Athletes in the Media

This is my view of how the ways athletes are covered in the media have changed. It is not so much about their performance in their sport anymore; today it is all about their personal lives. 

Michigan Economy Leaves High School Students College Dreams Broken

Ashley White, a high school senior, has Michigan State Spartan green bolting through her veins, but in an instant the excitement and blood stopped flowing when her mother told her she had no money to submit the application.

Ashley is not alone though, as many high school seniors in Michigan have had to alter their college choices because of the affects from the dreadful economy.

According to a Noria Corporations article, Michigan’s job losses from July 2000 to July 2008 percentage-wise are worse than U.S. job losses suffered during first eight years of the U.S. Great Depression from 1929-1937 and Michiganders are still waiting for a change. 

“What has changed is the number of kids who submit deposits to admissions” says Lucinda Briones, an Assistant Director of Admissions at MSU.

Applications are being sent in, but when students find out the price of even in-state tuition the only way to look is community colleges, which has seen an immense increase in attendance, according to an ABC News article.

“I would not be here (MSU) if it wasn’t for this scholarship I received” says Sarge Foley, a MSU senior “I would be sitting right next to my dad on the couch attending Oakland Community College”

The change in the economy in Michigan has caused stress for most if not all parents of high school seniors because their only hope is that they can send their child to their first choice. Without a college savings there is only financial aid to depend on and even that has underwent a decrease according to current MSU students.

“The economy has caused a slight decline in all aspects of admissions at State” said John Ambrose, the Associate Director of Admissions at MSU.

The economy has not only caused declines at MSU, the recent closing of 45 Detroit public schools in order to save money has also affected students and college admissions.

 “Detroit high school closing has affected admissions by at least 10 percent” said John Ambrose, the Associate Director  

Detroit was one of the cities hit the hardest by the “recession” and now it is the hands of Detroit’s Mayor Dave Bing and Michigan’s Governor elect Rick Snyder. 

Citizens of Michigan continue to hope for a change and turn around in the economy. These are hard times and even harder for those paying for college tuition along with the bills they have at home.

One good thing though, during this time that seems to be nothing, but bad is that universities are trying to help out more students, by getting them to apply and get accepted.

“No one has a leg up during these times and that is one of the reasons we offer waivers for our application, as long as the student can prove they deserve or need one because of their financial situation” said Ambrose.

Maybe things will look better for the upcoming new year and 2011 – 2012 school year. Those in the Admissions office at Michigan State are hopeful after receiving a more applications than they have in past two years.

Until then we can only keep students like Ashley in our heart and do what she does every night before she lays her head down for bed.

“Pray for a blessing every night,” said White.  

Is the Economy and College important to YOU?

Next story is covering how the economy is affecting admissions into Michigan State University. This story will show you how bad Michigan's economy really  is and how in some ways it has improved. Stay tuned because this affects you!

The Enemy is America

This is just my view of how the treatment of  Muslims in America has changed after the tragic events on September 11th.

Thanksgiving Parade 2010

There is more to Thanksgiving than being with family and food. We cannot fo get about the parade. Here is a quick view of the 2010 Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, Michigan.

Click to view slide show below:
http://www.slide.com/r/GEVljqhIsz-CIUKRpDD1lGjGBQf5JWjh?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original

Going Loco for Four Loko

Michigan State students have been piling out of local liquor stores with cases of what the Michigan Liquor Control Commission calls “blackout in a can”.

Thursday, November 5^th marked the day of the banning of the deadly caffeine and liquor mixed drink, Four Loko, from all stores around Michigan. The company was given 30 days to remove their product from every stores shelf, but it seems like college students are doing it for them.

“It tastes like a really really bad tasting energy drink, but I still love it because it is cheap and gets you messed up” said Matt Neitzel, MSU senior.

It is like banning Four Loko was the best thing that could have happen to company because within the past 18 days their sales have soared through the roof.

“Obviously if it was banned I wanted to try it. I mean if someone tells you not to look you’re going to look, so obviously I was going to try it” said Michael Chamas, MSU junior.

Four Loko comes in a colorful 23.5 ounce can making it seem like any other energy and alcohol mixed drink, but it is far from it. This one is extremely different because it has a 12 percent alcohol content and as much caffeine as a cup of coffee inside, leaving many student with terrible after affects.  

“I kind of felt hyper drunk. It was a drunkness I’ve never felt before. I just had a horrible crash afterwards” said Michael Chamas, MSU junior.

Case after case student continue to drink Four Loko and even after hearing stories of how bad it is and what has happen to others around the nation after taking it, it seems they will not stop until something awful happens to them personally.

