MSU Today with Russ White

Matt Grossmann and Arnold Weinfeld discuss Michigan and national politics, policy, and the economy on the monthly State of the State podcast from MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR). The podcast is a monthly round up of policy and research for Michigan. 

Tony Daunt is executive director of FAIR Maps Michigan. He joins the conversation to discuss the redistricting process in Michigan, the current remapping process, and what brought us to this point.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:32) – What’s the latest in national politics and the presidential race?

(5:58) – An assessment of proposals in Governor Whitmer’s State of the State address and the state of politics and policy in Michigan. “This last year was one of the most productive and ideological movements of public policy that we’ve seen across any state for, like, 50 years. This was an extraordinary move leftward that they accomplished in the first year, and they’re set up to try to do a lot more.”

(9:27) – Economic development, R & D tax credit, and population growth – “The business location packages really don’t impact business decisions. People make business location decisions and then rack up the tax credits.”

(14:27) – Daunt joins the conversation to talk about the remapping process.

(19:50) – What would you rather have seen from the beginning of the redistricting process?

(23:12) – How is the redraw going so far?

(25:36) – What is the role of FAIR Maps Michigan? And what are some of your suggestions moving forward? Where is this headed?

(31:22) – “The commission has been rather defiant about the lawsuit, and I would encourage everyone to see this as an opportunity to correct, by all accounts, the biggest defect in the process. The public remains supportive of the changes, especially the changes to the partisan composition of the relationship between districts and statewide votes. This was the primary citizen concern expressed quite loudly and clearly. But that was ignored by the commission. So rather than see it as a burden imposed by the courts, I would encourage them to see it as a second chance to correct the biggest defect in the process.”

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Michigan State University Interim President Teresa K. Woodruff elaborates on topics she covers in her January 2024 Spartan Community Letter, which you can read by clicking on the communications tab at president.msu.edu.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:38) - What is Flint Rx Kids? 

(3:49) - What are the goals of the comprehensive health and wellbeing assessment?

(5:42) - As we prepare to acknowledge the violence that took place on campus last February 13, what are our plans to remember?

(9:16) - January is Stalking Awareness Month. It’s imperative that we acknowledge this, too.

(10:25) - MSU has been named a voter friendly campus. What do you like about the MSU Votes initiative?

(12:11) - MSU rose to the No. 1 spot for service learning among public four-year institutions in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Colleges rankings.

(14:02) - What is the Alienware MSU Esports Lounge?

(16:00) - Talk about the passing of Pauline Adams at age 101. 

(17:26) - What is the Engineering and Digital Innovation Center (EDIC)?    

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Thanks to a partnership with Dell Technologies and its iconic gaming brand, Alienware, a new space at Michigan State University provides an elite gaming environment for students to train and compete in esports at the highest level.  

Supported by MSU College of Communication Arts and Sciences, or ComArtSci, the Alienware MSU Esports Lounge is the university’s first dedicated space for students engaged in esports, a rapidly growing industry centered around organized professional or semiprofessional competitive video game play. It also is the first higher education esports facility Alienware has helped establish in Michigan.  

The Alienware MSU Esports Lounge is a 1,027-square-foot space located on the main floor of the MSU ComArtSci building. The lounge is open to all MSU students and features 12 Alienware Aurora R16 battle stations — Alienware’s most advanced and most powerful desktop yet, powered by 14th Gen Intel Core processors — as well as Alienware m16 laptops, console gaming space, a varsity room and broadcast studio. 

The university celebrated the opening of the Alienware MSU Esports Lounge on Jan. 17 with special guests,including former MSU women’s basketball player Aerial Powers, a brand and diversity ambassador with Team Liquid, a well-known esports organization, and WNBA player with the Minnesota Lynx. Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist was also in attendance. 

This facility provides a hands-on esports experience for the Spartan gaming community and hosts team competitions. 

