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Early voting rally aims to engage MSU students one week out from the election

With Election Day just a week away, an early voting rally was held in People’s Park near Wells Hall and the International Center on Monday, engaging with students on the importance of voting.

The event included food trucks, a DJ booth, Zeke the Wonder Dog and performances from the Spartan Dischords along with multiple tables meant to educate students on voting initiatives and ways to make a voting plan come Election Day.

Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum spoke at the event, telling students to engage in early voting.

Early voting locations in East Lansing include WKAR’s Studio B early voting center located in the Communications Art and Science building and the Hannah Community Center.

Byrum encourages not only students, but everyone to make a plan in regard to voting on Election Day.

Regarding any questions surrounding the election, Byrum encourages those with questions to contact their local clerk rather than rely on the Internet for answers.

Dominique Stepp, program manager of One Love Global, a community-based organization based in Lansing and Detroit that focuses on racial equity, said she and the organization’s members were present at the rally to push students and young people to go to the polls.

Offering advice to students, Stepp encourages those who plan to vote to do their own research regarding candidates from both political parties, information regarding polling locations and make their own decisions leading up to Election Day.

MSU reinforces enrollment policy after three-year pause

With the beginning of the 2024 academic year, Michigan State University has started reinforcing its disenrollment policy. The policy says a student’s enrollment may be canceled by MSU due to lack of payment or academic recess, among other factors.

The re-establishment of the policy comes after a three-year period of it not being enforced. Since the introduction of the new Student Information System in 2021, the practice of canceling enrollment because of nonpayment was paused for several years.

MSU made that decision to avoid confusion or difficulty for students and administration using the new Student Information System.

So for the past three years, students with unpaid balances would accrue fees but were not threatened with the cancellation of their enrollment. During that time, however, the policy remained unchanged and was just not enforced, according the Office of the Controller.

It is now being enforced once more.

The official policy states that “A student’s enrollment may be administratively canceled due to nonpayment of fees, non-attendance, academic recess, or dismissal.”

This means students with unpaid balances risk the cancellation of their enrollment.

Since the renewal of the protocol enforcement, the Office of the Controller reports it has not seen many students affected by the change.

While the policy remains unchanged on paper, its enforcement is a shift in MSU’s approach to managing student accounts. Students can view the details of this policy in the Academic Programs Catalog to avoid any disruptions to their enrollment status.

MSU students bring Holmes Hall to life at interactive Halloween celebration

The Haunted Holmes Halloween event at Michigan State University transformed Holmes Hall into a spooky destination last Thursday night, inviting students and community members to explore a night filled with thrills, chills and festive activities.

The evening featured an assortment of activities, including a haunted hallway, costume contest, pumpkin decorating stations and themed foods. The pumpkin carving stations provided all the necessary tools and supplies, allowing attendees to express their artistic flair while enjoying the company of peers.

In addition to these activities, the event offered a selection of seasonal treats like apple cider and donuts. Tables were set up for students to enjoy their snacks while socializing and participating in pumpkin decorating.

This event was orchestrated by over 30 staff members, who are also resident assistants (RA).

While this event may not be regularly occurring, its attendance was robust. Of the hundreds of students who participated, many said the highlights were the welcoming atmosphere and the variety of activities that catered to different interests.

Based on original reporting by Demonte Thomas, Shealyn Paulis and Anna Layden.