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The morning after Election Day, hours after the presidential race was called for Donald Trump, Bob Gould said he found himself having to do “a lot of soul searching.”
The broadcast journalism professor was trying to decide how to broach the subject in class that day, knowing that “for some, this is a really difficult time because they feel like maybe their status will be marginalized,” he said.
MSU faculty have the difficult task of addressing an election that has distressed some students without ostracizing those who feel differently. Some have chosen to keep their personal political beliefs to themselves. Others have been vocal about how the election has affected them, a choice university administrators say should be exercised with caution.
In any case, many professors have used the classroom as a space for students to process and learn from the news.
Gould avoided taking sides and let his students do the talking, he said, choosing to open class with a group discussion.
Other faculty did not try to hide their political beliefs. In fact, one professor’s vocal reaction to Trump’s election spurred additional guidance from university administration on how to respond to the news. On the other hand, some canceled classes hours after the Associated Press called the race for Trump.
MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant said the university was quickly notified of such class cancellations and received “copies of some of the social media posts.”
University officials also heard from students who felt uncomfortable taking classes after seeing “their faculty member was canceling the class or making it seem like what happened with the election was a bad thing,” Guerrant said.
In response, Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education Mark Largent reminded deans and other top faculty of the university’s expectations around canceling class in a meeting of the University Committee on Undergraduate Education on Thursday.
Largent said he didn’t tell faculty to not cancel class or make political statements. But he did remind them of a section of MSU’s Code of Teaching Responsibility which states that instructors are “responsible for meeting their classes regularly and at scheduled times” and that they must notify their units if they will be absent.
The guidance issued to faculty comes as MSU moves toward “institutional neutrality,” a term used to describe formal policies barring universities from issuing political statements. While MSU’s president and board are still discussing whether to officially enact such policies, the university has already issued guidance to administrators explicitly describing its institutional “tone” on the Israel-Hamas war as “neutral.”
MSU’s own response to the election results took an impartial tone, yet acknowledged concerns often raised by liberals about Trump’s plans for higher education.
MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz encouraged students in an email two days after the election to recognize “our common humanity and the inherent dignity in each other,” acknowledging that the election “stirred strong feelings.”
“Spartans won’t always agree, and that’s ok,” Guskiewicz wrote. “A big part of the MSU educational experience is grappling with the many ways to live and view the world.”
STOMP brings non-traditional beats to Wharton
Making a beat from a garbage can and drumsticks, and with plenty more “instruments” in tow, STOMP came to the Wharton Center for Performing Arts’ Cobb Great Hall last week. To kick off the shows, cast members performed a number outside Wharton last Wednesday.
In the show, cast members use anything other than traditional instruments to make a beat. Showcasing just the sounds they make; STOMP is a lively explosion proving anything can be music.
There’s lots of different objects used in the show, making it hard to pick a favorite. Cast member Andrew Patrick has found love for the rhythm in the routine shopping carts.
But some of the best music may come from no instruments at all. Cast member Jayme Overton credits her favorite being the hands and feet number.
The cast travels internationally to perform and often is not spending very long in one location. East Lansing was lucky enough to have the cast for three nights. This is not just exciting for the students, but also for Overton who has friends that attend Michigan State University.
STOMP is most well-known for its creative expression of music, but the show is also a very performative dance.
The show is best seen and heard by audience members. The cast loves to get the audience involved and loves to have fun on stage and seeing how the audience engages.
Based on original reporting by Emilio Perez Ibarguen, Theo Scheer, Amelia Fraser.