Comments from ribbon cutting participants:

(0:00) – Interim Com Art Sci Dean Teresa Mastin

(3:24) – MSU Esports Director Chris Bilski

(6:33) – MSU Trustee Dennis Denno, 

(7:33) – Interim MSU President Teresa Woodruff

(12:32) – Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist

(17:21) – Dell Director of Gaming Matt McGowan

(20:30) – MSU alumna and Esports influencer Aerial Powers

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Adam Roy, food and beverage expert in Michigan State University’s Broad College of Business, has spent decades as a five-star chef and leader in the hospitality industry and is passionate about fermentation and nonalcoholic beverages. As the Dr. Lewis J. and Mrs. Ruth E. Minor Chef-Professor of Culinary Management in MSU’s School of Hospitality Business — the No. 1 public hospitality program in the U.S. — Roy explores what it takes to craft a delicious nonalcoholic beverage and provides tips for a successful Dry January. And he talks about the evolving hospitality industry and MSU’s preeminent School of Hospitality Business.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:28) – What’s your background as a “crazy culinarian?” 

(2:34) – What is Dry January?

(3:32) - What does it take to craft a good nonalcoholic beverage?

(4:22) - Why has the low and nonalcoholic beverage market taken off?

(4:53) - How have you seen companies capitalize on the rising popularity of nonalcoholic drinks?

(5:50) - For someone thinking about going sober for Dry January, what are your tips for success?

(7:03) – What attracted you to MSU?

(8:07) – How did MSU’s program become one of the country’s best schools for hospitality business?

(8:50) – How is the school’s mission evolving?

(10:38) – What’s the state of the hospitality industry your students are entering?

(11:55) – Where do you stand on tipping?

(13:13) – What are challenges and opportunities facing the hospitality industry?

(14:43) – Why should a student choose to get into the hospitality industry, and why should they come to MSU?

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

MSU’s Health and Wellbeing (UHW) Division is conducting a university-wide health and wellbeing assessment that includes an anonymous survey. The purpose of this assessment is for UHW to gain a deeper understanding of issues impacting MSU students, faculty, and staff as it relates to physical health, mental health, and social wellbeing. 

The results of the survey will contribute to the development of a 5-year plan for MSU to equitably support Spartan health and wellbeing. Specifically, UHW will comprehensively assess: 

·       The health of the student, staff, and faculty populations 

·       Identify prevalent health trends and issues, and  

·       Gather data essential for tailoring and enhancing support services, resource allocation, and policies to promote a culture of wellbeing on campus. 

All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to complete the survey.  The information shared will be kept confidential. The survey takes 8-10 minutes to complete. For additional information, visit: https://uhw.msu.edu/assessment.

Discussing the assessment and survey on this episode of MSU Today are Dr. Norman Beauchamp, Jr, MD, MHS, MSU executive vice president for Health Sciences, executive sponsor of the sustainable health theme in the MSU Strategic Plan 2030, and co-chair of the MSU Health and Wellbeing Assessment; Dr. Alexis Travis, assistant provost and executive director of MSU University Health and Wellbeing; and Dr. Renee Canady, MPHI CEO and assistant professor at MSU’s College of Human Medicine Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health.

Conversation Highlights:

(2:23) – “UHW is supporting a community where health and wellbeing is equitably woven into all aspects of campus life.”

(2:58) – “The beauty of MPHI is that we are a living and breathing demonstration of governmental and academic innovation.”

(3:44) – How does UHW define health and wellbeing? – “It’s a complete sense of physical, mental, and social health and not just the absence of disease or infirmary.”

(6:02) – Why is health and wellbeing a priority for students, faculty, and staff and how does it impact student success and staff and faculty success? 

(7:52) – Who should take the survey and what do you hope to learn from it?

(9:02) – “This survey is about voice.”

(11:55) – “MSU could have easily completed this project without us. The fact that they saw partnership as vitally important is what we do.”

(13:02) – What will you do with the data compiled from the survey?

(14:48) – How does the assessment fit into the sustainable health theme of MSU Strategic Plan 2030?

(17:29) – “It’s my hope that people will not only participate, but that they’ll be better for having participated.”

For additional information, please visit: https://uhw.msu.edu/assessment.

Photo credit: Donna Hondorp. Left to right: Beauchamp, Canady, Travis

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

A group of MSU alumni are making their mark in audio and sound engineering and mixing in Hollywood. And they’re garnering Emmy nominations and awards, too. The group is affectionately known as the “audio mafia.” The common denominator is longtime MSU audio teacher Gary Reid, who is also emeritus director of broadcasting and general manager of WKAR Public Media.

