very quickly and would spend his days sitting behind the counter on a stool greeting guests, judging them, and talking a lot.”Large windows and cutouts looking into Schwartzy’s Cat Cove allow passerbyers to stop and take a look at the adoptable cats.239 cats have been adopted out through the Cat Cove in correlation with Heritage Humane Society.16,000 visitors came to Nautical Dog’s Cat Cove this year to see cute cat faces like this one peering down on them. All cats in Schwartzy’s Cat Cove are available for adoption through Heritage Humane Society; these two calico siblings are a bonded pair and are required to be adopted together.Sammy, the orange tabby, takes a snooze on the moon shaped wall mount.

Education
Mar 2 Lansing School Board Meeting

Lansing Schools to continue work with county health services

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On Mar 2, the Board of Education conducted a regular meeting in the Shirley M. Rodgers Administration Bldg. 519 W. Kalamazoo St, Lansing. The Action Items section of the meeting focused on Interagency Agreement which the Board of Education partnered with the Ingham County Health Department to provide high school students in Lansing healthcare service.

Article

Phase Three of Delta Crossings plagued by lawsuits, setbacks

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Progress is yet to be seen on phase three of Delta Crossings shopping center located off West Saginaw Highway. Originally expected to be finished within five years, a lawsuit among multiple construction partners has halted most of the development on the project, leaving an official deadline up in the air. 

Nestled between Interstate 96 and Broadbent Road in an empty, square plot of land sits Delta Crossings, a small strip mall with big intentions for the northwestern chunk of Delta Township. Approved by the board in 2019, the $200 million project was intended to draw traffic from Lansing and East Lansing toward Delta. 

“It’s long been in the plans to develop that property near the freeway. So it’s brought some excitement and some new stores which were not here,” said Delta Township Manager Brian Reed. 

“The corridor is definitely busier which is good for all businesses. We have seen an uptick of property values along the Saginaw corridor.

Article

Minimum wage could be on Michigan’s ballot this year, MT community weighs in

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The Raise the Wage Michigan Ballot Committee’s proposal would increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2027, which could impact Meridian Township workers and business owners alike.

Michigan’s current minimum wage is $9.87 an hour. This would increase in one dollar increments over five years. After reaching $15 an hour in 2027, the initiative requires automatic adjustments for inflation each year.

The initiative also seeks to end the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, for people with disabilities and people younger than 20-years old. The sub-minimum wage would be phased out by January 2028.

Article

Monica Del Castillo, Haslett’s newest Board of Ed member advocates for student mental health

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Source: Aubrey Rademacher / Haslett High School

Monica Del Castillo, a retired mental health therapist, worked for 25 years at Lansing Community College where she also served as president of the academic Senate. Last fall, she became Haslett’s newest board of education member. 

Del Castillo said because of her immigrant childhood experience and mental health background, diversity and inclusivity play a heavy role in the decisions she makes. She said it was one of the main reasons she wanted to be a Haslett school board member. 

Del Castillo said, “Working with young adults in a college setting offered me insight into the challenges that young people face. While on the school board, K-12 teachers have reported mental health challenges create the biggest barriers to learning. My first hand knowledge and experience allowed me to strongly advocate for mental health services and initiatives.”

Alex Azima, a professor at Lansing Community College, served on LCC’s Academic Senate with Del Castillo.

Article

Kalamazoo commissioner candidates gear up for August election

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Kalamazoo County’s unofficial candidate list for the upcoming primary election August 2, 2022 lists mostly county commissioners as candidates. Out of the nine districts within Kalamazoo County, the first, third and seventh are the only districts without a candidate running as of mid March. Map of the nine districts of Kalamazoo, out of these districts the first, third and seventh do not have a commissioner candidate yet. Screenshot from the Kalamazoo County Government website. Behind the scenes look at the election

The 2022 election, like past elections, faces staffing issues.