Today’s weather forecast is predicting sun and a few passing clouds with a high of 57 degrees and a low of 42 degrees. For the weekend it looks like partly cloudy skies with showers on Sunday with temps in the high 50s.

Kamala Harris underperformed past Democrats in MSU precincts

Vice President Kamala Harris failed to match Democrat’s levels of support on Michigan State University’s campus compared to the 2020 and 2022 elections, according to an independent data analysis from The State News. This trend is in line with the consensus that the vice president underperformed nationally compared to Joe Biden in 2020.

Harris obtained 74.52% of votes in East Lansing precincts 1, 12, 13, 14 and 15, which make up MSU’s campus, according to data from Ingham County. That level of support is over 3 percentage points short of President Joe Biden’s 78.19% of earned votes on campus.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, many MSU students were not living on campus during the 2020 election. The total number of votes cast on campus in 2020 was 949, less than a third of the 3,092 votes cast in the 2024 election.

Although the 2020 election may not be the strongest indicator of the campus’ voting patterns, Harris also failed to match Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s levels of support in the 2022 midterm election — which was held on a post-pandemic, fully populated campus.

While voter turnout on campus was only 1,889 in 2022, Whitmer’s dominance on campus ultimately contributed to her defeat of Republican Tudor Dixon by over 10 percentage points.

For whatever reason, Harris failed to inherit Biden and Whitmer’s successes on campus. That outcome, as of 2:18 a.m. on Nov. 6, has contributed to her deficit in Michigan.

MSU First-Generation Week launches with student resource fair

MSU First-Generation Week kicked off Monday afternoon with a resource fair hosted by the Associated Students of Michigan State University.

The event, which took place in the MSU Union Lake Huron Room, featured MSU offices, ASMSU and student organizations.

ASMSU traditionally plans this annual event, Vice President of Academic Affairs Ahmed Amir said.

Amir, who organized the event, said he wanted first-generation students to understand there are offices and resources available to support them throughout their college experiences.

A new addition to the fair involved several breakout rooms that occurred throughout the event. Breakout rooms featured presentations by MSU Counseling and Psychiatric Services and MSU Education Abroad, while others included presentations by career services and discussed financial literacy.

These sessions allowed for a more intimate setting where students could learn and inquire about a specific resource or office.

Marlene Villa, the coordinator for first-generation student success and chair of the first-generation week planning committee, said she collaborated with ASMSU for this event and others held later in the week.

Villa wants to bring awareness to what it means to be first-generation, as she said many are not even aware they fall into this category.

Villa wants to use this week to not only provide information and academic resources, but also celebrate the work and successes of first-generation students.

Guskiewicz said first-generation students comprise 21% of the incoming class this semester. One of his goals is to make sure those students can thrive by taking advantage of the university’s resources, he said.

A breakout room hosted by Olivia Scott, the CAPS assistant director of multicultural initiatives and community engagement, highlighted some of the challenges faced by first-generation students.

Scott said first-generation students can struggle with the transition to the college environment, whether that be with navigating class structures, schedules or the demands of different courses and majors.

Scott then discussed how students can deal with these challenges in a healthy way, including reflecting on personal strengths, recognizing signs of stress and incorporating self care.

She also pointed to CAPS as a service that offers formal and informal support to students, with some facilitators dedicated to the pathways program aimed toward first-generation students.

She hopes having someone in an environment students see weekly will make them feel more comfortable to reach out for help.

Specialists seek to address mental health, substance use correlation among students

As students progress through their academic journeys, pressures build and mental health issues rise alongside substance use. For Michigan State University students, health specialists say understanding this correlation is crucial for personal well-being, supporting peers and fostering a safer, more informed campus community.

An article from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) states that mental health issues can lead to the misuse of alcohol and drugs as a form of self-medication.

Using substances as a coping mechanism can often lead to dependency, reinforcing negative mental health patterns, hindering academic performance and discouraging individuals from seeking the help they need from professionals.

Misusing substances can lead to harmful habits and health issues that may persist into adulthood, impacting long-term well-being and success that may continue to be ignored or unnoticed by an individual.

There are several resources for Spartans seeking support, including MSU’s CAPS program, the SAMHSA helpline, as well as Collegiate Recovery Community (CRC), who directly helps support students in their recovery process on campus.

Addressing the intersection of mental health and substance use is part of creating a healthier campus environment. By normalizing conversations around these issues, students and faculty alike can work together to reduce stigma, increase education and encourage early intervention.

Based on original reporting by Emilio Perez Ibarguen, Anish Topiwala and Jessica Pruitt.

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

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

Friday

• Women’s Basketball will play Yale at 7 P.M. at the Breslin Center.
• Hockey will go up against Ohio State at 7 P.M. at Munn Ice Arena.

Saturday

• Hockey will play Ohio State at 7 P.M. at Munn Ice Arena.
• Wrestling will compete in the Michigan State Open at 9:30 A.M. at Jenison Fieldhouse.

Here’s the MSU events lineup for the weekend…

Saturday

• The Student Osteopathic Medical Association D.O. Monster Dash 5k will happen at Fee Hall. The fundraiser is to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation which is an organization that works with pediatric oncologists to fund the most promising research to combat childhood cancer and support survivors. There will be both an in-person and virtual format and the race will start at 10 A.M.
• Get ready for pop, rock, and a good time, with the Noise Fest at Dem Hall Ballroom. UAB and Impact 89FM will be sponsoring this event where you can see 3 bands perform live in the middle of campus. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. and music starts at 7 P.M.