Judaism at MSU

Despite the strong presence of Christianity on Michigan State University's campus, there are also many other religious organizations around campus as well, for example the Jewish population on campus.

There are many opportunities for Jewish students to get involved with Jewish organizations around MSU's campus. For instance, the Jewish Student Union provides Jewish students with opportunities to explore their cultural and ethnic experiences. The MSU Hillel is a non-university organization that works with the JSU in order to bring a Jewish students together to help them build friendships with one another. The Hillel makes it easy for incoming freshman to find other students that they have something in common with and puts on different events and gatherings.

There is also a presence of Judaism within MSU's greek life. The fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi is the Jewish Fraternity of North America. It was founded to provide opportunities for Jewish Men seeking the best possible college and fraternity experience.

According to the MSU Greek Life website, Alpha Epsilon Pi's role is to encourage the Jewish student to remain dedicated to Jewish ideals, values, and ethics and to prepare the student to be one of tomorrow's leaders so that he may help himself, his family, his community and his people.

Michigan State is great place for students to explore their religion and spirituality and connect with students with similar beliefs and values.

MSU Real Life

At Michigan State University, morals and values are put to the test everyday. Students have to make choices based on what's best for them. To go out and party or stay in and study? To spend money on books or on alcohol? To get into a relationship or to live the single life? Being in the college atmosphere, we might not always make the best choices. But there are some students on MSU's campus who have found a way to work through these temptations.

MSU's Real Life is a weekly meeting on campus among all the Christian Bible study groups both on and off-campus. It's a chance for students to come together, pray, sing and socialize with other Christians on campus.

MSU student Mallory Flanders said, “Real life brings me back to Christ. It brings me back to reality instead of the life I try to live in this world.” 


Jake MacLean, MSU Student and Christian leader on campus, said being a part of the world at MSU is such an opportunity and there are many different desires to have. “At Michigan State, you can do whatever you want, whenever you want.”


“It’s awesome being a Christian at Michigan State because you have to be a Christian, you can’t be a half Christian. You have to choose to either step out or go out and party away,” said MacLean. 


A great way to keep your faith in college is to get involved in a student organization, like campus crusades, where people share your same beliefs and values, said Richie Christie, MSU Student. 

“These are great communities of people with the same beliefs and values. These people are there for you when you’re struggling,” said Christie. 

MSU also has a religious advising system for students who may be struggling with faith or just want to find out more about a variety of religious organizations on campus. 

Buses and cars and bikes, oh my!

What is the most convenient form of transportation on Michigan State University's campus? There are pros and cons to all forms of transportation whether it be by car, bus, bike or foot.  MSU is one of the largest campuses in the United States and knowing a sufficient way to get around is key.

Students that live off campus find it useful to either drive themselves to class or have a friend drop them off.  The pros of driving is that you don't have to leave 30 minutes before your class starts in order to get there on time. Also, you don't have to walk in the snow, rain or whatever Michigan weather throws your way. But on the other hand,  by driving to class you have to pay for a parking pass or put money in the meters every time you park. Also, it's not always guaranteed that someone will be around to drop you off. You're also spending money on gas and contributing some minor pollution.

Another option is taking the bus. By taking the bus, you solve the pollution problem and you still don't have to walk through snow and rainstorms. The only downside is you have to pay $50 per semester for a bus pass. You also have to give yourself enough time to wait for the bus to come and run the risk it being too full to pick you up.

And then there is always riding a bike.  Biking may be the quickest way to get around campus. You can cut through parking lots and park your bike right outside the building you're going to. You also don't have to worry about paying for gas. But biking can be tricky when there are thousands of students walking on campus. Weaving around people and dodging cars gets very dangerous. Also, there have been various bikes stolen on campus.

Walking is probably the most popular form of transportation on campus. By walking, you don't have to pay for a buss pass, a parking permit or gas. The downfall is it takes more time to get to your class if it's far away. Also you have to defeat the unpredictable Michigan weather.  If you chose to walk to class, always be alert for the bikers. There have been numerous accounts of painful collisions on campus.  It's a dangerous world out there.

So Much University, So Little Parking

Many students (and I am guilty of it too) complain daily about parking on Michigan State University's campus. Comments such as, "there's no where to park" or "I don't have enough quarters to put in the meter" are common when trying to drive to class. There are many criticisms about the MSU parking police and the P.A.C.E. workers. It seems as though the P.A.C.E workers are just out to get everyone and nail them with a nice $25 dollar ticket. But are they really out to get everyone and make our lives miserable?

