Today’s weather forecast is predicting sunny skies with a high of 79 degrees and a low of 47 degrees. For the weekend it looks like partly cloudy skies with occasional rain starting tomorrow night into Sunday with temps in the low to mid 60’s.

Gov. Whitmer visits her former MSU sorority to encourage young voters

Over 50 current and past members of Kappa Alpha Theta eagerly gathered in their sorority house Tuesday to greet a fellow sister, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

While Whitmer came to MSU to give a talk on campus, she made a pit stop at her old sorority house to discuss the importance of voting.

Before that, though, Whitmer took a tour of the house and had the opportunity to see the rooms she had lived in decades before.

She then sat down with the students who asked her about her experiences at MSU and in the sorority, before the conversation shifted to her post-college political career.

Most people are not aware that the first elected office Whitmer held was the presidency at Kappa Alpha Theta, she told the group. Whitmer said that being president of the sorority provided her with experiences that she later applied to her role as governor.

“Being president of a big house on campus was never easy, but I have learned that with every office comes things that are not always comfortable, but it’s incredibly rewarding,” Whitmer said. “I’ve made lifelong relationships with each office I have held because of this opportunity.”

Whitmer’s visit was partially inspired by the impact that her time in the sorority has had on her life.

While speaking to students, Whitmer emphasized that voting is a right held by each eligible person in the United States. The younger generation makes a difference in these elections that have profound consequences on our lives, Whitmer said, adding that young people now have fewer barriers to voting.

Whitmer discussed strategies for increasing voter turnout with the younger generation. Most important, she said, was “talking about issues that matter to young people.”

She also left students with the reminder that, similar to her own experience, their time at MSU can help shape their futures.

‘A channel to our culture’: First Nigerian restaurant opens in East Lansing

Handie, a fast-casual Nigerian restaurant, is bringing a new flavor to East Lansing.

The eatery opened last month and features a diverse menu of authentic Nigerian specialities such as Jollof rice, suya and fufu and egusi. It will have an official grand opening on Oct. 25.

Formerly known as Tatse & Alobosa Bar, which opened in 2021 in downtown Lansing, owner Taiwo Adeleye said the decision to rebrand and relocate was made to increase traffic and “expand their horizons” by being more accessible to the student population.

The new location at 515 E. Grand River Ave. is also more central to the Okemos, Lansing and East Lansing areas.

Taiwo said there are a multitude of factors that make the restaurant stand out in this area.

“The culture, the ambiance, the food itself,” he said. “There is actually no restaurant that offers what we offer. The goat meat, oxtail, the Jollof rice, that really makes us stand out.”

Another way Taiwo said he is trying to appeal to the student population is by putting Nigerian elements in the form of burgers and wraps to get customers more familiar with the style of food.

For him, the cultural immersion doesn’t stop with the food. Large screens throughout the restaurant play Afrobeats music and he encourages customers to start a conversation about the ingredients and recipes.

He said “the food is like a channel to our culture.”

Wharton Center showing ‘Les Miserables’ as first in Broadway Series

The Wharton Center for Performing Arts is showing “Les Misérables” in Cobb Great Hall this weekend through Sunday, the first show of the Wharton Center’s 2024-25 Broadway series. The show is directed by Cameron Mackintosh and brings a fresh take on the classic.

Cast member Matt Crowle has been a part of this traveling production for the past two years. Crowle and his cast mates were encouraged to bring a new take to their characters.

“One of the most crucial elements of production is allowing for change and allowing for interpretation,” he said. “We see things differently and people hear things differently. And so, if there’s room for interpretation it kind of breathes new life into all the, sort of, what we would otherwise consider the old corners of the show.”

More information about the show and tickets can be found on Wharton Center’s website.

Based on original reporting by Anna Layden, Lauren Coin and Amelia Fraser.

To end our last episode of the week, here are a few announcements!

Here is the MSU home Athletic line-up for the weekend…

Today

• Field Hockey playing Maryland at 3 P.M. at Ralph Young Field.
• Hockey going against Boston College at 6 P.M. at Munn Ice Arena for the home opener.
• Volleyball going up against Penn State at 6 P.M. at the Breslin Center.
• Men’s Soccer playing Wisconsin at 7 P.M. at DeMartin Stadium.

Tomorrow

• Hockey will play Boston College at 6 P.M. at Munn Ice Arena.
• Volleyball will go against Illinois at 4 P.M. at the Breslin Center.

Here is the MSU events lineup for the weekend…

Sunday

• UAB will be hosting an Open Mic Night at the MSU Union Main Lounge at 6:30 P.M. If you’re a regular, you know the drill but if not, you can share your talents or watch performers show off their singing, poetry, comedy and much more! Pizza will also be provided while supplies last.