As students ride waves on spring break, Ingham County’s COVID-19 cases nose-dive 

On March 6, Michigan State University lifted face-covering requirements in sports complexes and a majority of buildings on campus.

President Samuel Stanley said MSU followed CDC guidelines and campus data on COVID-19 to make the decision.

To Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail, the number of cases continues to ride the curve downwards even after the mask mandates are lifted, giving a hopeful new approach to COVID-19 safety protocols.

Since last week, only 203 positive new cases at Sparrow and McLaren hospitals have been reported while the average case fatality rate has fallen to 0.6% according to the ICHD.

Year in Labor: A look into MSU’s relationship with campus workers

For a long time, universities have been able to operate with little concern for the effects of local and national labor market trends.

Schools almost always have a steady flow of laborers for the low-wage jobs that are offered on-campus because they have a live-in supply of students willing to take the jobs.

But the pandemic changed this. It is for this reason that MSU had to rethink its relationship with organized and unorganized labor over the past two years.

From dining halls to CATA buses, life at MSU has changed since the pandemic instilled these labor shortages.

Chief Communications Officer for Student Life and Engagement Kat Cooper said that over the past 10 years, MSU has seen a decrease in students applying to work in dining halls as they are more interested in getting work experience in the field they are pursuing.

Taro Harasaki drums to his own beat in Drum Tao at the Wharton Center

Traditional Japanese drumming meets modern entertainment when it comes to the newest show heading to the Wharton Center: Drum Tao.

The show mixes the traditional and classic use of Taiko drumming with eccentric and fun choreography to dazzle international audiences.

One of the drummers is Taro Harasaki, who explained that what Drum Tao puts on stage is more entertaining than a classical musical show as they create a Las Vegas-esque, outlandish show.

Harasaki explained that himself and the other troop members put a lot of time and personal work into making every show the most audience-grabbing it can be.

You can see Drum Tao on March 15 at the Wharton Center.

Original reporting by Claire Grant, Dan Netter, Liz Nass. Script by Shakyra Mabone.