Education
Crosswalk outside of Chippewa Middle School.

Residents concerned after multiple car accidents outside Okemos Schools

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After two car accidents involving children occurred outside of Okemos schools at the start of the school year, parents reached out to the school board to voice their concerns. 

The first accident on Sept. 15, outside of Chippewa Middle School on Kinewa Drive, left one student in a wheelchair with a broken ankle and concussion. The second accident on Oct. 4 involved a child walking at the intersection of Kinawa Drive and Okemos Road. This prompted Superintendent John Hood to send out an email to parents reminding them about street safety. 

“It’s really disappointing because myself and some others in the room have spent a lot of hours and effort into putting together recommendations that would make it safer for our students to walk and bike to school, and it’s just going nowhere,” said Tim Potter while addressing the school board during its Oct.

News

Former Lansing School District employee speaks out on racism accusations

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Keys. Laptop. Badge. These were the three items Claude Hogan was unsuspectingly ordered to hand over the day he was placed on administrative leave. 

This came as a shock to Hogan, who was the supervisor for a student athletic development program and has worked at the Lansing School District, or LSD, since 2015. All he was told was that he had breached a policy.

Delta-Waverly
The Waverly High School building. Many students attending Waverly use Anna Piazza's mental health resources.

Anna Piazza Guides Waverly High School Students Toward Mental Wellness

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In her initial two years as the sole therapist at Waverly High School, Anna Piazza conducted 1,452 therapy sessions with students.

As part of the Expanding, Enhancing Emotional Health (E3) Program, Piazza, a therapist from Child and Family Charities, serves as a resource for students grappling with mental health issues.

Mental health issues among adolescents are on the rise. According to the CDC, in 2021, over 42% of students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, with nearly 29% experiencing poor mental health. Additionally, in 2021, 22% of students seriously considered attempting suicide and 10% attempted suicide.

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.

Arts & Entertainment

The People’s Church experiences unexpected turnout at Trunk or Treat event

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The second annual Trunk or Treat event hosted by The People’s Church in East Lansing had an unexpectedly large turnout on Saturday, Oct. 28. Many members of The People’s Church gathered on Saturday evening to celebrate Halloween with their community. The Trunk or Treat event was described as a safe alternative for families to enjoy in addition to the classic trick-or-treating tradition. Some attendees said this alternative to trick-or-treating has become increasingly popular. 

News

East Lansing City Council announces it will vote on controversial affordable housing proposal on Oct. 17, hosts public hearing

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East Lansing City Council announced a decision regarding a proposal to construct an affordable housing complex on Albert Ave will be finalized by Oct. 17. The announcement came during its Oct. 3 meeting, where citizens also participated in a public hearing to share their thoughts. The proposal in question is the construction of a five -story building with 122 units of affordable rental housing at 530 Albert Ave., a site that is currently a parking lot behind a strip of downton businesses.