Today’s weather forecast is predicting sadly not the beautiful weather we had last week but light snow during the morning which will give way to snow showers during the afternoon with a high of 38 degrees and a low of 31 degrees.

STEM event shows future footprint of MSU’s campus

Michigan State University’s Facilities and Land Use Plan team hosted an open house event last week at the STEM Teaching and Learning Building to show community members current ideas for university renovations and receive feedback prior to making any final plans.

The team hosted a similar event in November of last year. The feedback from the fall open house was implemented into the plans presented last week.

The event had a number of ideas written on campus maps on display campus along with a floor map and virtual reality simulations for attendees to view potential structures.

Approximately one-third of the planning process remains unfinished and will be completed based on feedback received from the open houses.

Much of the current plans emphasize protecting natural areas across campus for educational purposes and limiting the number of cars allowed in the heart of campus. The proposal allows for designated parking further from the center of campus and creates more open areas to walk from building to building, specifically around the Shaw and Farm Lane intersection.

Another key component of the planning framework is the idea of building a campus with many hearts in hopes of bringing necessary resources that on-campus buildings lack.

Students were also encouraged to offer feedback to shape the campus structure for incoming students down the road.

MSU’s project team will use the feedback from the open house events to wrap up planning by the end of the summer. The goal is to bring the final framework to MSU’s Board of Trustees by fall or early winter for approval.

While MSU policy allows handouts, students frustrated after being offered Bibles

Accompanying the spring weather last week on campus, dozens of individuals were stationed around campus handing out miniature Bibles to students and others passing by. Some stood outside residence hall buildings as well as other classroom and student-populated buildings.

While MSU policy permits groups giving away handouts, some students expressed feelings of frustration.

“They shouldn’t be allowed to do that because they don’t even necessarily ask,” psychology freshman Ola Turkey said.

Turkey said the manner in which those handing out Bibles conducted themselves also proved to foster feelings of discomfort.

According to MSU policy, permits are only required for certain groups to solicit on campus, specifically those who are selling goods.

“It’s important to remember that MSU is an open campus,” MSU deputy spokesperson Dan Olsen said in a statement. “Individuals may distribute handouts in public areas of the grounds and buildings provided they are not disrupting university activities or services. If an individual feels unsafe at any time, we encourage them to contact the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety.”

LB Itayvion Brown dismissed from team following gun charges

Michigan State linebacker Itayvion Brown has been dismissed from the football team following an incident on March 17, according to court docs.

Brown was arraigned Friday morning in the East Lansing 54B District Court on one count of carrying a concealed weapon, a felony and one count of firearm possession under the influence, a misdemeanor, according to court records. His bond was set at $5,000 and a felony pre-examination conference is scheduled for April 28.

Brown’s attorney Wade Fink said he hasn’t seen any discovery and is not sure exactly what happened yet, but that the allegations do not state that Brown threatened anyone with a weapon.

Following the assault charges in Ann Arbor, Brown and the other six charged players entered a diversionary program allowing the charges to be dropped following the completion of a plan set by the Washtenaw County probation office. Fink said Brown will likely return to court to discuss next steps related to the program.

Brown was also one of seven football players charged with assault following the tunnel incident on Oct. 29, 2022 at the University of Michigan stadium.

Michigan State Athletics released a written statement Friday revealing that Brown was dismissed from the team last month and did not participate in spring practice, which began on March 14.

Based on original reporting by Melanie Soverinsky, Siya Modi and Vivian Barrett.