COVID-19 has sidelined many professions including those in sports. Senior athletes in college and high school are feeling the effects as spring seasons are canceled in response to this crisis.
Article
An increase in social gatherings leads to an increase in social distancing
|
While in-person classes are canceled and moved online, several students still moved into their off-campus apartments and houses leading to several large social gatherings. There are restrictions placed on an East Lansing area of houses and apartments largely mostly rented by Michigan State students. These restrictions prohibit gatherings of no more than 10 people inside and 25 people outside. Several gatherings were held that went against the restrictions, leading to the largest spike in COVID-19 cases Ingham County has ever seen. The recent spike saw two days reach 100+ cases, roughly tripling the single-day record of cases that occurred in June when several positive tests were linked to the breakout at Harper’s Restaurant and Brewpub.
business
Screams for Dairy Store ice cream go silent
|
Another business has been affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19, but this one hits home to the Michigan State campus. The Dairy Store officially closed its doors on Friday, September 11 and its not clear when they could reopen. Ronald Hendrick, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources says the lack of students and weekend event foot traffic is the cause for the business shut down. Sales were reduced by about 75 percent during the summer months. The Dairy Store has been around for over a century and this is the first time it has shut down, leaving students who are left on campus thinking about what they love most at the store.
News
Students react to MSU canceling in-person classes for fall
|
Students respond to MSU canceling in-person classes less than two weeks before classes start and undergraduates move on-campus. Jay Gooden wants better communication from Michigan State University and its staff when informing students of changes due to COVID-19. Gooden, 22, Spartan Remix co-director at Michigan State University, said he is worried about his lack of drive, lack of being able to be social and most of all, not receiving the full experience of acting with in-person class. MSU planned on resuming in-person classes for undergraduates when the semester starts Sept. 2 but reversed their decision Tuesday and moved most classes entirely online.
Business & Economy
East Lansing bars respond to on re-openings and the spread of COVID-19
|
The typically loud and rambunctious crowds in East Lansing bars have been replaced with control and regulation, rendering a dramatic change in the bar scene since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Before [the pandemic], it was very laid back, it was a fun environment to make good money at,” said Lauren Dix, server at Beggar’s Banquet. “It’s just a little bit tenser and there are not as many people coming in.”
After the COVID-19 pandemic forced Michigan State University to end in-person classes, hundreds of students flocked to the local bars in East Lansing. Not long after, the lack of social distancing and mask-wearing at many bars and restaurants caused many of them to shut down or implement new rules in order to minimize the spread of the coronavirus.
Four months after the pandemic reached East Lansing, many bars and restaurants attempted to re-open after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order on June 1 that allowed them to begin conducting business again. Some were able to open successfully, relying on curbside pickup and takeout orders to make up for the revenue that they lost while being forced to close down but, others, however, were not as successful.
Campus News
MSU Greek life goes virtual
|
One of the popular attractions in college is the social aspect of college, which includes doing Greek life. This upcoming school year, Greek life will join a long list of other social activities that will look different.
Greek life at Michigan State allows students to not only xperience social venues at college, but also give them the opportunity to be a part of something bigger and get involved in philanthropy like ways never before that are both rewarding and fun for the students. One of the most important parts of Greek life is membership and recruitment. The ability to be face-to-face and in close quarters with one another.
This type of recruitment will need to be adjusted as both the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council will need to adjust their ways in order to continue.
Kate Vernier, who is the Panhellenic president said how this upcoming fall will be like no other due to everything going virtual.
“This fall, formal recruitment will be completely virtual,” Vernier said. “We will be using an online platform, which has not been decided yet.”
Spring as well is likely to look different, although plans have not fully been made, says Vernier.
“While we haven’t started formally planning for spring recruitment, we plan to follow all local, state and university recommendations, as well as the recommendations from the National Panhellenic Council,” said Vernier.
News
MSU professors work COVID-19 safety measures into fall teaching plans
|
Alec Gerstenberger(Top Left to Right) Dr. Raymond Jussaume, Professor Anastasia Kononova (Bottom) Professor of Practice Andrew Corner
After the spring semester was cut short because of COVID-19, many universities, faculty and students struggled to deal with the quick transition from in-person to online learning. Now that there has been time for schools to get plans together, many professors have been trying to figure out how to safely and effectively change their teaching plans to accommodate new university mandated safety measures when classes resume this fall. “The first couple weeks of fall will tell us a lot about what the rest of the semester is going to look like,” said Andrew Corner, an advertising and public relations professor at Michigan State University. As the start of the fall semester approaches, MSU has transitioned 57% of undergraduate classes to online learning, with 17% changing to a hybrid system and the remaining 26% completely in-person.
“Even for my in-person classes, I would be prepared to go online anytime,” said Anastasia Kononova, an advertising and public relations professor at MSU. “This is something we did not predict in the spring semester and this is something I think we’re getting ready for in the Fall in case the pandemic re-emerges on campus.
Campus News
How will Michigan State’s student organizations look in the fall?
|
Rebecca Mizell admits this year is going to be something new for Michigan State University’s Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). “It’s not going to look like years past.”
Rebecca Mizell, business manager of Michigan State’s RSOs, said this in reference Sparticipation in Fall 2020. Michigan State had over 900 RSOs in 2019 and, just as the rest of the world, there will be adjustment needed for the fall for close to all of them. Sparticipation is an event in which RSOs set up a booth or tent so students have a chance to become a member. Mizell said the event “brings out, historically, about 15,000 students.”
Coverage of Sparticipation 2019, courtesy of The State News
But, because of social distancing guidelines and the risk COVID-19 poses, Mizell said the event will run differently this year.
Campus News
Faculty’s help saves students’ summer
|
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on many students across the country, especially those at Michigan State. One change that has affected students involves their internships moving remote or having their offers completely rescinded due to the pandemic. This obstacle, however, didn’t stop faculty at Michigan State to set students up with alternatives for their summer plans. Summer with some hope
MSU faculty tends to help students looking for summer work every year, but with COVID-19 happening, some faculty members stepped up in the process. Karin Hanson, the director of employer relations and communications for the Career Service Network, is a part of a team that sets students up to attain internships.
News
East Lansing takes part in protests, BLM movement
|
Protesters seen on Gunson and Grand River. Photo by Austin Winslow. Since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, the world has moves toward equality and recognition of black lives. Floyd’s death has reached people everywhere, including in the East Lansing area. Students at Michigan State and members of organizations have felt the need to express what they can do to help the movement.
Health
Friends, family work around isolation to find ways to celebrate
|
As the coronavirus pandemic pushes people to quarantine and practice social distancing, families and friends who are used to celebrating together in person are being pushed to the virtual world.