Living On @ MSU: Our Spartans' Experience

You thought you heard it all. The football games, cheering in the Izzone, Grand River adventures, study abroad, lifelong friends- but here are some less popular memories that I’ll think back to while fondly remembering my 4 years at MSU. 

1. A very EL summer

Though it may be unpopular opinion, East Lansing in the summer is the best time of the year. All the beautiful gardens have bloomed, the weather is gorgeous, and you can smell relaxation in the air. You are able to discover a lot of gems in the area that would usually go unnoticed during the hustle and bustle of the school year. Lots of students flee for the summer- but I recommend enjoying at least one East Lansing summer.

2. Exploring Greater Lansing

We all know how great Michigan State’s campus is-but the surrounding area is just as cool. You can spend a day at Potter Park, grab the best breakfast ever at Golden Harvest in Lansing, and visit Grand Ledge’s beautiful Oak Park, one of the few places in the Lower Peninsula where you can rock climb.

3. Late night project/study sessions

I know, I know. These, at the time, are usually the worst. But when I think back to all my late nights spent in Comm Arts, editing until 4 a.m. with endless amounts of coffee- I remember the slap-happy moments we all had when the “stupidest” thing happened, or that “ah-ha” moment when everything comes together (last minute, of course). With my procrastination habits, I wouldn’t doubt that I will have another one of these nights post-graduation. But at least at MSU, I had an excuse (it’s part of the college experience!).

4. Early morning walks to class

Ugh, 8 a.m.’s are the worst, am I right? But something that makes it all worthwhile is the beautiful empty campus. The sun hitting in just the right spots. The crisp cool air. The music of birds chirping along your route. Waking up was a struggle, but I’ll definitely miss early morning strolls on the most beautiful campus around.

So, to all the Spartans with more years to be had in East Lansing- soak it all in. Because just like everyone else has told you, it goes by SO fast.

Go Green Forever!

7:05 AM: Wake up and get ready for 8 a.m. class. 

7:30 AM: Begin the journey from my residence hall to the Psych Building. Whoever told me this was a good idea was lying. Luckily, I live on campus and the trek isn't as bad as could be in the frigid Michigan weather.

8 AM: Learn stuff about Psychology. This class makes me think deeply about myself and I almost always end up just daydreaming. My prof has a British accent and likes to show pictures of her adorable baby and cute dog.

10 AM: Hop a CATA bus to my next class. So convenient!

12 PM: LUNCH TIME!!!! I am bee-lining to the nearest dining hall ASAP. Thanks to the "powers that be" at MSU for the unlimited meal plan. I definitely take advantage of it. Every once in awhile I'll use my daily combo for lunch.

2 PM: Next up- the most dreaded part of my day, Chemistry. On the bright side, I can now successfully name most organic compounds. The other day, I was looking at my shampoo bottle and reading some of the chemicals and I was like "I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE!!!". I also know the chemical that causes body odor so I guess I have that going for me now.

4 PM: Nap Time in the Wonders Lounge, which is supposed to be the time I do my homework before my Live On Meeting. I can't help the fact that the lounge is so cozy. LOL

4:30 PM: Showtime. Meeting with Live On Street Team. We talk about upcoming events we have, discuss event ideas, talk about making awesome videos, and sign up to work different events. My favorite part about this job is probably how flexible it is. You pick when you can work and  you don't have to work if you have a busy week full of exams. No big deal. We also get to talk about writing blogs (like this one), giving out freebies to MSU students, and using Instagram. Work or Play? I'd say it's a toss up.

6 PM: Time for my team's Live On Event. We're at the [Insert almost any location on campus] and have a bunch of free stuff to give away. This is the fun part. We get to interact with so many different people and talk about the numerous benefits to living on campus. I've met so many interesting people this way. Sidenote: It kind of feels like being Oprah when you're giving out all this cool stuff.

8 PM: Work for my other job on campus and that's the beauty of being a street team member since it's so flexible I had the opportunity to keep my other job. It's not as fun as working for Live On, but it brings home the bacon.

12 AM: Time to rest up for another busy day!

You may be looking into a job while you are here to enhance your experience. There are so many opportunities to earn some extra cash, leadership experience, and meet new people while on campus.

