Hey everyone,
This was a really exciting weekend for the CRC. Not only did we participate in the Holiday Coat Drive and the Winter Bowl, our partners over at Spartans Against Drunk Driving held their annual forum in the Wonders Kiva on Sunday evening. The scene was quite serious as various speakers from the East Lansing community talked about how drunk driving has influenced them. Two MSU graduates recounted their tales. One of them was hit by a drunk driver, had to have pieces of windshield surgically removed from his face, spent months in physical therapy relearning how to walk, and is now a speaker for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Multiple East Lansing and MSU police officers recounted tales of arresting drunk drivers or reporting to the scene of a drunken driving crash. Mayor Vic Loomis was the keynote speaker. He recounted an anti-drunk driving commercial where a home video shows a high school cross-country runner winning a race and then the screen goes blank and says that a drunk-driver killed the runner and her family in a crash shortly after the video wash taken. He cited MSU social norm statistics to show that SADD is making an impact, such as “81% of MSU students choose to use a designated driver” and “74% of MSU students choose not to drink and drive after having just one drink.”
The Forum could not have come at a better time. Mothers Against Drunk Driving just announced a few weeks ago that Governor Paterson of New York signed drunk driving legislation for his state. This legislation requires ignition interlock systems for those who have been convicted of drinking and driving. An ignition interlock is essentially a breathalyzer that is integrated into the ignition system of a car. When a person attempts to turn on their car, they have to give a breath sample, which is measured for blood alcohol content (BAC). If that BAC is over the legal limit, the car will not start. New York is the twelfth state in the US to pass legislation of this sort. The legislation also makes drunk driving with a child in the car a felony. This is based on the line of reasoning that a person who makes the decision to drink and drive with a child in the car puts that child in danger, and unlike an adult, that child might not have the option to stop the driver or leave. I am proud of New York for passing legislation of this sort. Through my work with Spartans Against Drunk Driving, I have lobbied countless Representatives and Senators to pass similar legislation in Michigan, but the bill was stalled in a past session of the legislature.
I expect that one day our legislature will pass a bill of this sort, and help protect us from people who drink and drive, and ultimately make terribly regrettable decisions.
I hope you have all enjoyed my blogs throughout the semester, as this will likely be my final one for 2009.
Take care.
Go White!
Mike Berkowitz
CRC Intern
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Sam Singh Event
Hey everyone!
The semester is edging towards the end, which brings projects, exams, papers, and among all: stress. However, the CRC interns were able to set one night aside and get together at Grand Traverse Pie Company (YUM!) and have a conversation with former mayor, Sam Singh. Each intern was granted the ability to invite one guest from the East Lansing community to join in our discussion. It was an enlightening talk about the challenges of maintaining multiculturalism within the city of East Lansing. Sam Singh has a lot of insight, because he recently returned from a world tour where he traveled to over 25 countries in sixteen months.
We discussed issues such as economic downfalls in East Lansing and Michigan overall, the education system, volunteerism, and Michigan State study abroad programs. Through our conversation, we all were able to discuss specific issues we face in East Lansing and ideas of potential solutions. It seems that this type of open discourse is necessary when dealing with problems of discrimination or inclusion. There also needs to be more of an emphasis on learning about other cultures that surround us either through going abroad, being involved in another type of educational international course, or even participating in some sort of pen pal program. It was really fun to discuss such serious issues that us, as CRC interns, need to strengthen ties within our multicultural community.
The night ended with our stomachs full of pie and our minds stirring with good conversation. It was an honor for Sam Singh to take time out of his life in order to talk with us. It was truly enlightening and one of my favorite CRC events yet!
Have a happy Thanksgiving and if you have any used or new coats, don’t forget to bring them back with you for the Coat Drive this Friday!
Go Green,
Kanika
The semester is edging towards the end, which brings projects, exams, papers, and among all: stress. However, the CRC interns were able to set one night aside and get together at Grand Traverse Pie Company (YUM!) and have a conversation with former mayor, Sam Singh. Each intern was granted the ability to invite one guest from the East Lansing community to join in our discussion. It was an enlightening talk about the challenges of maintaining multiculturalism within the city of East Lansing. Sam Singh has a lot of insight, because he recently returned from a world tour where he traveled to over 25 countries in sixteen months.
We discussed issues such as economic downfalls in East Lansing and Michigan overall, the education system, volunteerism, and Michigan State study abroad programs. Through our conversation, we all were able to discuss specific issues we face in East Lansing and ideas of potential solutions. It seems that this type of open discourse is necessary when dealing with problems of discrimination or inclusion. There also needs to be more of an emphasis on learning about other cultures that surround us either through going abroad, being involved in another type of educational international course, or even participating in some sort of pen pal program. It was really fun to discuss such serious issues that us, as CRC interns, need to strengthen ties within our multicultural community.
The night ended with our stomachs full of pie and our minds stirring with good conversation. It was an honor for Sam Singh to take time out of his life in order to talk with us. It was truly enlightening and one of my favorite CRC events yet!
Have a happy Thanksgiving and if you have any used or new coats, don’t forget to bring them back with you for the Coat Drive this Friday!
Go Green,
Kanika
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