The MSU Library is helping students deal with the stress of finals week

With finals week right around the corner, stress levels are at an all-time high. Especially considering finals week will be in person for the first time in over a year. The MSU library understands how stressful this time of the semester is, and has some ways to help deal with the stress. The library had events like a painting pop up in the Makerspace room where students can paint a picture of Beaumont. Or taking a break from studying to pet therapy dog Sally.

Students and healthcare workers afflicted w/ COVID-19 share mental health tips

Throughout the country, health professionals and college students reveal ways they are combating the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health. 

According to the CDC, younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported worse mental health, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation. 

CDC suggests some healthy ways to cope with stress. By Molly Gundry

As illustrated in the infographic, the CDC suggests coping strategies with stress and mental health during the pandemic, such as connecting with others and taking time to unwind. Healthcare workers and students across the country, who have previously had the virus, point to ways that helped them cope during the quarantine. 

Health care workers

Debra Aplis, 53, a nurse at a Texas memory care facility, experienced some rough symptoms but ultimately recovered well from the virus. 

Aplis said throughout this pandemic, she experienced depression, mood changes and anxiety. 

However, Aplis found new ways to distract her from the global pandemic and the effect on her mental health. Aplis said she began music therapy, reading and watching music videos on YouTube. After recovering from COVID-19, Aplis donated her plasma for use by those battling COVID-19. 

College students

A Vanderbilt University freshman, Anastasia Franchak, 19, said she spent her entire quarantine in her room. 

Franchak is from Johns Creek, Georgia, outside of Atlanta.

Rochester Hills residents reflect on the presidential election

The presidential election on Nov. 3 was unlike any election this country has seen. With the number of voters and absentee ballots making history, Rochester Hills residents share their most memorable moments and important takeaways from election day. Rochester Hills resident, Cindy Yanachik, has always loved going to the polls and talking with neighbors during election day, and this year was no different. “I voted where both of my children attended middle school, Reuther Middle School,” Yanachik said.

League of Women Voters of Oakland County reaching out to voters through voter guides

The League of Women Voters of Michigan created Voter Guides to inform residents of the upcoming election on Nov. 3. 

The League of Women Voters creates voter guides every two years during even-numbered election cycles that provide information on official candidates. 

“Official candidates on the ballot get sent questionnaires, briefly two questions, one about their background and one about their priorities for whatever office they were seeking to hold,” said Debra Horner, coordinator of voter guide production. “They would send those back to us, and we put them into a printable guide, and distribute them around the county to city halls, township halls, local library, places they could be distributed.”

The League of Women Voters, Voter Guide is available online and as a hard copy. Credit: League of Women Voters of Oakland Area 

Transition to online

In 2016, the League of Women Voters began posting the guide online, as well. 

Instead of candidates submitting their questionnaires by email or mail, they would submit their answers to the online system Vote411. Voters can then put in their home address and ZIP code to look at the specific candidates who will be on their ballot, said Homer. 

“We have kind of a parallel system going,” said Homer.

Co-Founder of Unsold Studio, Meaghan Barry, named a Crain’s Business 2020 “Notable Women in Design”

In its inaugural year, Crain’s Detroit Business named Meaghan Barry, co-owner of Unsold Studio in Detroit as one of 29 “Notable Women in Design.” The award recognizes a selected group of accomplished female leaders in commercial, architectural and industrial design and package, fashion, graphic and web design, said Kelsey Strachan, an integrated marketing manager at Crain’s Detroit Business. After a nominator submits nominations, nominees have to complete a candidate form. A panel of judges then reviews the applications and determines who best emulates the program’s qualifications. The winning candidates are alerted and then featured in a special editorial feature section of Crain’s weekly paper, said Strachan. 

Being selected

“It was such an honor,” Barry said.

Rochester City Council to vote on how the city will handle Halloween

The Rochester City Council will decide on Oct. 12 if it will provide the schedule for trick-or-treating and use its resources to celebrate Halloween, like the police siren starting and ending the event, said Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson. As of Sept. 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention listed trick-or-treating, where treats are handed out to children, as a “higher risk activity.”

“Everyone has to make their own decisions, but I do not think people should be treating Halloween the same as in the past,” said Bikson. Mayor of the city of Rochester, Stuart Bikson, will take part in the vote on Oct.