Today’s weather forecast is predicting showers in the morning then continued cloudy and windy in the afternoon with a high of 45 degrees and a low of 32 degrees.
Faculty senators protest Trustee Denno over meeting absences
At Michigan State University, tensions between faculty and the Board of Trustees boiled over Friday, as three Faculty Senate members turned their backs–literally–on Trustee Dennis Denno during a board meeting.
Faculty Senators Jack Lipton, Justin St. Charles, and Jamie Alan staged the silent protest to call out Denno’s repeated absences from key meetings with faculty, calling his behavior “gross neglect of duty.” They’d already flagged the issue to Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a February letter, urging his removal from the board.
Denno didn’t respond to the protest–or to requests for comment. Trustee Mike Balow defended him, calling the faculty’s actions “immature,” but admitted Denno hasn’t attended these meetings since January.
This all follows last year’s independent investigation that found Denno and fellow Trustee Rema Vassar violated board rules, leading to a formal censure. Faculty support for their removal has only grown since.
As MSU faces high-stakes decisions and ongoing scrutiny, faculty say engagement from trustees isn’t optional–it’s essential.
Montie House co-op tree planting event leaves members with saplings of wisdom
Over the weekend, the Montie House co-op in East Lansing dug into something meaningful. On Friday, they teamed up with local arborist Kelley Smith and the Till Utopia Garden to plant four new trees: a redbud, elderberry, chokeberry, and American plum. All of them edible, and all chosen to bring more food and function to the community.
Smith, who runs Feral Solutions Tree Care, led the hands-on lesson in planting and tree care, emphasizing how knowledge today can lead to better tree choices tomorrow. “There’s no such thing as a bad tree–just a bad location,” he said.
The event was sparked by Montie House member Charlotte Nana Mayworm, who saw an opportunity to fight local food insecurity with fresh produce right at home. She says the project supports both their food access and emotional well-being.
From utility marking to careful placement, the planting was a full-on learning experience–and a hopeful step toward a greener, more self-sustaining future.
MSU students host second annual Race for Humanity event; raise funds for Gaza
On Sunday morning, over 80 runners gathered on the Michigan State University campus for the second annual Race for Humanity–a 5K fundraiser in support of humanitarian relief for Palestine. Hosted by Students for Justice in Palestine alongside the Muslim Student Association, the event raised money for UNICEF, with hopes that funds will directly benefit children’s hospitals in Gaza.
Originally delayed by campus flooding, the race kicked off from Conrad Hall, looping along the scenic Red Cedar River. Some participants wore keffiyehs or race shirts, while others joined virtually from afar.
Pre-med junior and SJP president Nasim Barghouti says the race aims to focus on the humanitarian–not just political–urgency of the Palestinian cause. “This is a way to raise awareness through unity,” he said.
Top finisher David Juergens, a sophomore, and East Lansing resident David Hoffman both emphasized the power of collective action. MSU alum Anna Martinez-Hume joined with her family, stroller and all, saying student-led events like this are more important than ever amid political pushback on campus activism.
Based on original reporting by Owen McCarthy, Anna Barnes and Ria Gupta.
