Features – Page 3

Roommates Choose Each Others Outfits: Day 2

Three Spring Arbor University (SAU) students decided to let their roommates pick their outfits for this week. Naturally, “The Pulse” is tagging along to see what happens. If you haven’t read the introduction post yet, click here to do so!

Day 2: A Casual Look

Bekah

While yesterday brought the anxiety that comes with wearing something you wouldn’t typically wear, today I was totally comfortable. Jessica and I have totally different styles. For this reason, I was nervous about her choosing my outfit. Don’t get me wrong, I totally trust her, I was just a little nervous. To my relief, Jessica selected dark blue skinny jeans (which I decided to cuff), a tan t-shirt, and a cozy grey cardigan. I had to laugh as Jessica was looking through my closet because she had to ask where my grey cardigan was. I asked which one, she sheepishly said the one she wore last week. In the harsh fluorescent lighting found in SAU residence halls, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the tan shirt with a darker grey cardigan. However, once I saw the clothes in better lighting, I liked the color match a lot more. Overall, I would say that today was another successful day trusting someone else with me clothing choices.

Bri

You know that piece of clothing that you never wear? The one that is stuffed in the back corner of your closet and hasn’t seen the light of day in some time, but you swear you’ll either wear it or give it away soon? Yeah? Well, Bekah found said piece of clothing and thanks to this experiment, I’m now wearing it.

While I don’t hate the outfit, because contrary to what Bekah thinks I really don’t, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I love it either. It matches and on anyone else, I’d think it was cute. Really, I would. But on me? I’m just not into the color or style.

I will say, however, that because I haven’t worn it since…high school?, wearing it now has brought back a lot of good memories. For instance, I can clearly remember sitting in class senior year while wearing this shirt, and hearing a buzzing sound only to look up to see my best friend shaving in class. I mean like full on out, has an electric shaver and is going to town on his neck and face. I still don’t understand what was going through his mind in that moment, but the point is that I had forgotten about it until I put this shirt on again.

Overall, while I think the outfit is cute, it’s just not my style. But hey, props to Bekah for being creative and showing me that getting outside of my comfort zone is okay – in fact, it’s really great.

Jessica

Bri’s inspiration for today was 90’s grunge. I’d say she nailed it. I may have been the only one on campus wearing purple lipstick, but how can you do 90’s grunge without dark lips? I’m glad Bri chose a top knot for my hairstyle because I love them. I would have probably worn yogas, but the green pants are one of my more comfy pairs of jeans, so bless her for choosing those. Unfortunately, I usually always make a mess of myself while eating, so white doesn’t stay white for long. I got sauce from my sesame chicken on the front of Bri’s white t-shirt (sorry, Bri). I loved this outfit, thought, and probably would have picked it out myself.

By Bekah Kinney, Bri Loomis and Jessica Tower

Edited by Amber Cekander

So far, so good! The first two days were relatively tame, but there’s still plenty of days to go!

*all photos provided by the participants and used with permission*

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Roommates Choose Each Others Outfits: Day 1

Day 1: the Hipster™ Look

Bekah

Today’s outfit was picked out by Bri. She chose a striped skirt, white shirt, navy blue jacket and brown oxfords. There are no words to adequately describe the anxiety I felt knowing she was riffling through my closet (and the closet of our roommate) to put together a “hipster” outfit. This was like some crazy trust exercise. When Bri showed me the pieces she had artfully selected, I thought it was a cute outfit, just not for me. It was finally morning and time to get dressed. I had to admit the outfit was cute. I spent the morning feeling uncomfortable wearing something I wouldn’t have picked out on my own. Fortunately, the more the day went on, the more I fell in love with my outfit of the day. By the time the day was over, the only down side I could think of was that the skirt wasn’t mine.

Bri

If you haven’t noticed recently, SAU students love their half buns and half buns love SAU students. Seriously, they’re everywhere! Now, I’m not knocking them – believe me, I’m not – but when Jess first suggested I wear my hair in a half bun, I cringed. I’ve tried them before and due to the lovely forehead I’ve been graced with, they just don’t work. Not to mention they fall out of my hair and end up resembling something like a slightly under-cooked curly fry. You know, the kind where it’s still in a hair tie and therefore has some bun-like dimensions, but most of it has slowly unraveled. Nevertheless, I tried to do as Jess said and put it up, but as you can see from the picture – I’m bunless. Let’s just say it was a slightly undercooked curly fry kind of day.