When trying to look for a job, there are a couple go-to websites. First- there's jobs.rhs.msu.edu where you can find many on-campus jobs available in the residence halls, dining halls, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, the Breslin Center and more. This is the website where you can find awesome jobs like the Live On Street Team. 

Another great resource is careernetwork.msu.edu, which shows you many jobs available on-campus as well as in the community. If you just want to look into campus jobs then write “MSU” in the search bar. Everything available will come up with all the information you need. There are some jobs that are not listed here, and if you hear about them though other means you can also apply. 

Thanksgiving break is upon us! And Thanksgiving break means a four-day weekend. So we are sure you have already made a list of things you would like to accomplish before returning for your last couple weeks of the semester. It probably looks something like this:

Expectation:

Spend time catching up with your siblings, and impress your parents with newfound college intellect. Enjoy a lovely home cooked meal. Get in bed a little early so you can wake up the next morning to make it to the parade. Catch the Lions’ game. Gather with relatives for a majestic feast! Spend the remainder of break getting a head start on studying for your final exams, squeezing in a few cheeky episodes on Netflix. Meet up for coffee with old high school friends, and show them how well you’re doing! Return to campus on Sunday night, refreshed, renewed, bushy-tailed & bright-eyed for your last home stretch of the semester! You can DO THIS! YOU’VE GOT IT! GO YOU!

  Reality:

Arrive home. Wake up late morning on Thanksgiving, surrounded by the remnants of food from the seemingly bottomless pantry that you devoured the night before. You lost count of how many episodes of Serial you stayed up listening to. Spend the evening still at the kid’s table, dodging relationship questions from your aunts. Retreat back to your bed, and repeat the previous night until suddenly your back on campus. Oops.

If you bother to glance up from your phone when you are walking around campus, you’ll notice everyone doing the same thing: staring at the tiny screens in their hands. Students spend countless minutes on their phones. If just some of those minutes are spent downloading these apps, they will make the semester easier for all Spartans.

 1.     The Spartan App

This could easily be the most important for all MSU students; it provides a variety of things. On the app, you can find information about transportation, events and maps. The transportation and map features are extremely helpful on MSU’s immense campus. Don’t know where a building is? Just look it up on the Spartan App, and it will drop a pin where you need to go! Additionally, the app provides a map showing where all the CATA bus stops are located.  You can also see maps that show sororities, fraternities and ATMs! The app also features directions for businesses, everything from car shops to dry cleaners! There are also food features on the app, showing the latest specials and restaurants. For all the freshman out there, this app will make you not look like a freshman.

2.     Evernote

We all know that college students procrastinate (don’t tell our parents). However, Evernote is an app that will help you be as productive as possible. It is a platform to take notes, set reminders for yourself, you could even write an essay there! You can then access all your ideas from various devices. This app will keep you organized; you can tag your notes and projects for different classes. And I know that, personally, I need a to-do list. Evernote is where you can make lists and check tasks off as you go. You can even collaborate with others, making group projects much easier. So even though there are finals coming up, projects are due soon and we have a load of homework due at 11:59 pm, MSU students can handle it all with the Evernote app.

3.     Google Maps

Unless you were raised in an urban area, one of the most intimidating things about living at MSU is the CATA bus. Where will it pick me up? Do I have to transfer? Where can I transfer? Well the Google Maps app will help you tremendously! While the Spartan App shows all the stops, the Google Maps app will help you get there.  The Public Transportation feature of the app is the key. Simply type in where you want to go, select the public transportation option (which looks like a bus) and you will receive directions including the path to walk to get to the bus stop, what time the bus should be there and where to get off the bus. Personally, the app has been a lifesaver! Download it now to conquer the CATA.

4.     Twitter

This one may seem obvious; everyone has Twitter. But what do you really use Twitter for? There are many ways that students can use Twitter efficiently. You should follow the many MSU accounts that provide valuable information. First, @MSULiveOn tells you everything you need to know about living on campus! Also, following official universities accounts like @michiganstateu, @MSUUnion and @MSUnews will fill your timeline with Spartan related content that will help you use Twitter more effectively.

5.     Insomnia Cookies

1. Make a board with pictures of family and friends.  This will come in handy when you are feeling homesick, but leave room to put new pictures of new friends and "family" you've met in college!

