“MSU Shadows” was officially adopted as the alma mater for Michigan State on April 21, 1949. It was chosen by student vote after a long effort to identify and obtain a distinctive melody for the university.
The music and lyrics were penned by Bernard “Barney” Traynor, an assistant football coach on staff from 1925–27.
Joshua Davis, an MSU College of Arts & Letters graduate, native of Michigan and finalist on the eighth season of NBC’s “The Voice,” has released a recording and music video of his version of Michigan State University’s alma mater, “MSU Shadows.”
Source : Joshua Davis records version of ‘MSU Shadows’, MSU Today, November 6, 2015.
Water Woes: Flooding in MSU’s past
With the recent weather related news, much discussion has arisen regarding floods that have occurred on the campus. There have been three major floods recorded in MSU’s history.
The most recent occurred in April of 1975. Grand River rose to above 15 feet and the Red Cedar rose to about 12 feet above its normal level and over 16 feet in some areas causing major flooding. However, in comparison to the surrounding cities such as Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, and Meridian Township, Michigan State’s campus suffered minimal damage. Many people in these nearby cities lost everything. Their houses were completely destroyed by the water and volunteer crews such as the Red Cross had to be called in to assist these individuals. Shelters were set up at Okemos High School, MacDonald Middle School, and Marshall Street Armory for the evacuees. Compared to the devastation that hit elsewhere, MSUs campus was fairly quiet. Demonstration Hall, the Women’s IM Building, Jenison Field House, the Auditorium, Beal Garden, and Kobs Field were the worst hit. Cedar Village and the surrounding apartments were also hit hard. Despite the rain, classes were not cancelled except for those located in Dem Hall, the Women’s building, Jenison, and the Aud. Traffic was the biggest pain on campus. Many roads were closed because of the flood which made it difficult to find alternative routes to class. Preliminary damage reports estimated that it would cost about $50,000 to repair damage to the buildings and anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000 to repair damage to the grounds.
Monday April 6, 1947 marked the second large flood in MSU’s history. A heavy rain fall following a large amount of melting snow caused nearly 65 acres of campus to become covered in water which reached a crest of 12.3 feet. Old College Field was completely covered by water and all outdoor practices for baseball, football, and golf were suspended. Jenison Fieldhouse was the hardest hit with 12 feet of water flooding the basement. Quonset Village, the State Police post, MSC trailer camp, faculty housing, and the apartments were also affected by the waters. Quonset Village and apartment residents were without heat or electricity for about three days. Roads were also flooded which caused a huge hassle getting around campus. Only classes in the fieldhouse were cancelled for a three-day period, and demonstration hall was closed; all other buildings remained open.
The first large flood that devastated campus occurred in 1904. The State News articles make reference to this flood however, no direct documentation was found.
Sources:
“Water Woes: Flooding in MSU’s past“, MSU Archives, August 2, 2011.
Digital copy of that issue of State News is available through DMC http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/state_news/1975/state_news_19750421.pdf
“Flood Costs Not Heavy.” MSU News-Bulletin [East Lansing] 24 Apr. 1975. Print.
Merrell, Jeff. “MSU Wrings Dry after Flooding.” State News [East Lansing] 21 Apr. 1975. Print.
“Record Flood Waters Drowned MSC Campus.” Michigan State News [East Lansing] 16 Apr.1947. Print.
TIME has named Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, to the 2016 TIME 100 — its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
The list recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.
As TIME editor Nancy Gibbs has said of the list in the past, “The TIME 100 is a list of the world’s most influential men and women, not its most powerful, though those are not mutually exclusive terms. While power is certain, influence is subtle. As much as this exercise chronicles the achievements of the past year, we also focus on figures whose influence is likely to grow, so we can look around the corner to see what is coming.”
“Dr. Mona,” – as many call her, captured the 20th spot in the top 100 list, or 1.1 percent of the vote total, alongside U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, talk show hosts Stephen Colbert and John Oliver and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“I am honored and humbled to be on the TIME 100 Most Influential People list,” Hanna-Attisha said. “However, the most influential people in my world are the people of Flint – the smart, strong and resilient people of Flint that are approaching their third year of unsafe water. I hope this recognition continues to bring awareness to the ongoing Flint water crisis, and the very human story behind the crisis.
She added, “I would like to thank TIME magazine for the honor and everyone for their votes and extensive support.”
“We are very proud of Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha for the outstanding work she has done to help the children and families of Flint,” said Aron Sousa, interim dean, MSU College of Human Medicine. “Her science and advocacy demonstrate why public intellectual institutions like hospitals and universities are important to the health and safety of Americans. It is nice that Time has recognized Mona, but her work and energy have made us very proud already.”
For the full article, see Geri Kelley, Ilene Cantor, and Sarina Gleason, “Mona Hanna-Attisha Named One of Time’s Most Influential People“, MSU Today, April 21, 2016.
Scott Atkinson, “Champion For Children“, Hour Detroit, October 1, 2016 : Dr. Mona gained fame as a ‘water warrior,’ but her long-term crusade is fixing all of Flint’s social ills
Kalamazoo College was founded in 1833 by a group of Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute. Its charter was granted on April 22, 1833, the first school chartered by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan. Instruction at the Institute began in fall 1836. In 1837, the name of the fledgling college was changed to the “Kalamazoo Literary Institute” and school officials made their first attempt to secure recognition as a college from the state of Michigan. In 1838, however, the University of Michigan opened the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan, providing a local competitor to the Literary Institute. In 1840, the two schools merged, and from 1840 to 1850 the College operated as the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan. In 1850, the Kalamazoo Literary Institute name was restored and in 1855 the school finally received an educational charter from the State of Michigan, establishing explicit recognition of the school as a college. After receiving its educational charter, the school changed its name to Kalamazoo College.
