Today’s weather forecast is predicting partly cloudy skies and then showers later at night with a high of 36 degrees and a low of 29 degrees.

MSU obtains rare emergency readiness accreditation

Michigan State University announced last Thursday that it obtained a second accreditation term from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program, or EMAP, a nonprofit which sets and reviews standards for institutions’ emergency readiness. MSU remains the only university in the Midwest and in the Big Ten to hold an EMAP accreditation.

The “emergency readiness” reviewed in the process can include everything from mass-shootings, natural disasters and public-health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The status lasts for five years. MSU was first accredited in 2017 and the university spent much of the 2021-2022 academic year attempting to meet EMAP’s requirements for a second term.

MSU Police Department Spokesperson Dana Whyte said, “The reason why accreditation is important to us is that we want our campus to feel safe and know that we are making these efforts towards improving our safety response.”

This announcement comes amid a dramatic rise in US mass shootings. A 2022 Best Colleges survey of 1,000 undergraduate students found that 60% of students considered campus safety as a factor in their college decision.

MSU is one of only eight universities to hold an EMAP accreditation and the only one in Michigan.

Organizations pay a subscription and a fee for review when seeking accreditation. According to EMAP’s website, an institution of MSU’s size would pay $7,950 to be considered. MSU did not provide the additional cost of on-site reviews by the time of publication.

Students navigate health care for pets in college

Adopting a pet in college helps to relieve stress and have a companion through the ups and downs of a semester. It also poses a set of responsibilities that otherwise force the pet’s caretaker to consider the needs of a being outside themselves.

These new responsibilities can be pronounced when a student decides to bring a pet into their college home, the pet’s health is a new responsibility for the student to navigate.

Psychology and criminal justice senior Aya Altantawi said that looking back on her experience, she wishes she had paid closer attention to the online reviews of the veterinary office she took her cats to. Despite her hometown’s location having good reviews, the location in Lansing sent her on the hunt for a new veterinarian.

Altantawi said with veterinarians, students will “get what you pay for,” and more research would have landed her cats in better care sooner.

For public relations junior Evelyn Sowerby, she was incentivized to bring her cats to a clinic soon after they were adopted from Capital Area Humane Society. She said she took advantage of an offer to have the cost of her cats’ first checkup appointment waived at certain clinics in the area since she adopted from CAHS.

Having grown up with cats her whole life, Sowerby said she paid attention to making sure they had food and water, but being a pet owner in college presents a new set of challenges.

The financial strain can add an extra source of stress, and an emergency pet fund may be necessary.

Besides the general upkeep of a pet’s health, human biology junior Sydney June said she suggests simplifying care for a pet when possible. For example, she has a service which ships her cat’s food to her apartment.

Black History Month events on campus to attend this February

February is Black History Month and there will be many opportunities to celebrate on campus. Open up your planners and jot down these campus-wide events honoring Black history.

First, this Thursday, “Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey” with Angela Davis will happen at 5 p.m. at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre. Angela Davis will be the speaker at the second lecture in Dr. William G. Anderson’s Lecture Series. Davis is a famous activist for Black liberation, a feminist and an educator who has authored 11 books.

On Friday, a Zoom webinar will occur from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. focusing on celebrating Black History Month. The virtual event will feature Ebony Omotola McGee, author of “Black, Brown, Bruised: How Racialized STEM Education Stifles Innovation.” McGee is also a professor of diversity and STEM at Vanderbilt University.

In addition to these Black History Month-specific events, there are more ways to celebrate the month at MSU. Throughout the month, there will be several performances showcasing Black art and artists.

Several of MSU’s registered student organizations will also have their own events for Black History Month. The Black Student Alliance has named Feb. 13 through Feb. 17 to be “Black Love Week.”

For those looking to find shows happening at the Wharton Center can visit the Wharton Center website. Also, those looking to stay updated with Black History Month events can visit @blackmsuconnect on Instagram.

Based on original reporting by Alex Walters, Maggie George and Amalia Medina.