2. Add your own lighting. Florescent lights aren't always the best, especially when you want your room to feel like home. Adding "Christmas" lights or lanterns can make your room feel cozier rather than a bright office. 

3.    Posters.  Getting rid of the white walls can show off your personality- the TV shows you like, bands or places where you'd like to travel.  

4.    Futon/couch/chair/beanbag/sitting area.  It’s not always comfortable to sit on your bed when having people over or doing homework. Having another sitting option makes it feel more like a living space rather than just a bed. Especially if your bed is lofted- climbing up and down continuously can get played out pretty fast. 

5.    Carpet.  The tile floors in some of the rooms are easy to clean but aren’t warm under your toes.  Carpet can help your room feel warmer, especially as the temps drop and leaves continue to change. =)

6.    DIY Projects! The My Spartan Space winners for 2013-2014 took the time to build beautiful pillars for their room. Maybe pillars aren't your thing, but Pinterest provides a lot of DIY options when it comes to decorating. Check it out for ways to spice up your room. 

When I found out that my resident hall had community-style bathrooms, I cried.  Without giving the community-style bathrooms a chance, I was so certain that I wouldn’t have any privacy, and thought that my life was basically ruined. I thought that there would be no way I would be able to share a restroom with all of my fellow peers on my resident hall floor, but I was wrong. After about a week of living in my residence hall, I began to realize that maybe the community-style bathrooms were fit for me for a couple reasons.

The bathrooms are cleaned every day for me!  Moving into my residence hall, I quickly realized how easy it is to become messy. My roommate and I have a hard enough time trying to keep our room clean (let’s be honest haha), I couldn’t imagine having to clean our own bathroom.

You don’t have to buy cleaning supplies! With all the expenses college has, it is a weight lifted off my shoulders that I don’t have to worry about buying bathroom cleaning supplies because the bathroom is already cleaned for me. That’s money that can be used for more trips to Sparty’s.

No waiting time! Sharing a bathroom with three other people can be difficult because everyone has a different schedule. It would always be a constant rush to shower and to use the restroom. Especially if you and your suitemates don’t come up with a schedule. But due to the fact that there are so many stalls and showers in community style bathrooms, I have never had to wait!

Lastly—and totally not weird, I’ve met a ton of people in the community bathrooms. It’s really cool to chat and get to know other girls while getting ready for an event or before heading to class. You’ll be surprised by how many people you connect with.  

The best part of MSU, for me, is the sense of community I developed. I have created my own little family here that I even miss them during school breaks. It took a little time, but eventually it all fell into place.

Let me tell you though, coming to campus the first semester of my freshman year was unbelievably nerve-wracking. On one hand, I was super excited to finally be a Spartan and have the chance to experience new things like BIG 10 football games, the classes, and living in a residence hall. On the other hand, I was anxious to be away from home in a new state with no one I knew within hundreds of miles, not to mention being on campus with tens of thousands of undergraduate students. I’m not going to lie, my first month at MSU was miserable. My roommate sucked, my high school education seemed inadequate for the new classes, I didn’t know anyone, and I was terribly homesick. My parents tried to convince me to transfer back home, but I’m stubborn to a fault and just knew I could make it work.

 Here’s how I made my experience better: I got involved. At Sparticipation, the resource fair at the beginning of the school year, I literally walked around the Breslin concourse feverishly writing down my name and email on every list I could, which I would later discover was probably a mistake once the emails started pouring in.

Then came phase two in my plan, attending all the meetings and finding my home on campus. The first club I went to was the Academic Competition Club, turns out I didn’t know as much trivia as I thought I did. Then there were the Underwater Water Polo, Squirrel Watching Club, Shark Club, Golf Club, Hammock Club, Anti-Squirrel Watching Club, German Club, Italian Club, and the Badminton Club, which were also just not for me.

To make a long story short, eventually I found the perfect club for me, UAB also known as the University Activities Board. I went to the meeting and everything just clicked, I liked the people, the content of the meetings, and the free cookies they were giving out ;) The friends I eventually made at UAB have now become my best friends; one of them is even my roommate this year. They even took a road trip to my house for spring break and we spent time in Philadelphia, New York City, and my small little hometown between the two, Wind Gap. After the trip we were basically inseparable. Joining a club gave me a sense of purpose that I was lacking in the beginning of the year, it made me budget my time and helped me get my mind off being homesick.

