MSU

The Spartan Hall of Fame Café is off the beaten path for many East Lansing residents, but it more than makes up for the distance by being the most intensely Spartan place outside MSU’s own borders.

Julia Liggett, a freshman at MSU, hardly worries about getting home safely, even at night.

“Yeah, I feel safe. Even by myself. There’s still people out at night. There’s people everywhere, if I was by myself or something, somebody would help me.”

Would they?

Unfortunately for Liggett, science argues she might not be as safe as she believes.

The bystander effect is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a group of people realize someone or something is in need of help, but assume another witness will give aid.

The leaves have changed color, stores have stocked their shelves with cider and candy and Pumpkin Spice lattes have reclaimed their place in your mug. Halloween is just around the corner, and East Lansing has plenty of activities to occupy the Spidermen and Queen Elsas of your family.

Families are invited to visit Safe Halloween from 5pm- 7pm on Thursday, Oct. 29. The event will take place on M.A.C. Avenue between Elizabeth and Burcham, and the area will be closed to traffic.

I bit my lip to hold back tears, I shoved my phone deep into my backpack so I could pretend it wasn’t actually 4:30 a.m., and downed the rest of my Red Bull. I could no longer keep track of whether it was my first or third of the evening, and I was barely able to stay awake long enough to read the messy notes in front of me.

I realized I was staring blankly at the keynote presentation, when I heard my mentor’s exasperated voice, trying to bring my attention back to business.

“Caitlin… Caitlin are you getting this? Are you ready to go again?”

Photo: Image of a mattress burned last weekend on Fern Street, near the City Attorney’s office

According to a press release from ELPD “Last week, after the MSU football win against Oregon, there were seven fires set in the City of East Lansing, primarily in student areas. These fires are extremely dangerous to bystanders in the area, but also to first responders that are called to extinguish them. Responding to these fires multiple times in a single night can also affect the response time to those in the community in need of medical attention.”

Ann gets an Uber driver to tell her what it's like to drive East Lansing late at night.

Carl Bowers

Since its inception five years ago at East Lansing’s Edgewood Village, All of the Above Hip Hop Academy, AOTA, has been working to mentor young creatives, cultivate a strong, artistic community and foster a positive hip hop culture within the East Lansing and Lansing areas.

AOTA provides local teens with opportunities to take free classes in lyric writing, producing music, Bboying and even graffiti art. All classes are taught by industry veterans, including program founder Ozay Moore, formerly a successful hip hop recording artist.