“I have heard other people say their heart was hurting and other weird things with their body, but nothing I noticed. Always seemed like a regular intoxication” said Ben Mueller, MSU junior.

Students 21 and up only have 12 more days to enjoy the stomach turning caffeine and malt liquor drink, Four Loko. After December 5, 2010, there will be one less product on the market from causing sickness, alcohol poisoning, and even death. Until then Spartan students will have the same mindset they had before.

“Time to drink some more before they are all gone” said Michael Chamas, MSU junior.  

College Students going loco for Four Loko

College students around the nation have been going crazy for the alcoholic energy drink Four Loko. I am going to travel around MSU asking many different students about how they feel about the product, what they experienced while on the product, and what their first impression was after they heard it was being banned. Stay tuned this should be a good one.

Actions after Black Power Rally

“Say it loud. I’m black and I’m proud” was the chant that rocked the walls of the Wharton Center at the end of the 38^th Annual Black Power Rally.

Everyone in attendance departed with their fist raised high after the Black Student Alliance, put on another great rally. The event lasted around three hours taking up that time with skits, poems, and a great speech from the renowned activist and comedian, Dick Gregory.

“Walk on with yall fist raised high and even after tonight is done and a new day presents itself make sure yall go on with your fist raised so we can finally achieve the equality we have been longing for in life and on Michigan State’s campus” said Dick Gregory.

There are always more and more steps to be made in and for the black community, but the question always is whether African Americans will take what they preach seriously. Through the night each speaker urged blacks to come together as one and take the necessary actions to get what their ancestors have killed, marched, and died for throughout history.

“As I sat there and listened to each part of the rally I could not help but to notice others and how they listening, but not hearing what was being said” said Brandon Allen, James Madison student.

“Wake up! We’re in a daze” was the theme for this year’s rally. The Black Student Alliance wanted to encourage, uplift, and educate all in attendance, but many remained in a daze even during the event as they focused on other things like cell phones and shoe laces.

“Seemed as if they were more interested in the songs during intermission than the spoken word and Dick” said Jesse Giles, Chemical Engineering student.

Student danced and sang along and interacted more to the tunes being played between different parts of the program more than reacted to the words being spoken during the event.

Really in the end it is all about what those do after the event that makes the difference and even if they did not get everything they could have gotten out of it, many made the effort to still come and support which shows a lot of love and support for their community.

Dick Gregory said that this event was a step toward a stronger and healthier future for African American students around campus, but this one event cannot change everything. He said that everyone has to come to get to help one another and feel like a family even if we may not even know each other.

The Black Student Alliance gave away shirts in order to help those in attendance remember the event and remember what they learned, but everyone can only wait and see the actions the black community around Michigan State will do to keep themselves rising and not falling back into the past.

“There is no need to walk past each other without saying hello” said Dick Gregory “Yall coming together that is what is going to scare white people and get you what you deserve” 

38th Annual Black Power Rally

On October 27, 2010 the 38th Annual Black Power Rally was held at the Wharton Center. Many African American students and students from other races and ethnic groups came to celebrate black heritage. It was a eventful night including skits, plays, and inspirational words renown guest speaker that had everyone in the crowd with their fist in the air.

This story will be posted no later than November 4, 2010 so stay tuned.

Annual highlight of Michigan State Alumni

Michigan State University’s homecoming week was highlighted by the annual alumni Grand Awards Ceremony honoring distinguished individuals selected by the Michigan State University Alumni Association Awards Committee.

This prestigious event took place on Thursday October 14, 2010, in the elegant Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center which sits directly across from the Michigan State Brody dorms on South Harrison Road.

The awards given out included the Honorary Alumni Award, Alumni Service Award, Distinguished Young Alumni Award, Philanthropist Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award. There were only two awards given out for each category, except for the Distinguished Alumni Award where four different alumni were granted this award.

As the award recipients stepped up on stage they were only given a three minute speech time perimeter on why they were thankful for the award, but they all crossed the time limit making sure they got every word they wanted to say out after receiving such a reputable award. The awardees included William Lazerand and Angelo Oricchio for the Honorary Alumni Award, David Haverila and George “Lee” Rock for the Alumni Service Award, Monica Braman and Manpreet Kaur Singh for the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, Marcella “Marcie” Schalon and Michael Serling for the Philanthropist Award, and William “Bill” Livingood, Linda Chapman Stone, Kiat Tan, and Craig Murry for the Distingushed Alumni Award.

