Today’s weather forecast is predicting areas of patchy fog early and partly cloudy skies during the morning hours which will give way to rain in the afternoon with a high of 73 degrees and a low of 42 degrees.
2024 Michigan Climate Summit discusses the intersection of democracy, climate justice
The annual Michigan Climate Summit hosted by the Michigan Climate Action Network on Sept. 26 brought in hundreds of people and some large names, like Jocelyn Benson, Michigan’s Secretary of State. The keynote speaker was invited to Ann Arbor to open the summit with a panel centered around voting information. The theme of this year’s summit was “climate civics,” chosen with regard to the looming election.
A standing ovation welcomed Benson to the stage, and she brought two clerks up for her panel. Their main topics were early voting and trusting democracy.
The summit continued with the theme of climate civics, including stacked panels of regional and local level climate activists working in agencies across Michigan.
One panel, named “Money on the Table: What the Inflation Reduction Act Can Do for You (and the Climate),” hosted prominent names in environmental agencies, including Michigan’s Department of Great Lakes and Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Bentley Johnson from Michigan’s League of Conservation Voters opened the panel as a moderator with some important anniversaries. The summit took place one year after a major climate rally in Lansing on the capitol lawn and two years after the Inflation Reduction Act that invested big money into clean energy and climate action.
There were several panels happening throughout the day concurrently. These panels were all on topics which highlight the intersection of democracy and climate.
The 2024 Michigan Climate Summit’s panelists were also from regional and local areas in Michigan.
MSU president outlines new student success, research initiatives at investiture ceremony
In a ceremony officially recognizing him as the 22nd president of Michigan State University, Kevin Guskiewicz promised expansions of student success programs and research initiatives, announced plans to change general education requirements and emphasized his commitment to civil discourse.
Guskiewicz was officially vested with the powers of the presidency at the investiture ceremony Sunday afternoon, which was briefly interrupted by protesters.
Board Chair Dan Kelly said Guskiewicz was the exact sort of candidate the presidential search committee had been looking for: “an experienced leader with the intellectual vision, broad worldview and personal integrity to inspire the university community to new levels of excellence.”
Officially starting in March, Guskiewicz spent the first few months of his tenure touring the university and learning about different programs. Sunday’s ceremony was the first glimpse into what initiatives he plans to implement.
First, to close graduation gaps and promote the “access and retention of students,” Guskiewicz announced the creation of a merit-based undergraduate scholarship that would cover the full cost of attendance as well as a study abroad experience.
The scholarship, which will be launched for the incoming class of 2025, will be a way to attract “the top students from across the country.”
He also announced that MSU’s Spartan Tuition Advantage program would be expanded to offer additional scholarships to indigenous students.
Next, following a review later this year, a team of “world-class faculty” will make changes to MSU’s general education requirements, Guskiewicz said.
MSU’s general education curriculum hasn’t been updated in over 28 years, Guskiewicz told The State News. He hopes the faculty work group will consider the value of liberal arts and experiential education as they reform the requirements.
MSU will also create a council of civic, business and political leaders “to advise us on how to best prepare our students to meet current and future workforce needs,” Guskiewicz said.
Staying safe on rideshare apps: Actions you can take and what to look out for
Rideshare apps have proved to be a popular way for students to get around campus and East Lansing, but getting into a stranger’s car can sometimes lead to uncomfortable or frightening situations for passengers. Though data shows using rideshare is overwhelmingly safe, there are ways to be best prepared.
East Lansing Police Department Lieutenant Adrian Ojerio said the best way to ensure your safety while using a rideshare app is to be mindful of your surroundings.
You should also track where your driver is taking you using GPS, he said, to ensure that they are taking you in the right direction to your destination. He also recommends that riders who are alone share their location with a friend or family member so they can know where they are.
In the case of a damaged car or reckless driving, Ojerio said passengers can report it directly to the rideshare application so the company can flag the drivers.
Riders who feel uncomfortable or fear for their safety can always call 911, he added. In this situation, he recommends ending the ride as soon as possible and requesting to be dropped off in a well-lit, high-traffic area.
When it comes to issues with rideshare apps, Ojerio said the most common problem in East Lansing isn’t the drivers, but rather the riders who try to get into vehicles that are not rideshare vehicles.
Uber conducts thorough background checks on potential drivers, according to the website. Its requirements state that a driver must possess a valid U.S. driver’s license, need one year of U.S. driving experience and must have a current license without disqualifying restrictions.
Another popular rideshare app called Lyft has similar criteria for its background checks.
There are also alternatives to rideshare apps offered through the university. ASMSU Safe Ride is a late-night transportation service provided to members of the MSU community.
Rides can be requested through the Transloc app, where students can log in using student credentials and can call rides to pick them up from on-campus buildings, off-campus apartments and off-campus work locations.
Another alternative is the MSU CATA ‘Night Owl’ which provides late night and early morning campus service at times when other CATA bus services are not in operation.
Based on original reporting by Anna Barnes, Theo Scheer and Hannah Holycross.