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other US academic institution. From 1997 to 2006 it ranked 21st among all baccalaureate institutions in the percentage of graduates who went on to earn doctorates. The school was founded by American Baptist ministers, but today maintains no religious affiliation.
Kalamazoo College Today
Source :
On April 27, 1933, in celebration of the repeal of Prohibition, Michigan Gov. William A. Comstock approved a law permitting people to drink beer and wine starting at age 18.
According to the Michigan Historical Center, 18- to 20-year-olds were not allowed to drink any form of hard liquor during this time. The Legislature reconsidered the move four years later and raised the drinking age to 21.
The legal drinking age remained 21 until 1972, when it was once again lowered to 18. After Michigan began to suffer from higher incidents of alcohol-related traffic incidents among drivers ages 18 to 20, the state decided to change the legal drinking age back to 21 in 1978.
Andrea K. Farmer, This Week in Michigan History, Detroit Free Press, April 22, 2007, B.4
On April 22, 1948, Orlando LeValley died at his farm outside Caro, Mich. The longtime farmer, who had enlisted in the 23rd Michigan Infantry Regiment as a 16-year-old in 1864, was the last of the 90,000 Michigan veterans of the Civil War to die. The press reported that LeValley had outlived his wife, Hannah, by 30 years, and one of their six children. He left 15 grandchildren (three of whom had served in World War II) and 29 great-grandchildren. LeValley, who had enjoyed telling people that he heard President Lincoln’s second inaugural address while on furlough in 1865, was just five months shy of 100 when he died.
Source : Richard Bak, “Last Man Standing”, Hour Detroit, August 2012.
For a related story, search Joseph Clovese.
On April 22, 1956, the Michigan Legislature adopted Act 183 “to establish and regulate a state institution of higher learning to be known as Wayne State University.” This legislative act opened the doors for Wayne State to join Michigan’s other select public universities.
But the history of Wayne State University can be traced back farther than that.
In 1868, Wayne State University was officially founded as the Detroit Medical College, now the School of Medicine. The Detroit Medical College was created in 1868 (founded by 5 Civil War physicians), out of which grew Wayne State University. The first academic term began on Nov. 3, 1868. In 1881, the Detroit Normal Training School was established, now the College of Education
The official sesquicentennial celebration of Wayne State University is being celebrated from January to November 2018.
Source: Tom Watkins, “Wayne State University Turns 150″, Dome, March 2, 2018
Roughly 75 Neo-Nazis were met by 800 counter protestors at the Michigan Capitol on April 22, 2006, when a Minneapolis-based extremist group decided to visit Lansing. The group advocated barring illegal immigration and villified Jews.
A chain link fence was erected to keep the two groups apart. Sixteen people were arrested for offences including disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, fighting, and assaulting police.
City officials estimated the rally cost approximately $80,000 for police overtime and other expenses.
Source : Carol Thompson, “Michigan’s Capitol has seen several prominent protests”, Lansing State Journal, January 17, 2021.
Pope Francis has bestowed the title of “basilica” upon the historic National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak, making it only the second church in Michigan and one of 82 in the U.S. to carry the honorary designation.
The honor means the landmark Oakland County church, its facade marked by a mammoth sandstone tower and crucifix at Woodward and 12 Mile, will get a reconfigured name and have greater significance as a Catholic pilgrimage site. The designation also connotes a heightened relationship with the pope, so the parish will celebrate anniversaries related to the role of the papacy.
Its inaugural mass as a basilica will be celebrated on April 22, when Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron is to preside at a ceremony and reading of the papal decree of its new designation. It’s unclear how the church’s name will change to reflect the new honor. The only other such Catholic basilica in Michigan is the Basilica of St. Adalbert in Grand Rapids, which received the title in 1980 from Pope John Paul II.
The parish, which operates Shrine high school and elementary school, is being recognized for its robust parish life, which includes eight weekend masses, and its stature as a destination site with relics from various Catholic figures, including its namesake St. Therese of Lisieux. But generations ago, Shrine was known nationally because of its charismatic founding pastor, the Depression-era radio priest the Rev. Charles Coughlin, eventually silenced by the Vatican because of anti-Semitic broadcasts.
The National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak is named after a young French Carmelite nun, Therese of Lisieux, who was canonized a saint in 1925. The Royal Oak parish, founded in 1926, was one of the first parishes named after her.
St. Therese was born Therese Martin on Jan. 2, 1873. She entered the convent at 15 and died nine years later of tuberculosis. During her illness, she was asked to write about her life, her love of Jesus and her philosophy that one must do the little things right to get to Heaven. After she died, her writings were published and gained immediate popularity. In one book, she referred to herself as insignificant as one small flower in the garden nurtured by God. That’s how she became known as the Little Flower.
For the full article, see Patricia Montemurri and JC Reindl, “Pope Francis names Shrine of the Little Flower a basilica”, Detroit Free Press, February 1, 2015.