The outfit, however, I loved right from the get go. It was simple, cute and made me feel BA. Always a good sign, right? The only downside was the tights and boots were more for a cold winter day and therefore, I was hot – all day. Overall I liked it, though, and will definitely wear it again.

Jess

I bought this jumper over the summer and have not worn it since…until now. I wasn’t sure how to rock this particular piece in my wardrobe, but Bekah figured that out. I loved this outfit and felt super comfortable in it. Would I have worn it had Bekah not chosen it? Probably not. Would I wear it again? Absolutely. Except the heels. I rarely wear heels. When I do, they’re off in about 2.5 seconds (I took them off every chance I got). Also, stairs. If heels weren’t elevated enough, stairs add a whole new level to walking. Then there’s my roommate. She was at least two feet ahead of me all day. So, aside from the struggles of my unpracticed walking in heels, this outfit was great.

By Bekah Kinney, Bri Loomis and Jessica Tower

Edited by Amber Cekander

Day 1 has been completed but tomorrow is a new day and anything can happen!

*all photos provided by the participants and used with permission*

Roommates Choose Each Others Outfits

Recently, a Buzzfeed video was posted where a couple chose the others outfits for an entire week. The outfit, shoes, makeup and hairstyle were all decided by one half of the couple, the other didn’t get a say.

A group of Spring Arbor University (SAU) students decided to try the experiment for themselves and “The Pulse” will be following their journey. We’ll post an update at the end of every day so you can follow along as well!

Meet the students!

This is Bekah.

“I love jeans, boots or sandals and cardigans. I like to keep things fairly simple with an emphasis on staying warm.”

Meet Bri.

According to Bri, her style is “black jeans and lots of blazers. Occasionally, I’ll mix things up with a dress or skirt. To quote Jess, “You dress librarian-chic.””

And last but not least, Jess.

“Usually you can find me in an oversized sweater and leggings. I keep my style pretty simple and most of my clothes are very neutral.”

By Bekah Kinney, Bri Loomis and Jessica Tower

Edited by Amber Cekander

What happens when you relinquish ownership of your wardrobe? We’ll be posting every day to let you know!

*all photos are provided by the participants and used with permission*

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Student created petition against trafficking gains support

You might not have noticed it, or ever thought anything of it. But when driving on Interstate 94 heading towards Spring Arbor, it’s almost impossible to miss certain billboards that advertise peculiar services.

Bold yellow and pink letters over a solid black background promote an Oriental Health Massage parlor. While seemingly innocent enough, the strange part comes further down the billboard where it says they are conveniently open seven days a week…until 1 am. Many people in the Jackson and Spring Arbor area know this as blatantly promoting human trafficking.

Currently, a petition with over a thousand signatures on it is being enforced through Change.org. When enough people have signed the petition, Michigan Representative Tim Walberg will receive a letter asking him for the removal of these billboards in Jackson.

“Every time I drive on I-94 I’m reminded that Jackson is a safe place for human trafficking,” said Dr. Matthew Hill, Spring Arbor University (SAU) professor of philosophy. “That sign is a physical reminder that the political leaders in the city of Jackson and Jackson county (many of whom claim to be Christian) are too scared or impotent to do anything about such depravity.” Opinions like these were expressed during one of Dr. Hill’s Ethics classes, which actually sparked the idea for the petition in the first place.

Josh Riddick, Lindsey Fluharty, Caleb Smith, Quinn D’Ascenzo, and Nikki Bonnema pursued the idea in Dr. John Hawthorne’s Spirituality, Faith, and Justice course as an “action” project. According to Riddick, his group was struggling to get things done with their other project ideas until the subject of the billboards came up in Ethics class and they decided to do something about it.

While there is currently no lawful proof that human trafficking takes place in these parlors, there has been questionable activity. Senior Lindsey Fluharty, as part of the action project, tried calling the phone number on the billboard to make an appointment, but reported that they wouldn’t let her do it and insisted she should make an appointment “for her husband” instead.

During further research of the subject, it was also discovered that the massage parlor has a profile on “Naughty Reviews.com.” A website who’s tagline is “Find naughty girls near you.”

o[1] — A picture of the parlor’s entrance

In past interviews, SAU sociology professor Jeremy Norwood has said “There is no reason that a massage parlor should be open at 1 a.m.; nobody wants to purchase a massage at 1 a.m.”

At the time of this writing, the student-led petition currently has 1,157 out of the 1,500 signatures needed to continue the petition process. Dr. Hawthorne said he has started introducing the action projects to his class because his students said they “wanted to actually do something.” This is exactly what this group of students is doing, and if others continue to sign the petition, they will be too.

