The State News, April 28, 2026

OPINION: THINKING OF GRADUATING EARLY? MAYBE

By Jack O’Brien jobrien @statenews.com

Graduating early is a little like going to the gym. Plenty of people say they will do it, a few try it for a while and not many stick with it in the long haul.

I am one of the people who will, and despite being happy with my decision, I want to offer a warning to anyone considering this path: you need to think it through.

Coming out of high school, a three-year graduation is like a beacon of hope for many students. College is expensive, and it means spending more years in school, but graduating early can make both realities easier to accept. One fewer year of school means one fewer year of tuition.

These simple facts have led more and more students to take this route over the years. University of California schools have seen threeyear graduation rates go from 2% to 8% in the past 20 years, and Iowa public universities have gone from just 1% to 7% (with the University of Northern Iowa taking a massive leap from 1% to 14%).

These figures are no surprise, given the increasing number of college credits incoming students have. AP classes have been on the rise in recent years, with Michigan seeing a 70% increase in AP exam pass rates in just the past 5 years.

I entered college with more than a year’s worth of credits because of the 10 AP classes I’d passed

in high school. I entered my second semester with junior standing, meaning early graduation would not just be possible, but the simplest path.

But lost in the excitement of early graduation and the opportunity to get a proverbial “leg up” on the competition is the unfortunate reality that early graduation comes with a lot of downsides.

James Madison College professor Brianne Wolf said she takes a measured approach when advising students considering early graduation.

“I really understand that students want to save costs, so I don’t ever feel like it’s my job to tell students they should spend even more on college than they already are, because college is very expensive and the costs continue to rise,”

Wolf said.

One fewer year in school does not just mean one fewer year of tuition; it also means one fewer year of everything else.

You have less time for extracurricular activities that build your resume and professional connections, less time to pursue other interests and far less room for a second major. The pace can also take a toll.

“Most programs are designed for a four-year education, and so graduating in three years does mean that you’re going to rush that experience and not receive it as it was designed,” Wolf said. “Does that mean it’s going to be a bad experience? No. But it might mean you will take classes out of sequence, or that you won’t be able to think about the ideas in as deep a way as possible, since you’re trying to take so many credits all at once.”

If you try to do it all, cramming your schedule with classes and commitments, your grades may start to suffer.

“Does that mean it’s going to be a bad experience? No. But it might mean you will take classes out of sequence, or that you won’t be able to think about the ideas in as deep a way as possible, since you’re trying to take so many credits all at once.”

Brianna Wolf

James Madison Professor

That could collapse your entire plan, especially if you plan on going on to graduate school. If you enter the workforce, other candidates may have an extra year of networking and professional experience. Wolf noted that early graduation may force students to foreclose on a lot of opportunities, like “studying abroad, writing a senior thesis, double majoring or

adding additional minors.”

None of this considers the fact that you will be finishing college early.

Many consider their four undergraduate years to be the best period of their lives. You will be saying goodbye to friends and leaving them to finish their senior year without you.

So then, why am I graduating early? I made that decision in my freshman year because I knew what I wanted to do next and did not have major academic goals for a fourth year.

The college credits I transferred in meant that early graduation wouldn’t force me to speed up my undergraduate experience at all. I was still able to take my time, meet great people and get the grades I needed for my next step.

I love the people I’ve met here, and a fourth year probably could have marginally improved my eventual resume and law school applications. But the dread I felt about a fourth year without clear academic goals outweighed those benefits.

I am a particular case. So is everyone else. There are a lot of people for whom early graduation makes sense, but if your advisors or professors are encouraging you to take that leap just because “you can,” I would encourage you to take a look.

You only get a few years of this. Do not cut it short just to end up behind.

Jack O’Brien is a senior studying Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy and the Opinion Desk Coordinator at The State News. The views in this article are his own and independent of The State News.

