Student by Day, Street Musician by Trade

Being a student can be rough, but trying to excel in school and launch a music career? That’s just impressive.

That is exactly what Jack Grendel, a junior History major, is doing. A student by day, a street musician by trade. Jack comes to East Lansing from the Traverse City music scene and has become a recognizable street musician on Grand River in front of the Steve & Barry’s plaza.

Many students heard Jack Grendel play his acoustic folk during the nice warm days the first week of classes on street corners north of campus, myself included.

I sat down with Jack Grendel to get a little more information about his upcoming shows, recently released recordings, and to get passed the music and meet the man.

The Spartan Review: As a recognizable fixture on Grand River, what is your favorite part of being a street musician?

Jack Grendel: Stories, every person has at least one good story to tell, and people tend to tell me their stories. I have heard tales from all walks of life and from every point of view.

SR:You recently recorded new music under a new name (Jack Grendel). What has changed from your previous recordings under Would You Could You With A Mouse? to your new album besides your name?

JG: Changes? As far as I know, this has been my name my entire life. Unless you know something I don’t.

SR: Who are your biggest influences?

JG: I draw a lot from many of folk music’s classic figures, like Woody Guthrie, LeadBelly, Mississippi John Hurt, Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash, as well as more contemporary artists like Conor Oberst, Ryan Adams, and of course, Old Crow Medicine Show.

SR: What about East Lansing makes it a great place to be making music today?

JG: Well, the great thing is that there is so little. You know, no one has ever hit it really big here, and so there is just one concentrated fan group and people are more open to new music.

SR: What are your plans upon graduating from MSU and do they include continuing with music?

JG: I don’t believe in the future, so I don’t waste my time planning something that isn’t. I would rather spend more of my energy enjoying the present than worrying about a future that may or may not ever come to pass.

SR: If our readers would like to give your new music a listen, where can they find you, besides street corners?

JG: I have a Myspace that has some home recordings on it, nothing too fancy. That can be found at www.myspace.com/jackgrendel and once I get my album Home? in print, I will try and get it in stores like FBC (Flat, Black, & Circular) on Grand River, but that’s all just speculation.

So if you’ve heard Jack Grendel on the streets, or even if you haven’t, check him out online or at The Small Planet in East Lansing on Thursday, October 8th at 8:00. Look for updates for his upcoming shows in the East Lansing area and support this local musician and fellow student.

Panel Discusses International Relationships outside of MSU

By: Christian Hokans

With friends, entertainment and food all readily available, it can seem like the entire world is bundled up into the campus here at Michigan State University. MSU, however, has been venturing out into the world beyond the realm of the Red Cedar for decades now. This international engagement was the hot topic when the Director of the United Nations Information Office in Washington D.C. came to campus over the weekend. After meeting with students and faculty all day, Director William Davis participated in a three-part panel on Monday night at the Kellogg Center to discuss the relationship between MSU, the United States, the U.N., and the rest of the world. The discussion also included Chris Holman and Dr. John Hudzik.

Eric Freedman, the Assistant Dean of International Studies and Programs introduced the speakers. Freedman also added that the event was commemorating the 64th anniversary of the founding of the U.N. which took place on October 24.

Dr. John Hudzik, Vice President of Global Engagement and Strategic Projects at MSU, took the stage first. Dr. Hudzik started out by telling the story of MSU’s long commitment to international affairs. Dr. Hudzik said this engagement started in the years immediately following World War II. He said that this history of outreach actually went back much farther as he brought up MSU’s land grant history; MSU was one of the first institutions to make higher education available to the average person and is still concerned with advancing education today.

“MSU’s land grant has now become a world grant,” Hudzik said.

He emphasized the scope of Michigan State’s study abroad programs, research on international problems, and large population of foreign students. Hudzik went on to emphasize that MSU has to continue to widen its international presence to compete.

