MSU engineering professor accused of criminal sexual conduct has charges updated

Michigan State University former engineering professor Yiming Deng, who was charged with two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of third degree criminal sexual conduct in September, has had his charges updated following a preliminary examination in the Clinton County District Court on Nov. 23, 2021.

He is now charged with one count of criminal sexual conduct of the first degree and remains charged with two counts of criminal sexual conduct of the second degree.

CSC 3, which Deng was previously charged with, includes sexual penetration but without aggravating circumstances such as the perpetrator causing personal injury to the victim. CSC 1, which Deng is now charged with, includes such aggravating circumstances.

According to the original police report in July 2021 and testimony during the November hearing, Deng forcefully digitally penetrated and groped the complainant on July 14 in her Bath Township apartment.

65A District Court Judge Michael Clarizio said that the testimony provided by the complainant demonstrates that Deng allegedly caused mental anguish to the complainant.

Due to this, he determined that the original CSC 3 charge could be moved to CSC 1.

Alleged racial discrimination at Lansing-based company brings protest downtown

Former employees of Lansing-based company United Electric, or UEC, alleged racial discrimination against the company in a lawsuit filed earlier this year.

Following the filing of the lawsuit on Jan. 20, 2022, two protests have been held outside UEC, attended by union workers, civil rights advocates and concerned citizens.

For several former employees, this was their first time facing United Electric since leaving the company.

UEC is receiving millions of dollars in tax breaks from the state of Michigan to complete the Red Cedar Project, a new apartment complex near Michigan State University’s Brody Neighborhood.

Protesters said they believe the company should not be receiving these tax breaks due to alleged racial discrimination – to the point of legitimate safety concerns.

MSU gymnastics prepares for their first NCAA regionals since 2016

After a successful season of new records and career highs, MSU Gymnastics heads to Seattle, Wash. to compete in the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2016.

Over the past few years, this program has been reshaped and brought out of its slump from a difficult time period in its history.

MSU will be competing against nine other teams at their regional. The first round will be a play-in on Mar. 30 between Stanford and San Jose State.

Alabama, Michigan State, BYU and Washington will be in Seattle on Mar. 31 in the afternoon while Utah, Oregon State and Illinois will be in the evening.

The top two teams from each will move on to the finals on April 1st and then the top two from that will secure their spot in Nationals.

Based on original reporting by Morgan Womack, Drew Goretzka, Raenu Charles and Melanie Soverinsky. Script by Shakyra Mabone.