MSU SENIORS SHARE BUCKET LIST ITEMS TO ACHIEVE BEFORE GRADUATION

By Amy Cho acho@statenews.com

For underclassmen, the end of the spring semester usually signals the start of summer break and time away from their studies. However, for current seniors, the end of the spring semester means graduation and the close of their undergraduate career.

With graduation just around the corner, some seniors chose to create a bucket list, compiling a multitude of must-do items before May.

Apparel and textile design and public relations senior Lily Stroup said she decided to create one to “turn the page on this chapter.”

“I feel like I’m a very sentimental person, and I feel like there’s just so much to do as a graduating senior, I know, especially myself, I get really caught up in the job search and just all my academics and clubs,” Stroup said. “So having a bucket list of things that I really, really wanted to accomplish before graduating, and turning the page on this chapter was really important to me and my roommate. I’m really close with my cousin, so we kind of have our own little bucket list going as well.”

For international relations and social relations and policy senior Lauren Pelon, making a bucket list let her “justify trying new things.”

Similarly, kinesiology senior Daika Medrano said her bucket list was created to shake up her normal routine.

“I have been at MSU for four years, and I feel like there’s a lot that I haven’t done, and I’ve had the same routine throughout the four years,” Medrano said. “I think when you’re going to graduate, you realize how much you’ve missed and how much you want to do within such a short amount of time.”

Ranging from throwing a fake birthday party to visiting every bar in East Lansing, here are some bucket list items these seniors want to achieve before they graduate:

TRIVIA AND KARAOKE NIGHT

Medrano said she wants to attend trivia and karaoke night the most before leaving MSU.

“Both of those are in conversation with Maddie, my roommate, and we were just talking about, I think it was a conversation we were having about TikToks, or just videos that we were watching, and we decided why not do a karaoke and a trivia night?” Medrano said.

Similarly, Pelon said attending activities like trivia and karaoke night have been some things she has wanted to do.

“(We) wanted to partake in various bar activities,” Pelon said. “You know how Landshark has trivia and karaoke night, kind of going to more of those (type of) activities during the week, which we haven’t done yet, but I’m assuming we’ll get done at some point.”

ATTEND NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

Attending New York Fashion Week, Stroup said, was one of the biggest items on her bucket list.

“This semester in February, me and my friend Celeste, who’s also a part of VIM, we really wanted to go to a New York Fashion Week,” Stroup said. “One of the things that was big on my senior bucket list was volunteering for a Fashion Week show. We were actually able to do that back in February, and that was really exciting, and that was a personal goal for me as well.”

VISIT EVERY MSU BUILDING

Medrano said she wants to visit every MSU building before graduating.

“Another one is, I’ve had this since freshman

year, but I haven’t really done it, it’s going to all the MSU buildings,” Medrano said. “I pay to be here, you know, and I feel like I get the full experience by at least seeing what every building looks like.”

VISIT EVERY BAR IN EAST LANSING

Pelon said she recently completed the bucket list item to visit every bar in East Lansing and that it was the one she really wanted to achieve.

“I did want to go to all of the East Lansing bars officially, so I am happy that we did achieve that,” Pelon said.

TRY DIFFERENT FOODS

AROUND EAST LANSING

Stroup said she enjoys trying new food places around East Lansing and wants to try more before leaving MSU.

“Me and my cousin really, really, really love going out for food and trying different foods around East Lansing, Lansing area,” Stroup said. “So, this hasn’t been completed yet, but we have a running list of restaurants and dinners that we want to try and different snacks.”

GO FOR A RUN ON CAMPUS

Medrano said going for a run on campus is “scary,” but nevertheless wants to try.

“I kind of want to go on a run on campus,” Medrano said. “Going on a run is kind of scary on campus, because being a senior, I feel like too many people know who I am now, and I really don’t want to be seen on campus running, especially, but I think it’s something I just want to do. Yeah, just run on campus, go for at least a singular run before I graduate.”