William Davis took the stage telling a story of how he watched U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, President Bush, and Vice President Cheney have a very productive meeting – the day after an unfortunate hunting accident occurred involving the Vice President. He told this to dispel the common belief that the U.S. and the U.N. have a rocky relationship, and then went on to tell about the U.N.’s truly global presence.

Davis told of how the U.N. sets business standards for everything from airports to cell phones around the world. He ended his speech by reaffirming that the U.S. cannot ignore the U.N.

“We live in a world where pulling your head back into your shell isn’t possible – even for the world’s lone superpower,” Davis said.

Next came a short address from Chris Holman, a well known civic leader and business owner in the Lansing area, on the important role of small business in the global marketplace. Holman highlighted the role small business is playing in Michigan.

“Small business is providing net job growth in Michigan,” Holman said.

He then went on to say that small businesses too can take advantage of the new global marketplace.

The presentation was concluded with a question and answer session that included such topics as refugee health care, sustaining America’s life style and meeting the millennium development goals. As the crowd shuffled out, this reporter too returned to that seemingly enormous campus called home. Only now realizing the important fact that navigating this globalized world will require a level of involvement never seen before. Strolling over the rippling Red Cedar, and passing the imposing Breslin Center, it suddenly became apparent that this campus extends much farther than it seems, much farther indeed.

Interviews from Mackinac Republicans Leadership Conference

By: Nicholas Kowalski

While on the automobile-less, horse- and bicycle-aplenty oasis that is Mackinac Island for the 2009 Biennial Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference, I was fortunate to have conducted brief interviews with past, present, and future leaders of the Republican Party, within the great State of Michigan and beyond.

Interview 1: Ron Weiser, Michigan Republican Party Chairman

Spartan Review: What have you accomplished for the Michigan GOP since you were elected as Chairman?

WEISER: [Given that Michigan] is broken and we need to fix it, [I have developed] a mission, [and that is] to win in ’10, and a focused strategy to get more people to vote republican, not be republican, a message of hope and change.

SR: Haven’t the people been preached enough about (false) ‘hope’ and ‘change’ from Obama? How will they tell the difference?

WEISER: Well, Michigan is a state, not the nation. Granholm and Cherry stand for seven years of bad [government and] no transparency. We need change; a new division.

SR: Why will the election cycles of 2010 and 2012 turn out better for the Michigan GOP than did 2008?

WEISER: These things are cyclical. The policies of Granholm scream “Help!” If Cherry is the candidate [for Governor], he stands for seven years of bad decision making, more of the same.

SR: Not just seven years of tax hikes, right?

WEISER: Yes.

SR: What are your aspirations for the future, next few years?

WEISER: My only aspiration is to win in ’10. It is the only reason I’m here. Then, I’ll go back and do other things.

SR: Thank you for your time, Chairman.

WEISER: No problem.

Interview 2: Michael Bouchard, Oakland County Sheriff, and Terri Lynn Land, Michigan Secretary of State

SR: What unique aspect do you bring to the table over the other candidates for the Republican nomination?

LAND: [He’s] been a high vote getter [in the Senate and as Sheriff]. Look at the reform that we’ve made in the Department of State…consolidated elections, implemented mandatory photo ID (driver’s license) in order to vote.

SR: Do you believe that your team has a comparative advantage over, say, Attorney General Mike Cox, in terms of the Oakland County and state-wide votes, and, if so, why?

LAND: Well, for one, we have double the experience. The Sheriff has been in the legislature, was a leader in the Senate. We stand for downsizing, consolidating government.

BOUCHARD: We have an advantage over all other candidates. [I] have been there, done that. [We will] reform welfare, education, roads. I was a leader in the Senate, and I can do it again. I also run a very large government organization. I know how the administration and the legislature work.

SR: If elected Governor, what would you do on Day 1?

BOUCHARD: [We] must freeze non-essential government spending. We also need to put in place a budget proposal immediately…a two-year rolling budget. And for each day the budget is not balanced past May 15th, every legislator loses their day’s pay.