With so many people coming to MSU's campus daily, it only makes sense that there is regulation on parking.  "At any given time, there are hundreds of empty spaces," said Lynnette Forman, office supervisor of the parking division for MSU police. There various parking lots and structures throughout campus but some fill up quicker than others. “If you want to park where everyone else wants to park, like the Shaw lot, then it’s going to be harder to get a spot." By parking on the outskirts of campus, students are more likely to find a spot. 


But once a student has found a parking spot, the next complaint is about the price to park there.  Whether it's metered or permit parking, of course students would just rather not pay for it at all.  But then they risk the chance of getting a ticket. 


According to Donald Shoup's study on the politics and economics of parking on campus, the price of parking all comes down to the basic principle of supply and demand. It depends on how many parking spaces are available and the demand to park in a specific lot or structure. 


Parking is never free. Even when you go to places like Meijer where you don’t have to pay for parking, it still isn’t free. Those types of lots are rented by the store, said Forman.  “In 1983, the MSU board of trustees declared that parking would be a self supporting system."  Some other colleges and universities receive outside funding.


Since the price of parking is based on how much money is needed to maintain parking structures and parking safety, it isn't likely that the price will go down.  


So the moral of the story is, the complaining on parking isn't going to make convenient parking spaces magically appear or lower the price of parking to the desired $0.00. 

Christmas: commercialized or genuine?

Many students at Michigan State University have differing opinions about Christmas merchandise and supplies being put out in stores months before December. While some students put up their trees and buy Christmas scented candles pre-halloween, some think Christmas has become commercialized and has lost its true meaning.

Has Christmas become a money based holiday or are people genuinely excited for the birth of Jesus?

Some argue that Christmas has turned into a holiday solely based on giving gifts and spending money.  Children are concerned with how many presents will be under the tree or if they are going to get the new hot item of the year. They say stores are too pushy and they can not truly enjoy what Christmas is about.  Surprisingly, many of the people celebrating Christmas do not even believe in the Christian faith.

Others say they like when Christmas supplies are put out early because it gives them time to prepare for the holiday season.  People need time to get together recipes and crafts for decorating or making gifts. Christmas is generally a happy time of the year for most people who celebrate it and they want to make it last as long as they can.

This seems to be a controversy that comes up every year but there is never a unanimous consensus.

What is the "Christmas Creep?"

"The Christmas Creep" sounds like a scary old man that "creeps" on people through out the holiday season. But actually, it's the phenomenon that the Christmas season seems to be creeping up on us earlier and earlier every year.  Many people tend to complain about Christmas and the various holiday merchandise being put out for sale months before Christmas Day, but very few understand why.  Many people are going as far as signing petitions to put a halt to the Christmas creep. 

Bonnie Knutson, a hospitality business professor at Michigan State University and expert in buying trends and strategic marking says, people have less money to spend in the current economy but they are always willing to spend on their children and family. Since people have less money to spend, retail stores are trying to get an advantage by marketing their items well in advance in order to get the early dollar. 

Dr. R. Dale Wilson explained that because of the "cumulative effect", many repetitive Christmas ads actually have an impact on consumers. The first time a person sees an ad, it might not have any effect on them. But after the third or fourth time, the ad becomes effective and sticks with them. 

When Christmas supplies are put out early, people may complain and not want to buy goods right then and there. But once they realize they need a good from that store, they will remember that store carried the item they once were complaining about and go back and buy it. 

As much as the Christmas creep gets on people's nerves, it has been effective and will probably continue creeping up on us earlier and earlier. 

Friends don't let friends haze their pledges

This morning, as a result of a fraternity hazing, a giant dumpster was pushed in front of a Chi Omega sorority house.

Though some may not consider such an act to be "hazing", it actually is.  In Greek life lingo, hazing is technically forcing someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself. So for instance, if you would not push a dumpster in front of a sorority house drive way in the middle of a rainy night, then you should not be forcing your pledges to.

Though there are many forms of harmless hazing that happen on numerous campuses throughout the Nation, there are also serious issues caused by hazing.

There are many myths about hazing. A lot of people are not even aware that they are participating in hazing.  And the truth is, there are many severe consequences when hazing goes wrong.

But don't get me wrong, not every fraternity or sorority house hazes.  In fact hazing occurs in many other organizations as well.

Luckily there are ways to prevent hazing from happening on college campuses. So if you are caught up in the act of hazing, there is something you can do about it. Chances are, if you're uncomfortable with what you're doing, someone else is uncomfortable with it as well.