VISIT THE DAIRY STORE

Although Pelon said she has been to the Dairy Store before, her roommates haven’t, warranting another trip.

“The next one is to go to the Dairy Store. I personally have gone to the Dairy Store, but none of them have,” Pelon said.

REVISIT OLD DORM HALLS

For Stroup, reminiscing about her underclassman days with her roommate by visiting their old dorm halls is high on her list.

“This was another thing with me and my roommate, we’ve been roommates for the last four years,” Stroup said. “We’ve lived in Yakeley together, Landon together, so returning to our old dorms and having a meal and maybe just walking around our buildings, if we can, and that area, and doing a whole, like walk of campus in our like little spots and stuff.”

THROW A FAKE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Stroup said her birthday has always fallen during the summer, so she aims to throw a fake birthday party, mimicking a party that would usually happen during break.

“Kind of have this fun little apartment party vibe, but that’s definitely just to get everyone together and, you know, just celebrate, I don’t know, because I feel like these last couple of weeks have been so crazy hectic, and now I feel like I’m finally like, ‘Oh my gosh graduation, (and) everything else,’” Stroup said.

“It’s definitely bittersweet. I think I’m definitely over the academic part of college. I really, really stacked my semesters the last couple of years, so I feel like I finally have some time to enjoy college a little bit more this semester, which is really nice, but I’m excited for the formalities of graduating. I guess just having everyone’s gathering, getting to celebrate everyone’s different achievements, too.”

Lily Stroup

Textile Design and Public Relations Senior

With graduation just a few weeks away, mixed feelings cloud the minds of some seniors.

Medrano said it’s “exciting.”

“It’s kind of exciting, right? Because I’m moving on to the next point of my life, but it’s also a little sad, because I have been here four years, right? So I’m used to it,” Medrano said. “Leaving home,

even though I’m not that far away, freshman year was kind of scary, but now this is my home, and it’s a little sad but exciting, and the bucket list just really closes it out for you, where you would feel a little accomplished and ready to move on to the next step.”

Being so close to graduation, Pelon said, doesn’t feel real.

“Feels surreal,” Pelon said. “It doesn’t feel like it’s actually happening. I feel like I have so many other things happening for school and for work, where I’m just like, ‘Oh, can’t think about that right now,’ like I got to go on to each item.”

Similarly, Stroup said it feels “bittersweet.”

“It’s definitely bittersweet. I think I’m definitely over the academic part of college. I really, really stacked my semesters the last couple of years, so I feel like I finally have some time to enjoy college a little bit more this semester, which is really nice, but I’m excited for the formalities of graduating. I guess just having everyone’s gathering, getting to celebrate everyone’s different achievements, too,” Stroup said. “So I think that’s really exciting, but it’s definitely nervewracking. I think especially this job market is not the best time to be graduating right now, but I’m excited for what’s to come. I think there’s a lot out there, and just look into the positive aspects of it all.”

GOV. GRETCHEN WHITMER TO SPEAK AT UNDERGRADUATE CONVOCATION

By Anish Topiwala atopiwala@statenews.com

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will speak at Michigan State University’s undergraduate convocation on May 1.

The announcement was made by MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz during his remarks at Friday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

“She’s very excited about joining us on campus to send our graduates off in just about three weeks,” Guskiewicz said.

Whitmer previously addressed

advanced degree graduates in a 2019 commencement ceremony.

She is a two-time graduate of MSU, having earned her B.A. in communication in 1993 and her law degree from the College of Law in 1998.

MSU alum and former human resources executive Christopher Fernandez will speak at the educational specialist and master’s degree commencement ceremony. University Distinguished Professor of Educational Administration Ann Austin will speak at the doctoral commencement ceremony.

MSU seniors complete four-year quest to see every varsity team compete

By Genevieve Henry ghenry@statenews.com

Supply chain management senior Rachel Reynolds and nursing senior Giulianna Ruffino set out on a mission when they started their freshman year at Michigan State. It was a mission shaped by growing up in MSU families and spending childhood days at Spartan Stadium.

