Rewind: News from the last 7 days

Clifton Wharton Jr., MSU’s president from 1970 to ‘78 and the first Black president of a major university, died Saturday at 98. The Wharton Center for Performing Arts was named after Wharton and his wife, Delores, in 1982. He oversaw building MSU’s first superconducting cyclotron, creating the MSU Foundation and launching its first capital campaign. Wharton also served as chancellor of the State University of New York, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, TIAA-CREF chairman and CEO and deputy secretary of state in President Clinton’s administration. His wife of 74 years and son, Bruce, survive him. The family requests gifts go to MSU’s Clifton and Dolores Wharton Legacy Fund, which benefits the Wharton Center’s endowment fund.

Holy Cross Services fired CEO Ryan Kunzelman, who said it was for disagreeing with board members over services to the LGBTQ+ community. Board attorney Kathleen Klaus’ termination letter gave no specific reason, but Kunzelman said the board instructed employees to no longer promote the “lifestyle” of LGBTQ+ people, including not recruiting foster care parents at Pride events and restricting purchases for transgender youth. More than a dozen employees protested outside Holy Cross, advocating for LGBTQ+ people. Klaus said the board named Steve Adamczyk interim CEO and Sharon Berkobien interim president.

Former Delta Township Supervisor Ken Fletcher waived his right to a preliminary examination in Eaton County District Court and will fight criminal charges in circuit court. He resigned in September after arraignment on allegations of accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime. Fletcher was reelected Nov 5 with 89% of the vote. He can be sworn in on Jan. 1, either to serve or resign, or vacate the position. Township Clerk Mary Clark has served as interim supervisor.

The MSU chapter of Turning Point USA has urged the university to discipline tenured psychology Professor Alexa Veenema after she sent a post-election email to students calling supporters of President-elect Donald Trump “naïve.” She also said they supported “misogyny, racism, xenophobia, hate, and violence.” Alex Bitzan, the conservative political organization’s president, said the email violated three faculty policies and initiated making a formal complaint against Veenema. No discipinary actions against Veenema have been reported.

A 13-year-old Onondaga girl was killed in a crash between two SUVs at the intersection of Holt and College roads. Her father was driving one of the SUVs and he and his three children were hospitalized for seemingly non-life-threatening injuries, Ingham County deputies said. But the girl died after surgery for an unspecified injury or ailment. A 20-year-old Delhi Township woman was driving the other vehicle eastbound on Holt Road when she turned northbound into the path of the westbound SUV. She did not need medical attention.

Lansing Charter Commission members voted unanimously Nov. 12 to recommend allowing some candidates with felony convictions to run for or be appointed to public office. Several residents have called for commissioners to eliminate a charter provision prohibiting anyone with a felony conviction from holding any city office “for a period of 20 years from the date of conviction.” But the commission’s attorney said the state Constitution contains less restrictive guidelines.

The Lansing Board of Water & Light raised its new 2.5-million-gallon water storage tank Monday at the intersection of Wood Street and Lake Lansing Road. The 100-foot-tall tower “will increase reliability for BWL customers by maintaining water pressure to support daily water use, such as regular water consumption, fighting fires and sanitary purposes,” when it’s completed by next fall, the BWL said. A loan forgiveness grant and low-interest loan from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is paying for the tank.

MSU is investigating hazing complaints after a video of an alleged incident at the Beta Zeta chapter of the Theta Chi fraternity surfaced online last week, said The State News Monday. The video allegedly shows four people on their hands and knees eating something off the ground. Someone out of view can be audibly heard telling them to “win that s—,” and “you better eat my f— eggs, b—.” The MSU Office of Student Support and Accountability met Tuesday to determine whether “interim disciplinary action” would be taken against the fraternity, MSU spokesperson Mark Bullion told News 6.