After joining my grades improved tremendously because I was more confident in my abilities and myself which also made asking questions and finding help much more comfortable. Joining UAB also influenced my living decisions for this year because most UAB events are in the Union so it was advantageous to live in West Circle. This year we live in the newly renovated Landon Hall and I’m in love with how the renovation blended the new amenities with gorgeous history of the building. Another perk to being in Landon Hall this year was that I got a job working for UAB and it’s only a minute as opposed to work, which means I get to sleep in that much longer. Overall, there’s no downside to joining a club, so Spartans, explore MSU’s vast  amount of clubs and find your home away from home.

You may now know your neighborhood like the back of your hand, but have you gotten the chance to check out other areas of campus? Fall is the perfect time to explore the residence hall locations, dining halls, and other options every neighborhood has to offer. Each neighborhood has something special so it is easy to find the one that best suits your needs when you’re looking to sign up for next year’s housing. Here is a quick guide to help showcase just some of the best parts of each area:

South: Case, Wilson, Holden, Wonders

Notable Dining Hall: South Pointe Case

Must Eat Food: Crepes (pumpkin, banana nutella, chocolate almond, or black forest cherry- discover your favorite!)

Special Features: Easy access to sports facilities makes South neighborhood the best for sports lovers. Hate the long walk home after a football game or want to get involved in IM soccer? South is conveniently located so that Munn field, Spartan Stadium, and the Breslin are within a five minute walk. There is nothing better than seeing the new Rose Bowl scoreboard every time you leave for class.

North: Abbot, Mason, Phillips, Snyder, Campbell, Gilchrist, Landon, Mayo, Williams & Yakeley

Notable Dining Hall: Heritage Commons at Landon

Must Eat Food: Dairy Store ice cream in Snyder-Phillips

Special Features: Next time you are in North neighborhood make sure your check out Landon’s brand new dining hall. With three levels of seating, there is plenty of room for you and your friends to enjoy the freshly baked pita bread or one-of-a-kind prepared entrees from the bistro.

East: Hubbard, Holmes, and Akers Halls

Notable Dining Hall: Akers

Must Eat Food: Food Truck grilled cheese

Special Features: Akers dining hall is currently under construction so it is perfect if you’re looking for a brand new dining hall to live near for next year.  Until then, the green Food Truck is available for lunch 11am-2pm and dinner 5pm-7:30pm during weekdays. You can use your combo at the food truck to get any one of their signature items including grilled cheese, pulled pork nachos, or their award-winning cheeseburger. 

Brody: Armstrong Hall, Bailey Hall, Bryan Hall, Butterfield Hall, Emmons Hall, Rather Hall

Notable Dining Hall: Brody Square

Must Eat Food: Stir-Fry

Brody Square happens to be one of the biggest, and best, dining halls in the nation. Brody offers a wide range of food options that will never disappoint. Also newly renovated in Brody is Butterfield Hall. This hall offers a community kitchen, meditation room, and Wi-Fi access throughout the building. 

River Trail: VanHoosen, McDonel, Owen, and Shaw

Notable Dining Hall: The Vista at Shaw

Must Eat Food: Pizza and pasta bake

Last week the White House began the “It’s On Us” campaign as an effort to put an end to sexual assault and harassment.

 And you know what Spartans? It is on us.

It’s on us to understand that non-consensual sex IS sexual assault.

It’s on us to take action and intervene when we see sexual assault about to occur, or happening in front of us.

 It’s on us to stop blaming the victim.

It's on us to not treat our fellow human beings as objects. 

 It’s on us to stand up and say that these behaviors are unacceptable.

MSU offers a counseling service to help any sexual assault victim with every step of the way to recovery. Please visit http://www.endrape.msu.edu for more information on these services.

 Find more information on the campaign: http://itsonus.org

Homecoming week is finally upon us! MSU has tons of events, some FREE, for students and alumni throughout the week. Here are a few must-do’s, to ensure you get the most out of homecoming week!

 Sounds of Homecoming- Sponsored by UAB

Tuesday 8-10 p.m. in the MSU Union Main Lounge

Come out and hear MSU a cappella groups entertain!

