Today’s weather forecast is predicting cloudy skies early which will become partly cloudy later in the day with a high of 43 degrees and a low of 29 degrees.
Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees passed a resolution honoring Interim President Teresa Woodruff for her “steadfast commitment” to the university as her term comes to an end.
Board chair Rema Vassar presented the resolution during last Friday’s meeting.
Woodruff stepped into the role in November 2022, after then-president Samuel Stanley resigned, saying he had lost faith in the board.
Vice Chairperson Dan Kelly personally commended Woodruff’s work in completing the presidential search for her successor. He also said he was pleased Woodruff would be returning to MSU as a faculty member.
Dianne Byrum said Woodruff went “above and beyond” as interim president.
Woodruff will return as a faculty member and researcher at MSU in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology.
Multiple MSU student groups withdraw from CORES and COPS coalition
MSU Asian Pacific American Student Organization announced last Thursday that it’s student organization is withdrawing from the Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Students and Council of Progressive Students coalition, due to what the organizations said is conflicting interests and a lack of effective communication.
The Feb. 1 statement came almost a week after MSU Black Students’ Alliance, or BSA, announced that the student organization is withdrawing from the Coalition of Racial and Ethnic Students, or CORES, and Council of Progressive Students, or COPS, coalition.
In BSA’s statement, which was released on Jan. 27 via social media, the student organization said that while making significant progress, including securing a permanent space in the Multicultural Center, the organization has endured challenges within the CORES and COPS coalition.
The statement said BSA decided to withdraw from the COPS coalition, while remaining committed to its partnership with CORES to best serve the needs of marginalized students.
The organization says they “hope APASO’s decision to leave the coalition will demand current leadership to re-evaluate the purpose and structure of the CORES and COPS Coalition.”
MSU Ballroom Dance Team celebrates expression in 9th annual Green and White Gala
The Michigan State University Ballroom Dance team hosted their 9th annual Green and White Gala this past Saturday. Teams from nine different universities and studios came together to compete across different experience levels and styles of dance.
MSU teams made up a portion of the 135 competitors in attendance at the competition.
The event began with the American Smooth dance category, where dancers competed in four different styles of dance: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot and the Viennese Waltz. Three additional categories of dance were also featured: International Standard, American Rhythm and International Latin.
In addition to type of dance, dancers were separated based on experience level. Seven skill levels were showcased at the Green and White Gala, from “Newcomer” to “Champ.” MSU Ballroom Vice President and biochemistry and microbiology senior Sydney Hall, who has coordinated the event for the past two years, said the different experience levels make the competition much more accessible.
Couples went against others in their skill level in 90-second heats. As the heats went on, less and less dancers took the floor through eliminations until the final heat, after which a winner was announced.
Hall said the planning process of the event is extensive. In addition to coordinating the “smaller moving parts,” she said, she also organizes with the teams, finds judges for the competition and communicates with the school to find a space. She said in the end, it’s all worth it.
Based on original reporting by Owen McCarthy, Demonte Thomas and Hannah Locke.
