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ASMSU ends door-to-door campaigning, discusses university plans and sextortion at meeting

The Associated Students of MSU voted on bills about campaigning policies and the value of student voices on the Presidential Search Committee at their meeting on Oct. 5. They also heard a presentation from the provost on academic goals and from an MSUPD detective on the dangers of sextortion.

Bill 60-19, which was introduced in the last general assembly meeting, originally disallowed ASMSU candidates from campaigning door-to-door in on-campus housing and stated that representatives must be in a major within the college they represent to ensure representatives don’t change majors in the middle of a term.

The assembly committee amended the bill to include representatives with “no preference” for their major, as those students would eventually switch colleges when choosing a major.

Bill 60-19 passed with 27 approvals, three disapprovals and four abstentions.

Bill 60-27 advocated for MSU’s presidential search committee endorsements to have approval from all faculty and students on the committee.

The bill pushed back against Presidential Search Committee Chair and Trustee Dennis Denno’s comments to The State News in September. In his comments, Denno said the person the Board of Trustees selects doesn’t need an academic background and may not be someone recommended by the committee.

Bill 60-27 passed unanimously.

ASMSU then heard from MSUPD Detective Jamie Izen, who gave a presentation on sextortion and scams.

Izen defined sextortion as the practice of obtaining something, often money, through force or threats. Sextortion deals with nude photos and nude videos, whether the perpetrator illegally obtained them or used them as blackmail.

MSUPD had 22 reported sextortion cases from January to September of this year, Izen said.

Izen encouraged victims to report the crime to law enforcement. Despite possible embarrassment, a person shouldn’t delete conversations with the perpetrator, as these can be collected for evidence.

Student groups hold vigil to honor Israelis killed this past weekend

MSU Hillel, the Jewish Student Union, or JSU, and Spartans for Israel held a candlelight vigil to honor the Israeli citizens killed this past weekend. Dozens of students and community members gathered around Spartan Statue on Oct. 9 holding paper candles, wearing white and blue and singing along with students leading the event.

At the vigil, public relations junior and JSU Vice President of External Affairs Matthew Zivian spoke to the gatherers.

He recited a prayer to “bless the soldiers of the Israel Defense Force and the men and women of the security forces who stand guard over our land and the cities of our Lord.”

Zivian helped organize the vigil and spoke to the MSU community alongside seven other MSU students.

Attendees set their candles on the bricks around the Spartan Statue, which was adorned with Israeli flags. More candles were laid out to form the Star of David.

MSU fencing club hosts first open tournament in over a decade, wins three medals

The MSU Fencing Club held the Red Cedar Rumble this past Sunday, making this their first tournament open to any registered fencer in over a decade. Fencers hailed from across Michigan to compete at IM West.

All three fencing styles were co-ed, but winners were split into two categories: women and overall, with the former being exclusive to women fencers and the latter being open to any gender.

After eight-and-a-half hours of play, six winners were awarded medals.

Because fencing is not an official MSU sport, members pay dues per semester, which usually helps cover expenses when traveling to tournaments.

The gym at IM West has seven permanent strips, where fencers compete, that are part of the basketball courts.

Based on original reporting by Willow Symonds.