SR: What is your position on Proposal 1, a call to have a Constitutional Convention to discuss the Michigan State Constitution?

BOUCHARD: I say no to a Constitutional Convention as it would cost a tremendous amount, budget-wise, and it [would be] open [discussion], with endless possibilities. I would rather selectively amend the problems, surgically fix them.

SR: Thank you both so much for your time. Good luck!

Interview 3: John Engler, former Governor of Michigan

SR: With measures such as the Michigan Promise Scholarship receiving a ‘death threat’ from the Michigan Legislature and Governor in mind, what can be implemented to help keep students here in Michigan for public university and ultimately, long-term (jobs, future living)?

ENGLER: I’ve gotten asked this question by a reporter and I really don’t know. I’m no longer following the legislative issues in the State of Michigan. You should ask them, the [politicians and] candidates (pointing in the direction of a handful of State Legislators).

SR: Why should a young person, like myself, stay in Michigan, a state with a terrible economic situation? What is the incentive?

ENGLER: By coming to this conference, you have shown an interest [in politics]. It would be to your political advantage to remain in Michigan and run for public office.

SR: But what is the incentive? How is it truly advantageous for one to remain in Michigan given the economic circumstances as opposed to going to school or permanently moving out-of-state?

ENGLER: (as an announcement is made that the Congressional Q & A is about to begin) I’m sorry. I really don’t know the answer.

Interview 4: Eric Cantor, U.S. House Minority Whip (R – VA)

SR: What is your opinion of health care reform on the whole and the only bill that has made it through House Committee?

CANTOR: The status quo of the health care is unacceptable. We need to drive down the cost for Americans. However, HR 3200 is not the answer. Any form of health care reform must include a private sector option. It is important to remember that government must not get between the public and private sectors. And health care reform can not break the bank.

SR: Would health care reform be on the legislative docket if republicans were in control of the House?

CANTOR: Yes, health care reform would be on the agenda. From an economic stand point, employers simply cannot afford health coverage for their employees.

SR: Why will 2010 be a better election cycle for the GOP than was 2008?

CANTOR: For one, the public is dissatisfied with Obama. The American people have a value system. They recognize the American they want to see, and this isn’t it. The GOP understands common sense principles, traditional values. The 2008 elections turned out as they did for a few reason. The people weren’t pleased with the Iraq War. They also were disgusted by the implosion of the economy, the Leman collapse, and bailout.

SR: If you were Speaker of the House, which issues would be at the top of the docket and why?

CANTOR: The number one issue is jobs. The credit market is not functioning [as it should]. Thus, we must get the economy going again. We need to send a signal to the world [that the U. S. needs] to stop the [irresponsible] spending. We also need to help job creators get back in the game. We can provide small businesses with tax breaks. It is important that we fix the credit markets.

SR: What are your aspirations for the near future?

CANTOR: We must look to take back the House. A Republican majority is a possibility as Republican values are on the rise. If the elections were held today, we would take back forty seats. We must first demonstrate to the American people that [the Republican Party] can ‘chart the course.’

SR: Thank you so much for the interview, Congressman. Good luck in the future.

CANTOR: Yes, it was my pleasure.

Michigan GOP Governor Candidates Spar in First Debate

By: Christian Hokans

The first Republican gubernatorial debate, sponsored by the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, occurred at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, Sep. 27. The candidates participated in the first of many battles that could decide the future of the state of Michigan. The event was one of the highlights of the three day Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference held biannually on Mackinac Island.

The debate featured the five top GOP candidates for governor: Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Representative Pete Hoekstra, Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard, State Senator Tom George and Rick Snyder, an entrepreneur from Ann Arbor. The event moderator was Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. Panelists included John Fund, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal; Stephen Henderson, columnist for the Detroit Free Press; and Kathy Hoekstra of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

The panel asked questions to candidates in rotation, starting with Cox and then moving on. The debate included six rounds of questions with a “rapid fire” response session highlighting the end.

