Today’s weather forecast is predicting snow during the morning which will turn into a few snow showers for the afternoon with a high of 36 degrees and a low of 32 degrees.
Creative tech-based projects shine through at ninth annual Spartahack
An estimated 600 students from more than 20 different colleges and universities filled the MSU STEM building Saturday and Sunday to compete for glory and cash at MSU’s annual hackathon, SpartaHack.
The event, now in its ninth iteration, featured student teams racing to create innovative engineering-based solutions to everyday problems under a tight 24-hour time limit. Teams were given the choice to compete in one of six “tracks” which focused on specific technologies and applications including sustainability, financial services and interactive media.
Despite the event appealing primarily to STEM majors, students studying other disciplines also participated in the event.
While some teams at the event were comprised of students well-versed in several programming languages and frameworks, SpartaHack also welcomed beginner-level students to try their hand at creating an application.
MSU Grand Knit and Crochet Extravaganza brings students together to make fiber art
The University Activities Board, or UAB, hosted its first ‘Grand Knit and Crochet Extravaganza’ in the MSU Union on Sunday.
Students were able to choose from a wide variety of yarn, hooks and other knitting and crocheting materials. UAB also provided QR codes with step-by-step instructions for various projects.
Journalism sophomore and UAB member Meg Vandermark said their organization hasn’t put on an event like this before, but was happy with the large turnout.
“It kind of has brought about a different audience that I feel like is quieter in a good way,” Vandermark said. “It’s just a different demographic and more calm.”
MSU artist in residence holds community workshops to democratize visual storytelling
Over the past two weekends, the East Lansing Public Library hosted an “Introduction to Documentary Filmmaking” workshop for high school students aged 15-18. The workshop was run through Pop Up Docs, a nonprofit organization that provides workshops for aspiring visual journalists from underrepresented groups.
Michigan State University artist-in-residence, 4-time Emmy winner and Pop Up Docs Founder Jarrad Henderson hosted the event alongside Community and Urban Journalism Professor Danielle K. Brown, as well as students in the MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences.
The workshop was a pilot project in collaboration with Brown’s project, LIFT, which looks at how trusted messengers provide information to Black communities. Brown’s research also focuses on how to mitigate harm caused by “dishonest, misinformed and incomplete narratives.”
Over the course of the four-day workshop, students learned how to use visual equipment, like video cameras and microphones, and conduct interviews.
The implementation of hands-on learning is tied to the main goal of Pop Up Docs, which Henderson founded during his time as a Knight-Wallace Fellow at the University of Michigan. Their goal is to provide this technology and technical ability to students who would otherwise not have access to it, he said.
In addition to equipping students with these skills, Henderson hopes to provide them with lessons that “go deeper.” During the workshop, MSU students also passed on their knowledge to their high school audience.
Based on original reporting by Emilio Perez Ibarguen, Lauren Coin and Hannah Locke.
