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First annual “Camp Gains” accumulates traction for MSU lifting clubs

On the outskirts of MSU campus gym IM East on Sunday, presidents of the MSU Powerlifting Club, or MSUPL, and Girl Gains Club finished striping the grass in white paint to begin a festive field day called “Camp Gains.”

When the spring semester of 2024 rolled around, both presidents sat down to figure out how to bring their lifting clubs together. Their aim: to form new relationships and continue to build off of each other’s “gym rat” energy.

MSUPL is a co-ed group founded in 2019 and has taken off since attracting over a hundred students, who focus on powerlifting and competing in events such as deadlift, bench and squat.

Girl Gains is a group of MSU women who want to feel included in gym culture and help take pressure off attending the gym away from those who feel it.

The Casual Lifting Club at MSU is for anyone interested in the realms of exercising. The club does not focus on the specifics of weightlifting, but more on the entirety of what attending the gym can do.

With activities involving a tug-of-war, three-legged race and water balloon fight, the crowd of lifters were seperated into a green team and a white team.

The event attracted sponsors, two of which were created by MSU student entrepreneurs: Protein Pints, a protein-based ice cream brand, and Cocomar, a coconut water-based protein shake.

Along with the MSU brands supported, a surprise brand arrived: Celsius, the well-known energy drink company, which set up products for all attendees.

With the success the groups encountered at the first “Camp Gains,” there is hope for years to come. The goal is to make everyone feel comfortable, healthy and happy in the gym, no matter what.

Medical examiner questions cause of Brenda Santo’s death at MSU

A report set to be released is calling into question the cause of death of Brendan Santo, a Grand Valley State University student who went missing on MSU’s campus in October of 2021 and was later found dead in the Red Cedar River.

The report, which is set to air on Local 4 Detroit, features an interview with Oakland County’s Chief Medical Examiner Ljubisa (lubisha) Dragovic who believes that Santo’s case should have been left ‘undetermined’ rather than closed, as no water was found in his lungs during the autopsy.

Santo’s autopsy report lists his cause of death as an accidental drowning, with acute ethanol intoxication listed as a contributory condition to his death.

The autopsy revealed advanced decomposition changes, which Dragovic said could have covered up any injuries Santos may have suffered the night of his disappearance.

The advanced decomposition could have also covered up further evidence of water present in Santo’s body that could imply drowning.

Because of this, Dragovic said that the autopsy cannot fully determine the cause of Santo’s death and safely exclude foul play.

MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant said in a statement answering to the report that the results of the investigation were submitted to the Ingham County prosecutor in June 2022, who determined that there was no criminal activity involved in the event.

There has been no new evidence presented to indicate the possibility of any criminal activity since, according to the statement.

Spartan Remix fosters community through collaboration, connection

Last Thursday, the Michigan State University Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT) held its annual Spartan Remix at the Breslin Center.

Spartan Remix is MSU’s multicultural welcome festival, during which students are able to learn about multicultural student organizations on campus and watch performances put on by different groups and artists.

The setup of Spartan Remix is similar to that of Sparticipation, MSU’s annual registered student organization (RSO) event where every RSO comes together to promote their clubs. However, Spartan Remix is a scaled-down version that prioritizes multicultural groups on campus.

The theme of this year’s Spartan Remix was Fostering Community Through Collaboration and Connection.

Based on original reporting by Madilynn Warden, Hannah Holycross and Hannah Locke.