“My dad said that if there’s one thing to do in your four years here, try to make it to one of every sporting event,” Reynolds said.

Starting in their freshman year, Reynolds and Ruffino attended events from every team on campus, from cross country to club water polo, while also attending nearly every football, basketball and hockey game. Now seniors, they have completed their checklist.

“Each year we’ve just tried to go to a few more,” Reynolds said. “We finally made it to every team.”

“We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into,” said Ruffino.

It was a mission that took them all the way to Holland on a Tuesday afternoon. Men’s golf had no home tournaments that year, so Reynolds and Ruffino drove out to support the team in order to cross it off their list.

“It was basically just us and the Michigan State team’s parents,” Reynolds said. “They loved it, because it seems like they don’t get as many fans.”

“We were just walking around aimlessly, and some of the parents actually asked us when we were teeing off,” Ruffino said. “They thought we were on the women’s team.”

As football season ticket holders and Izzone members, Reynolds and Ruffino know campus sports culture through and through. But with the additional commitment to not just the most popular of sports, they might just know it better than anyone.

Despite not knowing the rules or traditions associated with each sport, Reynolds and Ruffino brought their school spirit to the sidelines all four years.

“It’s fun to watch every single one, especially if we’re not familiar with the technicalities of every single sport,” Reynolds said. “It’s fun seeing them do their thing.”

Their enthusiasm for supporting their school stems from their time leading the charge themselves. Reynolds and Ruffino have known each other since sixth grade, and

throughout high school, they did cheerleading together.

“We got to cheer at a bunch of different sporting events,” Ruffino said. “We loved that. Going into college, we both knew we’d want to do this.”

While they supported every sport on campus, football was always their first love. Despite a lack of success during their time in college, Reynolds and Ruffino’s connection remained strong.

“Because we both grew up as Spartan fans, there’s a certain type of love you have,” Reynolds said.

“As much as the football team might have not been the strongest these last four years, it’s still fun to go because we have so many memories in that stadium.”

Reynolds said that one experience that stood out to her was being able

to see the whole stadium and point out where they used to sit growing up.

But just because their time as students will end shortly, it doesn’t mean their support for MSU sports will waver. Ruffino said once they graduate, they will still come to games and keep up with MSU Football.

While their mission may have taken all four years to complete, Ruffino said more students should give it a try.

“It’s so easy,” Ruffino said. “A lot of kids don’t do it, but a lot of them have free admission and you can go whenever.”

Reynolds said the experience also helped them appreciate sports that don’t always draw large crowds.

“It’s just nice to be able to support the different teams that people don’t go to as much,” Reynolds said.

MSU Turf Management Program provides grass for World Cup

By Genevieve Henry ghenry@statenews.com

The world’s biggest sporting event kicks off in 50 days. 16 stadiums. 48 teams. 106 games — all played on grass developed through Michigan State’s Turfgrass Management Program.

MSU researchers are collaborating with FIFA and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, to provide the playing surface for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off June 11 across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They are providing more than 88 miles of natural sod for the largest edition of the competition yet. The project was funded through a grant from FIFA.

“This summer, MSU turf research will take center stage at the world’s most-viewed sporting event, and we’re proud to take on this first-of-its-kind

challenge alongside our University of Tennessee colleagues,” said Matthew Daum, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“The FIFA turfgrass project builds on our foundation of past successes, but more importantly, it paves the way for new innovations — and a new

generation of world-leading Spartan turf talent.”

Led by John “Trey” Rogers III, a professor in MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and a turfgrass expert, researchers crafted a blend of Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass or Bermudagrass that will be used in each stadium. The mixture can be grown in sand on plastic, making it easier to replicate at sod farms across North America.