Andy Lange (2002-2006) is up for two Emmy's in 2024. Phil DeTolve (2002-2007) and Gary Megregian (1994-1997) are up for one each for a total of 4 in January.  

Pat Cyccone won the mafia’s first Emmy almost 30 years ago and has played an important role in getting all these guys started in their careers in Los Angeles. Cyccone has been mixing all of Alexander Payne's films.   

Mike Olman (1987-1990) has won three Emmys with shows like “24”, “Desperate Housewives,” and Discovery Channel’s “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth” movies.

Chris Foster (2002-2006) is co-owner of a major music editing post house in LA and is nominated this year, and Luke Schwarzweller (2008-2012), the youngest alumnus, mixed the last Indiana Jones film, Ferrari, and West Side Story, essentially doing Steven Spielberg's work.  

Conversation Highlights:

(1:22) – What does it mean to be an audio or sound engineer/mixer? What do you do?

(2:54) - “It’s not the quality of the mix that makes a good mixer. It’s having a good time with the people you’re working with and making sure that everyone’s at ease and taken care of. Those are the experiences that paying clients are going to remember.”

(8:01) - “Don’t ever not take a job because you don’t know how to do it. Take it and then learn it as fast as you can.”

(14:22) – “The director just has to know that you’re on his side.”

(21:21) – “I got to go every day and sit in a big, giant electronic sandbox and play with all my friends.”

(27:30) – “One of the things the average viewer doesn’t realize necessarily is just how much we can use sound to manipulate the viewer.”

(30:29) – “It’s learning the power of sound and how it can tell a story and evoke emotion.” 

(32:36) – “The ultimate compliment you can pay a music editor is that you have no idea what they actually did. If I did a good job, I’m totally invisible. Nothing I did should be noticed.”

(35:45) – “The upside and the downside of what we all do as professionals in sound is that if we’re really good at what we do, you will never know we were in the room.”

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Kevin M. Guskiewicz, an accomplished neuroscientist, sports medicine researcher and academic leader, has been named the 22nd president of Michigan State University.

The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Guskiewicz, the 12th chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, during a special board meeting on Dec. 8. He will begin his term on March 4, 2024.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:56) – “I’m a servant leader. I like to bring people together. Leadership is about gathering people and getting them aligned toward a common goal.”

(1:35) – Do you have any experience or past interactions with MSU and/or the state of Michigan?

(2:08) - Tell us more about your research interests. When and why did you develop this interest? What have been some of your findings that have made it to places like the NFL?

(3:14) - The board also approved your appointment as a professor with tenure in the College of Education’s Department of Kinesiology. Do you hope to be able to continue your research while president?

(3:45) - What attracted you to the presidency of MSU?

(4:15) – Have you had a chance to review MSU Strategic Plan 2030?

(4:44) – What is your philosophy on fundraising and donor/alumni engagement?

(5:22) – What are some of your short-term goals?

(6:37) – What are challenges and opportunities ahead for MSU and the “transformative power” of higher education?

(7:37) – There’s a lot going in college athletics, too. What are challenges and opportunities there?

(8:32) – What are your final thoughts for Spartan Nation as we await your arrival March 4?

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Photo credit: Nick Schrader, University Communications 

Global competitors have incentivized the semiconductor manufacturing industry to the point that the U.S. share of commercial semiconductor manufacturing has declined 25 percent in the last 30 years, says Nelson Sepulveda, professor of electrical and computer engineering in MSU’s College of Engineering.

To increase our competitiveness in the field of semiconductors, the CHIPS Act was passed by Congress in July 2022 with the goal of strengthening domestic semiconductor manufacturing, design, and research and to reinforce America’s chip supply chains. 

This act includes $52 billion dollars in manufacturing grants and research investments in the field of semiconductor processing, manufacturing, and research. Two billion dollars from the CHIPS act will be dedicated to incentivizing production of semiconductors used by automakers, and the state of Michigan has already started investing in some of the semiconductor processing and manufacturing companies in the state of Michigan.