After the panelists were allowed a few moments for opening remarks, Patterson commenced the debate.

The panel started with the tough stuff, asking how the candidates felt about 41% of Michigan’s budget being federal stimulus money. The candidates stressed that this money was a curse, and for Michigan to go on, we need to free ourselves from this burden. Mike Bouchard summed up the feelings of the room.

“This is a debt on all the children and the children’s children in this room,” Bouchard said.

The panel did not stop with the hard topics though. Further questions touched on topics like government employee benefits, tax reform and even university funding in Michigan. Most of the candidates echoed similar calls for eliminating wasteful spending, lowering taxes and creating a more attractive environment for business in Michigan.

The panel also brought up how other states like Kentucky and Tennessee have boosted university funding in times of economic downturns. They asked whether the candidates thought Michigan should take a similar course. All of the candidates seemed to agree that Michigan’s colleges needed a spending boost, with Congressman Hoekstra leading the charge.

“Our universities are what drive Michigan,” Hoekstra said.

The end of the debate brought the “rapid fire” response round. Questions touched on issues like property taxes, eliminating “right to work” legislation and lowering Michigan’s prison population. On the first two subjects, the candidates were in agreement. The third question highlighted a divide among them. About half the candidates thought releasing many non-violent offenders was a viable cost cutting measure, but candidates Bouchard and George opposed the measure.

The debate closed with each of the candidates raising their “challenge” flags to put in plugs for their campaign websites. They know they have a long campaign season ahead. Rick Snyder took a small victory on the island when he won the straw poll. Still, only time will tell who will take office in January, 2009.

An Assault on Faith

America has always been the one place where the right for a man to worship as he chooses without fear of persecution has been realized. No other nation on Earth can claim to have within its populous the religious diversity that exists in America. None can attest to the tolerance, respect and openness our people have for this ideal. It’s how our nation was founded, it’s how we still live today.

The American story of tolerance – one unique and unmatched anywhere else on the globe – has its blemishes. Irish Catholics carried the burden of discrimination when they first arrived to a mostly Protestant nation. Jews faced prejudices in our city streets in the 1950s. In more recent years, some non-believers have waged an assault on all those of faith, accusing of radicalism at any hint of religious dedication. We are a free society where we allow freedom of speech, but sometimes differences bring out the worst in us. And unfortunately, that discrimination holds true most for one community in 2009.

There are roughly half a million Sikhs in America. It is a requirement of our faith – not of vanity or fashion – to have our distinct identity: long hair, a turban, and an uncut beard. The turban serves two purposes, each equally as important. The first is to announce to the world that we, as Sikhs, stand for certain values. The second is embedded in its discipline. Getting up to pray and tie my turban tests whether I really believe in the tenets of my faith. This identity, that has defined me for the entirety of my life, is under attack.

State governments all over the country have attempted to pass laws to ban religious head-coverings. In Oklahoma and Minnesota, state legislatures have tried banning anyone with religious headgear to take state issued IDs. In Oregon, they were successful in banning all teachers from wearing headgear. And even in Michigan, recently the Michigan Supreme Court allowed a judge to order head-covering removal. It has escalated on the national level, as Congress is trying to pass the “Pass ID Act of 2009,” putting the same restrictions on religious headgear.

It’s hard to stomach e-mails from civil rights groups that tell me I may not be able to go into court or get my driver’s license in the near future. But even with the anger and sadness I feel when reading about such issues in our courts, it is comforting to know that Americans – religious and secular – are willing to fight for religious freedom.

–Ameek Sodhi, Sikh

As a secular humanist who does not believe in God, I am equally concerned with the attack on the rights of religious people to express themselves peacefully. Discrimination against innocent people is wrong. Some say secular people have no right to say the words “right” or “wrong,” but I tell you that it is perfectly clear to me that a successful society must not allow discrimination against people peacefully adhering to their religious identities – and that means that to do otherwise is wrong.

