Welcome to the last episode of The State for the semester!

Today’s weather forecast is predicting cloudy skies with periods of light rain later in the day with a high of 57 degrees and a low of 47 degrees. For the weekend it looks like it will be overcast with rain showers and between low 50s and low 60s.

East Lansing mayor and city manager suggest racism may be reason behind anonymous complaint

The East Lansing City Council approved measures to resolve complaints from an anonymous letter delivered to the City’s Human Resources department which accused council members of conducting business unethically.

The first measure approved was a joint statement that set forth the council’s intentions to hire an independent entity to review the allegations in the letter.

City Attorney Anthony Chubb will serve as the city’s representative in the investigation.

Chubb’s appointment was used as an example of “poor management,” by the Council, according to the anonymous writer.

The council plans to ask for an update on the investigation 90 days after it begins if they have not received a final report by that point.

East Lansing Mayor Ron Bacon said he welcomes any scrutiny related to his work as it pertains to the City Charter or politics of the city, but he won’t tolerate the letter, “trying to lump people into some type of coalition or cabal based on race, gender or anything else.”

The anonymous complaint mentions by name the city’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion 13 times, stating that the city staff has been given the impression that her connections to the council and mayor are allegedly being used by the mayor to ignore the city charter and go around the city manager to influence personnel decisions.

Chubb said that when the investigation is done, he will work with human resources to build a process through which complaints can be filed.

Bacon said that he wants the council to come out of this with a solution that doesn’t place future city councils or city employees in the crosshairs of anonymous complaints.

A.J. Hoggard joins Akins and declares for NBA draft, retains NCAA eligibility

Sophomore guard Jaden Akins isn’t the only Spartan testing his chances in the 2023 NBA Draft. Per a list released by the NBA on Tuesday night, junior guard A.J. Hoggard has joined his teammate in submitting his name early.

MSU’s starting point guard took charge during the 2022-23 season, stepping up in the green and white’s backcourt alongside senior guard Tyson Walker. Hoggard averaged 12.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists his junior season along with being named to the East Regional All-Tournament team following his standout performance in MSU’s overtime Sweet 16 loss to Kansas State.

Graduate student forward Joey Hauser’s name can be found on the list as well. Hauser has announced that he will not be returning to MSU per his social media.

Seniors struggle with expectation to have a job upon graduation

Fifty-nine percent of Michigan State University seniors had a graduation outcome of “employed” in 2020; according to the University of Washington, an estimated 53% of all college graduates are unemployed or underemployed — when they have a job, but their position does not utilize their skills or abilities.

In a cultural climate that heavily associates prestige and success with employment, navigating changing career plans can be hard. For students like international relations and German senior Cassidy Johnston, not having a job lined up immediately after graduation feels strange.

Johnston, who enrolled in MSU planning to pursue law, said she needs a break from school now. While currently in the process of looking for a job, she said, the stigma surrounding unemployment weighs on her.

International relations and Spanish senior Joy Cullen said the job market for social science degrees is always “a little bit hairy.”

With fears over recession and the plight of the economy, Cullen said she feels it is getting increasingly difficult to find jobs.

Cullen said both the pandemic and the campus mass shooting had an impact on her college experience and career outlook. In addition to the effect COVID-19 had on the job market, she said, it was harder to join extracurriculars and make connections.

Johnston said COVID-19 made it harder to meet with advisors and acclimate to campus. For younger students, she recommends beginning career planning earlier.

Based on original reporting by Maggie George, Melanie Soverinsky and Dipika Rao.

To end our last episode of the semester, here are a few announcements!

Here is the MSU home athletic line-up for the weekend…

Baseball will play Western Northwestern this weekend all at McLane Baseball Stadium!

• Tonight at 6:05 P.M.
• Tomorrow at 3:35 P.M.
• Sunday at 1:05 P.M.

Softball will go up against Purdue this weekend all at Secchia Stadium!

• This evening at 5 P.M.
• Tomorrow at 1 P.M.
• Sunday at 1 P.M. all at Secchia Stadium.

For our final announcement, I would just like to thank everyone who has been listening throughout this entire school year. It has been quite a year let alone a semester and personally producing this podcast has been one of the things I look forward to each and every day. I am proud to announce that I will be back with The State for the fall semester so get ready for some more news in a few months!