Supreme Court case could change Mich. warrant law
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Izzo calls basketball team the “weirdest” he’s coached
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Head coach Tom Izzo JULIA NAGY/THE STATE NEWS
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Working together: One year later East Lansing and Lansing began by sharing a fire chief, look to collaborate with nearby cities and townships
NURSING
DIFFERENCES IN TUITION COSTS RAISE CONCERN FOR STUDENTS By Samantha Radecki radeckis@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
not received 30 days from the invoice date. By having Talifarro spend part of his time in both Lansing and East Lansing, Lahanas said the city is giving up something by not having him spend all his time at the department. “He’s not needed on a dayto-day basis to fight a fire,” he said “It doesn’t lessen our fire emergency response right now. But what it does stop is that perhaps it’s less time for him to tackle the issues he wants to tackle.” Gerald Rodabaugh, ELFD fi re marshal and president of the local 1609 Firefight-
From age six, Allison Koning knew she wanted to be a nurse. But at what price? According to the MSU Controller’s Office, the accelerated option in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, or BSN, program costs in-state students, such as Koning, $601.50 per credit hour, while upper-division traditional BSN students pay $460 a credit hour for the same education. The accelerated BSN program is a consecutive 14-month undergraduate nursing program in the College of Nursing. The traditional undergraduate nursing program is a two-year program without summer sessions. But while accelerated BSN students are paying for exclusive summer courses, some students wonder why they are paying about $140 more for the same classes as traditional students in the fall and spring semesters. “This semester, we are in class with the traditional students with the exact same instruction, at the exact same time, in the exact same room, and we are paying (about) $150 more,” Koning said. “That blows my mind.” Shannon Brecheisen, the director of the Office of Student Support Services in MSU’s College of Nursing, said the premium cost year-round accounts for the specialized instruction accelerated BSN program students receive during the summer semesters. Brecheisen said the accelerated BSN program accepts about 50 students each May, while the traditional BSN program accepts about 120 students each year. According to the Office of the Registrar, the accelerated option program is specific to the College of Nursing. Amanda Kujawa, a student in the traditional undergrad-
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JULIA NAGY/THE STATE NEWS
Firefighter Bill Bailey, left, and firefighter/paramedic Chris Patterson test equipment Monday at the East Lansing Fire Department. The firefighters were having problems with one of the trucks not properly distributing foam.
By Michael Koury kourymic@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
To see a timeline of the transition, visit statenews. com.
East Lansing and Lansing Fire Department Fire Chief Randy Talifarro works between 40 and 50 hours a week, receives 100 or more emails a day and treks between East Lansing and Lansing daily. Adding time spent outside of work at city council meetings and other community events, his work week sometimes can stretch to nearly 70 hours. That’s because Talifarro is one man working a job made for two. One year ago, Talifarro began serving as the fire chief for both the East Lansing Fire Department, or ELFD, and Lansing fire department, when the two cities agreed to share his services after former Lansing Fire Chief Tom Cochran retired. The deal, which took effect Jan. 15, 2012, expired Monday. East Lansing City Council will decide whether to approve a new yearlong agreement for Talifarro to remain fire chief for the two departments at today’s regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. in City Hall, 410 Abbot Rd. If the agreement is approved, Talifarro will continue to do what he started a year ago: bring more collaboration between the fire departments in the Lansing area communities.
CRIME
Facing another year East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas plans to recommend council approve the new year-long agreement. “The city of Lansing is interested in extending it as well,” he said. “At this point we’ll look to extend it from this Jan. 15 until next January.” Not much has changed in the proposed agreement, other than new language requiring the city of Lansing to pay about 50 percent of Talifarro’s $119,000 salary. Originally, Lansing was required to pay between 40 to 60 percent of his salary depending on where he spent most of his time. Lansing also must pay a 2 percent late charge if payment is
DORMS
Michigan universities differ Engagement Center opens in McDonel on Taser use in police depts. By Alex McClung mcclung3@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS
By Darcie Moran morandar@msu.edu THE STATE NEWS ■■
A f ter Easter n Michigan University police began using Tasers this month, MSU police and students are joining the debate of when and how they should be used on campus. MSU police have about 55 to 60 Tasers for all officers assigned to the road who complete a four-hour training, with renewed training every two years, said MSU police Sgt. Mike Aguilera, a defensive tactics and Taser instructor. “After looking at statistics, it reduced officer injury and suspect injury,” Aguilera said of the choice to implement Taser carrying at the MSU department about 10 years ago. He said there have been around six cases in which Tasers were used at MSU in the last year. Their use has minimized the need for hand-tohand combat, which puts the
“In my experience in Lansing … it kept officers from deploying deadly force.”
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officers in more danger. He said Taser use at universities should be on a caseby-case basis depending on a college’s circumstances. “Central Michigan doesn’t have the population we do,” Aguilera said. “If Central was next to Detroit, I think they would reconsider.” Central Michigan University police Lt. Larry Klaus said his department decided against allowing officers to carry Tasers because very few assaults on officers have occurred on campus in the
When professional writing senior Brooke Hawkins first saw the new River Trail Neighborhood Engagement Center, she was amazed. Although Hawkins no longer lives in the residence halls, she works at the River Trail Neighborhood’s Writing Center. “If this had happened when I was living in the dorms, I probably would have been happier,” Hawkins said. “Everything’s so centralized. This center is a great way to meet people.” The River Trail Neighborhood Engagement Center held its grand opening Monday night in McDonel Hall. The center’s green halls wrap around the McDonel Hall Kiva, guiding students to areas where they can receive both academic and physical assistance. The center has academic advising services for students, including a math tutoring space and a
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Lt. Larry Klaus, Central Michigan University police
JUSTIN WAN/THE STATE NEWS
From left, psychology freshman Janel Lynn, studio art freshman Meg Piavis and athletic training freshman Ksenija Taylor try out props at McDonel Hall’s Kiva during the opening celebration of the River Trail Engagement Center on Monday.
More online … For a video of the updated engagement center, visit statenews.com/multimedia.