To be such a notable event the atmosphere was really laid back and relaxing. All of the guests caught up with old friends and cracked jokes with each other while listening to the inspirational speeches of the recipients. There were some things one will never forget about that night, such as some of the other wonderful guests and the three course meal. One thing that they everyone will take with them are some of the things that the awardees said in their speeches. In everyone of the recipients speeches there was a word or a sentence that connected to those sitting in the crowd that made them want to do better and work harder to achieve or reach past the dreams they already have.

“Learn the cost of everything and the value of nothing” Kiat Tan said.

This diction made the whole crowd stop and wonder because it was so deep in meaning. This abstruse quote first spoken by Oscar Wilde took a while to comprehend, but once people realized the meaning there was a quiet sound of understanding that came from the lips of the majority of those in attendance. Kiat Tan’s words tells us that as one moves a long on their journey in this forever changing world, to be proactive and optimistic one has to stop caring about the cost of things and see the value of nothing. Following this will bring greatness and the opportunity to give back.

“Give not until it hurts but until it feels good” Michael Serling said.

These words by Michael Serling were pretty much the theme of everyone speaking at the Grand Awards Ceremony. After the event it was well known that once someone makes it or has become successful they should always help others in any way possible. However, people should not give back because someone is making them or because they feel like they have to for some odd reason. People should give back because it makes them feel good knowing they have made life a little easier for someone else.

The 2010 Grand Awards Ceremony was once again successful. Great attendance, superb location and set up, and renown award recipients with touching speeches. Might have been the best so far, but it was for a fact one of the biggest highlights of the 2010 Michigan State homecoming week. Another year of the Grand Awards Ceremony has passed which means another set of bricks have been laid down as the alumni set the path for future graduates of Michigan State University.

 

Sources:

Andrea Kovac: Interview over email               

Kiat Tan: Speech quote

Michael Serling: Speech quote

The 2010 Grand Awards Ceremony

The alumni from Michigan State University will be having a ceremony on thursday October 14,  to honor individuals that were selected by the MSU Alumni Association Award Committee to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award, Philanthropist Award, Alumni Service Award, Honorary Alumni Award, And Distinguished Young Alumni Award.

Those who will be receiving these awards are :

http://www.alumni.msu.edu/grandawards/

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Wilson "Bill" Livingood
Sergeant at Arms
U.S House of Representatives
Alexandria, Virginia
B.S.  Social Science  '61

Craig Murray
Chief Executive Officer
Craig Murray Productions, LLC
Burbank, California
B.A.  Communication Arts & Sciences  '76

Linda Chapman Stone
Physician, Medical School Administrator, Retired
Special Assistant to the Dean; Emeritus Associate Professor
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio
B.A.   Communication Arts & Sciences '65

Kiat W. Tan
Advisor to National Parks Board, Singapore
Singapore
M.S. Natural Science  '67

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PHILANTHROPIST AWARD

Marcella ( Marcie) Schalon
Ed Schalon (posthumously)
Social Worker, Retired
Saint Joseph, Michigan
B.A. Social Science  '46
M.A.  Social Science  '47

Michael Serling
President, Michael B. Serling P.C
Attorney
Orchard Lake, Michigan
B.A. Arts and Letters  '66
J.D. MSU College of Law, '70

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ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD

David Havrilla
Allstate Insurance Agent, Retired
Okemos, Michigan
B.A. Business      '70

George Rock
Research, Patent and Business Development
Dow Chemical Company, Retired
Cadillac, Michigan
B.S. Engineering    '49

---

HONORARY ALUMNI AWARD

William Lazer

MSU Professor Emeritus
East Lansing, Michigan


Angelo Oricchio
Chief Executive Officer
Paramount Coffee Company
Haslett, Michigan

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DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNI AWARD

Monica Braman
Systems & Test Engineer
Proprietary Programs
The Boeing Company
Maryland Heights, Missouri
B.S.   Engineering       '03

Manpreet Kaur Singh
Doctor and Assistant Professor,
Stanford University School of Medicine
Menlo Park, California
M.D.  Human Medicine  '02

The 2010 Grand Awards Ceremony will be taking place in the Kellogg Center during Michigan State University's Homecoming week on October 14, 2010. 

East Lansing, Michigan ... Home of the Michigan State Spartans

Do you know anything about Michigan State and the city of East Lansing?

Well let me teach as I cover different happenings on campus of Michigan State and in the thrilling city of East Lansing. There will be a description of every story I will cover before the actual story, so you will always be ready for what is coming up next. After about a weeks time, the story I covered will be posted with all details you the reader need to stay up to date with the different events that occur in and around the campus of Michigan State.

This is not going to be just a regular and dull blog story if thats what you were expecting. Expect news articles worthy of being published that will  includes quotes, interviews, and even videos.

Stay Tuned and Follow Bright Reporting