The protection of religious liberty, the right to believe or to not believe whatever a person thinks to be true about the cosmos, ought to be as important to we secular people as it is to religious people. Thus, the bans on religious headgear and identifying articles are a threat not only to religious people, but to secular people. If people of faith are not allowed to identify as they wish and worship as they will, then the right of secular people not to believe is equally in peril. To allow the government to enforce secular life without religious identification is to allow the government, when our leaders might see fit, to do just the opposite, and enforce religiosity.

–Kevin Dean, Secular Humanist

America is a haven for the religious. People fled their home countries to escape prosecution and practice freely in the U.S. If we walk away from religious liberty, we walk away from our history. Our very identity as a nation is tied to religious freedom.

People pushing strict regulation on religious headgear will argue that the freedom of religion equals the freedom from religion. I don’t disagree with this statement. However, Sikhs wearing turbans do not impose their religion upon me. They can wear their turbans, expressing their freedom of religion, while others do not, utilizing their freedom from religion.

Headgear is an expression of faith. If it is within the jurisdiction of the government, will not cross necklaces or Christian fish clothing also be monitored? I don’t agree with the Sikh religion. I’m a Christian. Still, Sikhs deserve the freedom to be the best Sikhs they can be, wearing turbans.

–MaryKate Carter, Devout Christian

PETA Grills up Meaty Conversation

By: Andrew Walker

It was with a unified force that students from MSU’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources came together to have a healthy debate with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ senior vice president of campaigns, Dan Matthews, on Sep. 10.

The MSU student organization SPAR, Students Protecting Animal Rights, brought PETA’s Animal Liberation campaign to campus. The long term goal of the liberation campaign is to free all animals that are held in captivity, including animals on farms, in zoos, and in any other form of captivity, excluding some pets. The exhibit compares animal cruelty to that of human torture in cases like the civil rights movement and concentration camps in Europe during World War II.

PETA, being the largest animal rights group in the world, focuses on ensuring that animals are treated humanely and actively campaigns for animals to gain rights. Matthews stressed this goal as he talked to the crowd on campus.

The group attending the discussion consisted primarily of MSU students. Though some PETA enthusiasts showed up for the lecture to show their support, the Wells Hall lecture room consisted of a much larger group of agricultural supporters.

PETA’s message was made clear as Matthews answered questions on every aspect of animal welfare: animals should be set free to roam the earth, without human involvement.

“Of course we would love to see a vegan world,” Matthews said.

However, Matthews dodged questions on how animal freedom would impact the placement of a large quantity of livestock into the wild. In addition, agriculture supporters pointed out that these animals would destroy crops, be worrisome on highways and spread disease, possibly leading to any number of pandemics.

It was points like this that prompted animal agriculture proponents to fire back and illustrate the role that agriculture plays in the state of Michigan and in the nation as a whole.

As the second most agriculturally diverse state in the nation, Michigan produces more than 200 commodities ranging from milk and meat, to apples, cherries and everything in-between. Of the 53, 315 farms in Michigan, over ninety percent are family owned. Students pointed out that Michigan agriculturists are using the newest technologies to help improve every aspect of their farms, allowing farmers to stay competitive in a globalized economic system, while allowing them to bring farm fresh products to Americans.

Agricultural education and animal science senior Joseph Ankley said that he enjoyed promoting Michigan farming and feels it is important for the future of the industry.

“Many of us that showed up were raised on dairy, swine, or beef operations, and we know the importance of family farms to Michigan’s economy, consumers and rural community,” said Ankley. “Humane treatment is and has been an important practice for all farmers. Although we disagree with the goal of SPAR and PETA, we realize the importance of a healthy debate and enjoyed providing information and arguments to counter the propaganda that PETA has created.”