“Through the unprecedented funding levels provided by FIFA… we feel our contributions and efforts provided answers for the tournament’s needs as well as pathways forward for

sports fields and turfgrass for years to come,” Rogers said. “It has been both a pleasure and humbling to participate.”

One challenge the researchers faced is regional climate variation, with stadiums stretching as far north as Vancouver and as far south as Mexico City. While different turfgrasses thrive in different environments, the playing surfaces must be identical to ensure fairness for each team. The 2022 World Cup final reportedly drew about 1.5 billion viewers, so all eyes will be on the grass developed at MSU.

“It’s really cool, because it’s the biggest sporting event ever,” said international relations sophomore Sam

MSU SENIORS BEAR LONG WAITS FOR GRADUATION PHOTOS

By Demonte Thomas dthomas@statenews.com

As seniors prepare for their last bout with final exams, a different kind of test awaits them on the other side, at some of Michigan State University’s most picturesque locales: agonizingly long waits to snap celebratory grad pictures.

On idyllic afternoons throughout the spring, graduating seniors have dutifully donned their caps and gowns to swarm Beaumont Tower, the Spartan Statue or Spartan Stadium, among other spots, alongside friends and hired photographers. The resulting crowd has occassionally resulted in hours-long waits at some photogenic spots.

On a recent picturesque Sunday at

the Spartan Statue, criminal justice senior Luthias Peabody said he had to wait more than three hours before getting his pictures taken.

“It’s been long,” Peabody said. “I don’t think it’s any secret. I think everybody knows it takes a long time, but you really have to be prepared for it.”

For others, the pain of waiting to get pictures taken is more related to whom they’re stuck in line with, rather than the wait itself. At some spots on campus, particularly the base of Beaumont Tower, the smell of champagne sprayed on the ground can also be irksome.

“It was really cold and there was just a big group of annoying people,” said psychology and criminal justice senior Ansley Arnold, recalling her

Putt. “Billions of people are going to watch, hundreds of millions are going to be here in the United States, Canada and Mexico for it. It’s just really cool to think that it will be on grass put down by MSU.”

The turfgrass has already been installed in stadiums in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Toronto, Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara. It will be installed at the remaining stadiums and training facilities in the coming weeks.

This isn’t the first time MSU has played a part in the World Cup. In 1994, Rogers worked to develop portable turfgrass that could be transported from stadium to stadium. His team installed a temporary grass field at the Pontiac Silverdome, growing it indoors and transporting it to the venue. Rogers is credited with helping to make this innovation the industry standard, which he developed at MSU.

“We have a great turf management program here,” Putt said. “You know, soccer is referred to as the beautiful game for a reason. It’s so cool that it culminates in this tournament, where the best of the best play, and that MSU is a part of it.”

experience taking photos with a graduating friend last year. “Last year, we also went to the tower, and there was a really long line there of people trying to figure out how to open up the champagne bottles.”

Also along for the waits are photographers, some of who make a significant earning during graduation season.

“Last year, I did one of my roommate’s pictures and I think we waited a good while in the line just for Spartan Statue and we were just

really surprised because it was my first time taking pictures,” said architecture senior Treshea Hubbard, who was taking photos for Arnold. “I didn’t know the line would be this long.”

Some, however, have devised strategies and tips to avoiding the long lines. For nursing senior Bailey Miller, who was taking photos for a finance senior Charlie Chambers, finding the right time in the year is essential.

“Don’t wait until it’s the last week before graduation,” Miller said. “I prefer the after part because a lot of

the flowers and trees are getting more green and their flowers are blooming. You get a little bit more scenic views around the campus and all that stuff.”

The strategy seemed to work. Chambers said the lines he faced were relatively mild, adding that “We waited for maybe 15, 20 minutes at the Spartan statue, but it was well worth it.”

“I wouldn’t make it an afternoon thing,” Peabody added. “If you can make it early morning, I think that’s the best way to do it.”