For MSU, this means adding new opportunities for middle and high school students with a five-day summer camp focused on semiconductor manufacturing and processing that will be free for Detroit-area students. The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) has funded the camp for 8th-9th graders that will take place during the summer in 2024. The program aims to raise awareness and excitement in the field.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:37) – Sepulveda frames the issue.

(4:21) – Details on the camp and the underserved communities in the Detroit metro area who will participate. 

(6:45) – What is a semiconductor?

(9:47) – How can an interested eighth or ninth grader get involved with the camp?

“I have always believed that before you teach, you need to inspire. I have always believed that when you put talent, passion, and opportunity in a blender, stars are born. I believe this is true in sports, academia, business, and life in general. This program will provide an opportunity to passionate and talented kids in a field that is extremely important for our Nation and for the entire world.”

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

Matt Grossmann, Charley Ballard, and host Arnold Weinfeld discuss Michigan and national politics, policy, and the economy on the monthly State of the State podcast from MSU’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research (IPPSR).

The trio’s guest this month is Nick Pigeon, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. It’s a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that seeks to shine the brightest light possible on the role of money in Michigan politics.

Conversation Highlights:

(1:07) – Why did the Michigan Legislature break early?

(3:19) – What are the implications if the Legislature extends their break into the spring?

(4:28) – Do you think we’ll see renewed calls for a part time legislature?

(5:21) – What’s the state of the economy? “It’s been resilient, worker productivity is growing, and gasoline prices are way down.”

(9:45) – What about Michigan’s economy in the next six months to a year?

(11:52) – How does Michigan’s economy compare to other states you’ve visited recently?

(14:32) – If you were President Biden’s political consultant, what would you tell him?

(15:37) – All about the Michigan Campaign Finance Network and their perspective on the recently passed financial disclosure legislation.

(22:59) – Will the new legislation have a positive impact?

(25:42) – What about FOIA, the Freedom of Information Act, for legislators?

(27:22) – “The dream that transparency was going to lead to a more satisfied public has come and gone.”

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your shows.

The MSU Water Alliance brings together experts across the University to push the boundaries of discovery and find solutions to water-related challenges through research, education, and engagement with communities and industries. It’s the Water Alliance for Teaching, Engagement and Research.

Joan Rose is the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research at MSU. Jo Latimore is the director of the MSU Extension Center for Lakes and Streams. Amber Pearson is an associate professor in MSU’s Charles Stewart Mott Department of Public Health. The trio discusses the alliance’s vision, mission, and objectives. And they talk about some of the challenges and opportunities ahead for the world’s water.

Conversation Highlights:

(0:44) – Rose describes her research interests of water quality and health. “I found out very quickly that when you’re out in the field collecting water, there are people all around you that care about what you’re doing and finding.”

(1:54) – Latimore describes how the science of swimmer’s itch in Higgins Lake played into her career and interest in water issues. “That connection between the science and being able to work with the public on conservation issues around lakes and streams has really driven my career.”

(3:05) – Pearson describes her two streams of research. One is related to household water insecurity. “Yes, the safety of the water, but also having enough, affordable and reliable water.”

(3:58) – What are some the key issues that make this alliance so important?

(6:16) – What are the vision, mission, and objectives of the alliance? “The alliance is an amplifier and a connector and brings all the MSU expertise in this area together. MSU is uniquely positioned in this area to lead.”

(11:25) – “We have a great opportunity to address this idea of the intersection between water, food, and health.” 

(12:45) - The Michigan State University Extension perspective of “advancing outreach with science” and listening to Michiganders to learn of their issues.

(14:03) – In Michigan, we’re well positioned in two important ways. 

(14:57) – The panel looks to the future. 

(16:18) – How the alliance benefits students.

(16:52) – The community is encouraged to come forward if they need their issues addressed. “Come forward and be part of the alliance. It’s about engagement with the community.”

(17:20) – How can each of us be a better steward of water? “The public doesn’t really know where they get their water from. And they don’t know where the water goes when they flush their toilet.”

Listen to “MSU Today with Russ White” on the radio and through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your show.