Changes made to Healing Assistance Fund

It’s been a year since Michigan State University encouraged students they would do better after the Nassar scandal. “We’re doing a disservice to them,” MSU Board Elect Kelly Tebay said. “Just feeling like we failed them again.” 

Last week, Interim President John Engler disband the Healing Assistance Fund, which was designed to help survivors of Larry Nassar. “Survivors that haven’t been able to afford treatment have either been trying to pay for it out of pocket or not receiving treatment which causes extreme trauma on top of all the other drama,” Tebay said. 

The fund began last December and wasn’t open a year before it was suspended in July due to fraud concerns. 

“Now that the university has fulfilled its commitment and deposited the settlement funds, we support redirecting the remaining Healing Assistance Fund toward the $500 million lawsuit settlement,” a statement from Board Chairman Brian Breslin said.  Tebay and other members of the board are ready and willing to help get the fund back on board. 

“If it’s not this fund, it’s another fund,” Tebay said. 

MSU board elect has plans for the university

In the MSU Union, it’s not unusual to see students studying or enjoying a cup of coffee. Something you might not see is an MSU trustee but, board elect Kelly Tebay can be found eating her favorite ice cream at the Dairy Store. 

It’s been almost a decade since Tebay walked around campus buildings but, she’s back now with a new roles and a new goal in mind; to rebuild MSU after the Larry Nassar fallout. “I’m expecting change,” MSU sophomore Natalie Herman said. 

Tebay says she is ready to start this process but, it won’t be a quick one. 

“This isn’t a short fix, this is a long term problem,” Tebay said. “We made a mistake, we’re gonna try to fix it.” 

First year master student Caleb McMahon is hoping to see more accountability from the board. “I think it’s reasonable to expect that after what happened,” McMahon said.

Leaving a mark with artwork

After starting to study psychology when he got to MSU, DeMarco Jackson realized art was his calling. “My mom always used to tell me how my dad was into art,” Jackson said. “He was never in my life, so I just felt like that was my way of kind of connecting with him even though he wasn’t around.” 

While he’s trying to connect with his father, he began his connection with campus through his business, DeMarco’s Mark. “DeMarco’s Mark is literally just about me making my mark before I leave here at Michigan State and I really just want people to know my name,” Jackson said. “I just want the acknowledgment I’ve always deserved.” 

In just a year, DeMarco’s Mark has blossomed into something he’d never imagined.

Crowds gather to see Obama before midterm election

When in downtown Detroit, you’d expect the Little Caesars Arena to be full of life. Instead, the huge crowd packed into Cass Technical High School just down the road. “We’re really excited so glad he came for this,” event go-er, Bridgette Huff, said. 

In the cold and in the rain, people waited. “This is the first time I am able to get out and see him,” rally attendee, Donna Penick, said. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she will never forget. 

The star of this show was President Barack Obama, who landed in Michigan to support its Democratic candidates like the Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Gretchen Whitmer and U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. 

“We’re not gonna fix everything because of one election but, here’s what will happen, if you vote, things will get better,” President Obama said.

Snapchat filters being brought to life

College-aged adults use multiple social media to document their lives, no matter the app. But, what’s happening on Snapchat is more than just a news feed these days. MSU student, Nicole Kay, says she uses Snapchat every day. “Of course, we like to look a little dolled up sometime,” Kay said. “Without it it’s like ‘oh my God, do I really look like this right now’ but, with it its like ‘oh my gosh I look so pretty.” 

She does it using the filters provided by Snapchat.

Voter turnout expected to be high in November

Mid-term elections historically have lower voter turnout than presidential election years but, this November 6th is expected to be different. Polls show this upcoming election is expected to have one of the highest voter turnout from young adults in decades. Meridian Township clerk, Brett Dreyfus, says one of the reasons is the candidates they were left to vote for in the November 2016 election. “Young people felt disenfranchised,” Dreyfus said. “Whether other people agree with that or not, young people were very dissatisfied with the choices presented to them during the November 2016 election.” 

Clerk Dreyfus thinks social media also plays a part.

The flock is getting lighter

“This is like a gift for MSU students,” Antione Taylor, an MSU student, said. 

Students say Bird scooters are getting hard to find and there are a lot less zipping in-and-out of traffic on-campus. That’s because MSU Police have impounded at least 140 of these electric scooters. MSU Police Captain, Doug Monette, says the department is treating Birds like they would any other type of motor vehicle. 

“They can’t be driven on the sidewalks,” Monette said. “There has been situations where officers have educated people as well as enforcement.” The bike lanes are not a place for the scooters either. 

“The bike lanes are for bikes, not motorized vehicles,” Monette said.

The Birds have landed

A flock of never before seen birds are taking over campus. 

“They’re here. The birds have landed,” Bird catcher, Mike Thompson, said. 

But, we’re not talking about birds you see in the sky. We’re talking the Bird scooters that are zipping in and out of traffic. “They’re really fun, they go like 15 miles an hour, they’re great,” Thompson said. Mike Thompson is a ‘Bird Catcher.’

Through the Banks of the Red Cedar

A documentary film about racial tension on-campus in the 1960s premiered this week. “Through the Banks of the Red Cedar” focuses on student athletes who faced racial hardships while playing the sports they love. Film maker, Maya Washington, learned about her father, Gene Washington, struggle with diversity back in the sixties. She compared her father’s experiences to what student athletes face now. Maya Washington says what her father went through helped pave the way for student athletes today.

A student election that no one knows about

There’s an election going on right now and for a radio station and a newspaper, this election couldn’t be more important. 

“Having a newspaper cover 50,000 plus people in our community is really important and to have a staff that is dedicated to just relevant things to the MSU community is really important,” State News Managing Editor, McKenna Ross, said. 

The State News is asking for a two dollar and fifty cents increase in order to continue to improve their work and give students the opportunity to try something new. “An educational opportunity and work opportunity for journalism and media people to try out print and onlIne journalism and it’s been a really good experience,” Ross said. 

At just three dollars, Impact 89F is requesting a tax renewal. Impact 89F Assistant Station Manager, Olivia Mitchell, said this tax keeps their station running. “We are really volunteer heavy and we like to be able to move people up when they have put in the work. Just to have all the supplies that people need, resources, and all that money goes to doing just that,” she said.