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MSU welcomes International Students Association headquarters
The international community at Michigan State University marked years of persistence and hard work when the International Students Association headquarters held its grand opening last Friday.
The headquarters, located on the bottom floor of the International Center across from the Spartan Bookstore, will serve as a space for international students and organizations at MSU to gather.
Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a few speakers gave insights into the creation of the headquarters, speaking to international students and other community members on campus who gathered for the celebration.
Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Thomas Jeitschko thanked those who advocated for the headquarters and reaffirmed the university’s support for all international students.
Assistant Vice President of Student Life and Engagement Genyne Royal also had a hand in making this space come to fruition.
She said the idea for the headquarters began around three years ago when she was approached by a previous ISA president, who asked her to create a space for international students.
And now that space exists today for students to enjoy.
Royal stressed that students shouldn’t feel like they always have to fight to get what they want.
ASMSU Safe Ride increases operating hours for spring semester
The Associated Students of MSU has increased the operating hours for Safe Ride, their late-night transportation service provided to students as a safe alternative to walking alone in the dark.
Last semester, the service operated nightly from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Although the app still lists those hours, the ASMSU Instagram page announced updated hours for the spring semester, starting earlier on Sundays and Mondays through Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
The new schedule is pinned on the ASMSU Instagram page with a caption that says “Saferide is back and ready for you with new spring hours! Stay safe!”
Safe Ride is not like typical ridesharing apps; its website outlines specific rules that limit the scope of its services.
MSU APASO makes an impact with 22nd annual Cultural Vogue performance
On Saturday night, student leaders from the Asian Pacific American Student Organization (APASO) set the tone for their 22nd annual Cultural Vogue event. The theme for this year’s event was “impact,” and based on the cheers from the Wharton Center audience, they did exactly that as they opened the event.
In his speech, APASO President Michael Oriyavong addressed an MSU college’s recent cancellation of a Lunar New Year event. As he addressed the current political climate regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), he asked the crowd to pull out their phones and record the end of his speech.
Following his speech, APASO Senior Adviser Hanaa Yoo yelled out “Go green” to the audience. The crowd responded with “Go white,” and then roared after her rebuttal.
“(Go white) should be a chant in celebration of the students’ school spirit and not the mindset of the university,” Yoo said.
The performers consisted of numerous student organizations including the Vietnamese Student Association, Taiwanese Student Association, Korean Student Association, CTRL+A (an APIDA dance club), Spartan Sur (a South-Asian fusion acapella team), Alpha Kappa Delta Phi, Japanese Student Association, Spartan Diabolo Club, Philipino American Student Society, Chinese Student Coalition and Hmong American Student Association.
Based on original reporting by Anish Topiwala, Robin Han and Somer Sodeman.