How to Lose a Midterm Election

By: Ameek Sodhi

It’s always humorous, as students of American politics, to observe the arrogance of politicians. It’s funny for us, because history tends to repeat itself – even recent history. But their arrogance, unfortunately, is only funny for a moment. When we realize our politicians are talking down to us, ignoring us and abusing their power, we as a citizens have every right to be angry. Our system is designed so that the joke’s on them. This is why the Democrats will get nailed in 2010.

Priorities out of whack. The economy is still our biggest problem, Democrats. The verdict is in amongst economists, and it will be a jobless recovery. The $800 billion stimulus package is proving to be even more non-stimulative than was previously thought. It’s moving slower than Washington expected – go figure. Unemployment is headed towards ten percent, and people are rightfully wondering why that’s the case. What does Washington do when small businesses are shedding jobs? Push a trillion dollar health care entitlement through. Surely, that will fix the recession they tell us. People aren’t against health care reform, but they’re against having priorities out of place. No one will be able to afford any kind of health care if no one has a job. The Obama Administration has been about expanding government, not about helping the millions of Americans who are suffering from this recession. Their priorities are incongruent with what Americans want, and that’s their first problem.

Selling a Bad Product. Speaking of health care reform, let’s talk public option. People understand that health care is getting too expensive, but they also understand they do not want socialized medicine. People are not buying the fact that the public option will not put private insurers out of business by operating at a loss. President Obama has gone on Sunday afternoon shows, done interviews, and given countless speeches, selling his health care plan. His problem is not his presentation, it’s that the product he’s selling, government-run health care, is unpopular and unwanted. The Congressional Budget Office has given out crushing report after crushing report regarding all the bills that are coming out of the democratically controlled congressional committees. Simply put, Americans believe independent surveys and not the unrealistic arguments coming from the White House.

Devaluing Dissent. If you can’t convince people to support your agenda, claim that all those on the other side of an issue have no merit. They’re pulling the descent card. Anyone who disagrees with Obama’s Agenda has no alternative and must be a loon. Nancy Pelosi goes as far to say that we are unpatriotic and unsympathetic towards the uninsured if we have different ideas on how to achieve universal coverage. Excuse me as I step away from my Anti-Americanism to make my next point.

This anti-dissent speech proves how detached Washington is from Main Street. The vast majority of people at Tea Parties were not racist, right-wing extremists as the Democrats portray. They were small business owners wondering why the big guys got bailouts and they got nothing. People angered with Washington are college students that understand, like our founders, that a government big enough to give you everything is powerful enough to take it all away. We are everyday citizens with the everyday right to oppose a policy prescription from Washington because they are using our money to do things we don’t want.

People are rightfully angry. The good thing is that people have seen this story before. No American president has successfully governed from the far-left and managed to stay in office for the last 40 years. A large part of President Obama’s problem moving forward is the 35-40% of the population that identifies as Independents. In every poll, whether it be from Gallup, Pew, or CNN, the message is clear – Independents are angry with President Obama’s agenda. They are the same people who put him in power, and they are the ones that by every indication will be revolting against him in the polls in 2010. Midterms will be ugly for the Democrats, as they have abused the trust they were bestowed when they were elected last November. Come Election Day, the joke’s on them.

Opinion Main

Republican Governors Exclusive Spartan Review Op-Eds

It’s a crowded field in the Michigan Republican Gubernatorial Primary, so The Spartan Review is providing you with exclusive op-eds from the candidates to get their points of view on how to fix Michigan.

Pete Hoekstra: Back to the Basics
Tom George: Health Care is the Problem

Campus Page Main

Granholm Lobbies for Promise Scholarship on Campus

Governor Jennifer Granholm made an appearance and brief speech on campus last week to stress the importance of the recently eliminated promise scholarship to Michigan’s education. The event was attended by about 100 people and drew some protesters.

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