Homecoming Parade

Friday 6 p.m., Downtown East Lansing

The Spartan Marching Band, the MSU Alumni Marching Band, student organizations, athletics, dance and cheer teams, and more will be walking through the parade. This is one of the most classic homecoming events, only second of course to the…

Homecoming Football Game

Saturday 12 p.m. vs. Wyoming in Spartan Stadium

Cheer the Spartans on to victory amongst MSU graduates!

With all this fun, it’s important to remember the best part of homecoming. It’s the return of many fascinating, successful, graduated Spartans. These men and women were once in your shoes, and have great advice waiting to be sought out. Visit

http://alumni.msu.edu/programs/homecoming/schedule.cfm for a schedule of many college and organization alumni gatherings, for a chance to gain some knowledge and network within your field!

Between classes, clubs, work, and spending time with friends, you could say my life here at MSU is a little hectic. Somewhere in all this craziness I have to find time to eat, and with my busy schedule…

  I am going into my third year now in the residence halls and I am so thankful for the opportunities living on has offered me. The convenience of getting a combo-exchange at the MSU Food Truck between work and class, cozying up in a booth reading my textbook whilst grabbing some dinner, or taking a quick study break to eat a late night re-energizing snack is something priceless to college students desperately trying to manage their time. Cooking a balanced meal takes on average at least half an hour to prepare. Getting a wide array of nutritional options in the dining halls takes five minutes to swipe in and grab a plate. That is 25 minutes of valuable time you could be engaging in the MSU community or working on acing that class.

And for those of us MSU students who enjoy cooking like myself, we can always turn to the community kitchens. When you do have time in your schedule, checking out the community kitchen is a great alternative option to the dining halls where you can have fun preparing your own meals. By making cooking a choice, it keeps your time in the kitchen enjoyable versus mandatory and exhausting. Also, it gives us not so professional chefs the option to experiment in the kitchen with no consequences. If that 

recipe you found online flops, just head over to a dining hall because here there are so many choices for food that you will never go hungry. Overall living and eating on campus is truly the best option for students because it is convenient. Also, who could really turn down the fantastically beautiful and tasty desserts EatatState has to offer like this Strawberry Shortcake push pop?!

Well it’s that time of year.  Everyone is moved in and classes have started.  Part of being on a huge campus is knowing how to get to class.  Some people bike, others walk, but honestly, on the days where it’s super hot or super cold, the bus is the way to go...that is, if you know where you are going.  The buses can be confusing to figure out.  Don’t do the same thing I did when I was a freshman (A 15 minute bus ride ended up being 45 minutes because I was impatient and it was hot, so I took the wrong bus).  To help you here, I have put together helpful tips and a list of buses and where they go.

1)     Read the numbers on the bus (they usually tell you where they go too)…unlike me, I just hopped on whatever bus.  There’s a screen on the front of the bus for a purpose.

2)     Don’t be afraid to ask someone.  People here at MSU are friendly and they are happy to point you to the right direction.

Buses:

On Campus:

#30 – Goes to East Neighborhood and South Neighborhood.  Passes the International Center, Demonstration hall, and the Spartan Stadium. 

#31 – Goes to East Neighborhood and Brody.  Makes its way through north neighborhood too.  This bus passes the Auditorium, Snyder-Phillips, and makes it’s way onto Grand River Avenue.  From Brody, it passes the Breslin, Main library, and North/South Kenzie.  

#33 – The West Circle bus, so if you live in North Neighborhood, this is the bus for you! Also, it goes to South Neighborhood.  Keep in mind, buses stop running after 7pm

Off-Campus:

#1 – Either go to downtown Lansing or go the opposite way to the Meridian mall (this is the bus that takes you to Meijer too). 

#26- This takes you to Abbot and Chandler and through the streets by Grand River.

Now there are weekend buses too.  They run every 30 minutes!

#34 – Takes you to Brody Neighborhood and University Village.

#35 – Takes you to South Neighborhood and Spartan Village.

#36 – Takes you to East Neighborhood. 

All on-campus buses (and the #26 bus) will go to the CATA bus station!  So, if you find yourself on the wrong bus, eventually you’ll get back to the CATA bus station. 

Last but not least, download the SpartanApp.  It will be your lifesaver.  Here you can find buses and where they go, along with their time schedules.