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New Ingham County prosecutor reverses felony firearm policy

Ingham County Prosecutor John Dewane announced Monday morning his office will enforce Michigan’s felony firearm law for any person who commits a felony while using or possessing a firearm to commit a crime.

Dewane is about a week and a half into his tenure as the county prosecutor, having taken office at the start of the new year. He was chosen to succeed Carol Siemon, who resigned halfway into her four-year term.

This policy is a reversal of what Siemon’s office announced in 2021. When Siemon led the office, the charge was limited to individuals who used a firearm during a crime. Individuals who had a firearm but did not use them while committing a different crime would not be charged with a felony firearm.

In a statement about the decision, Dewane said his first priority is to address what he called a “dramatic rise in serious, violent and gun-related crimes” in the area.

Dewane also announced it will charge individuals who are repeat felony offenders under Michigan’s Habitual Offender law.

Seniors celebrate at fall commencement ceremony

Hundreds of MSU graduates received their Bachelor’s degrees on Dec. 17, 2022 in two ceremonies held at the Jack Breslin center.

The graduates, who were MSU seniors just moments before, gathered with friends, family, faculty and administration to celebrate. Each ceremony honored graduates from half of the university’s colleges, the first at 10 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m.

At the earlier ceremony, graduates heard remarks from Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff and Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko with music from the MSU Jazz Orchestra.

They then heard from the honorary doctorate in humanities degree recipient, Okhee Lee-Salwen, an MSU graduate and scholar at New York University. Lee-Salwen left graduates with four lessons from her own life experience: do it — do not leave yourself wondering, what if–take care of yourself, put in the work, and make your mark on the world.

Attendees also heard from the senior class speaker, accounting graduate Darryl Ervin. He told fellow students about his first visit to campus and how his decision to attend MSU changed his life. Ervin shared his own struggles as a first-generation college student and father while attending MSU. He said these challenges helped him build character, gave him purpose and shaped him into the person he is today.

Ervin also cited the slogan, “Spartans Will,” which he said he did not fully understand when he first came to MSU. However, Ervin said, he soon came to learn that “will” was both an external action and an internal conviction.

Intimidated by the gym? IM regulars share encouragement for newcomers

At the beginning of every year, a wave of new faces appears at the gym. Of all goals, “to exercise more” is the most popular New Year’s resolution this year.

Although some are brave enough to grab a pair of dumbbells or hop onto a machine and figure things out on their own, the stigma of the gym environments hangs over many newcomers’ heads as they begin their fitness journey.

MSU provides its students with several exercise facilities, including IMs West, East and Circle. MSU’s gyms are often busy, making it a little more intimidating for those unfamiliar. However, regular gym-goers testify that the environment is actually much more supportive and welcoming than it may seem.

IM frequenters say that many experienced students are eager to help with spotting, correcting form or understanding exercises.

Computer science sophomore Cole Current has had someone he didn’t know step in to help him with his squatting form.

“My form was really bad, I had no idea what I was doing,” Current said. “He was really supportive in helping me correct that … He was like, ‘I want you to do better, I don’t want you to hurt yourself.'”

While the gym can be nerve-wracking at first, IM-West regulars attest that it’s a great place to work toward New Year’s goals and become part of a new community.

Current said, “It’s just a good environment. The people, they care.”

Based on original reporting by Wajeeha Kamal, Amalia Medina and Ellie Young.