To look at and sign the petition, visit this link

By Nate Bortz

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What is kombucha and should I be drinking it?

I met up with Spring Arbor University senior Autumn Freeman, biology major and daughter of a “health nut,” to discover what kombucha is, what it does, and why she drinks it.

ca pic — Autumn Freeman and Professor Jen Letherer

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink with a probiotic nature, which is what makes it so appealing to the “health nuts.” Autumn explained the complicated biology part to me like this:

There are twice as many bacterial cells in your body as your own cells. These cells help break down your food and protect you against things you touch. Everyone’s bacteria is unique. The kombucha supplements the good bacteria, which helps keep you healthy.

Where you can buy it

1) Walt’s Health Food

This health food store is across from local favorite Chilangos. Autumn says that their kombucha is “the good stuff” and suggested pitching in with a few friends to get a bottle, since drinking a whole bottle during your first time might “shock your system.”

2) Target / Meijer

These two chains have a pretty similar selection. Personally, I tried Mamma Chia’s Guava Mamma and, once I got used to drinking the chia seeds, I loved it. I also enjoyed the first few sips of Live Kombucha Soda’s Living Limon, but I found that 15 minutes later it tasted flat.

How can I make it?

Making Kombucha is a lengthy process, but it is worth it. It order to start you need a “mother liquid” from a different kombucha and its scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast). Autumn suggested either buying kombucha from the store or getting this from a friend who already brews.

Equipment

1 large Glass or ceramic jar (avoid using plastic or metal)
A few smaller glass or ceramic jars
Cloth

Ingredients

Tea – black or green
Sugar
Starter liquid
Scoby
Extras:
- big chunks of fruit
- fruit juices
- chia seeds

Step 1

Take the scoby and the starter liquid and put it in your jar. Then mix the tea and sugar together and add it in. Seal the top with a cloth so your mixture can breathe. During this stage the scoby ferments the sweet tea. Leave this alone for a week to two weeks, occasionally taste-testing until your mixture makes the perfect tang-to-sweet ratio.

Step 2

Now take your mixture and add your extras! Autumn mentioned that the chia seeds are really fun, since “they’re dry and really tiny when you put them in…the mixture, then they expand and get really gelatinous and wonderful.” She also said blueberries and mangos work really well, but apples do not.

Tip: The more sugar that the fruit juice has, the more carbonated it will be in a shorter period of time, since the bacteria will have more to work with.

Step 3

Take your mixture and put it in separate sealed glass containers for a week. After that is done, refrigerate, and enjoy!

Buy it before you try it!

It is really important to pay attention while making your kombucha. If you leave the lid off while making it, you risk mold and dust getting in. Additionally, there recently was a food poisoning bacteria strain was going around the world and ended up in Autumn’s brew. (If your kombucha turns green, throw it out!)

FAQ: Is kombucha alcoholic?

Technically, yes! It is a fermented drink, which means that a sugar source was turned into alcohol. However, the alcohol content is so low that is nearly impossible to get buzzed off of the tea.

By Courtney Applebee

http://www.waltshealthfoods.com/

http://www.culturesforhealth.com/kombucha-tea-starter-kit.html

Writing Center “Promotes Task of Writing”

History

Spring Arbor University’s Writing Center seeks to help students become better writers through individual consultations. According to Associate Professor of English Dr. Jeff Bilbro, “the Writing Center is an opportunity for learning.” Aside from copy editing, the Writing Center helps students with thesis, organization and clarity.

The Writing Center’s roots are from the former writing assistance program “Write Right. ” Bilbro said before he came to Spring Arbor, the writing program was just a few tutors. Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English, Dr. Kimberly Moore-Jumonville said “writing is part of life” and the English Department has been working hard in the past few years to improve writing skill and prepare students for life after college.

The English Department developed the required English writing classes as well as the department exams to ensure students are competent. They also created a faculty position where the professor would teach 18 credits and the remaining time would be spent building up a new writing assistance program, now called the Writing Center, instead of teaching the usual 24 credits.

In 2012, Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro was hired to fill this position. He had experience working in the writing center at Baylor University where he did his graduate work and developed a passion for improving students’ writing. The new Writing Center began in the basement of the student center and moved to their current location on the main floor of the library.

Current

The current Writing Center tutors are different than the Write Right tutors. Bilbro handpicks them from students in his classes and recommendations from other professors. Interested students fill out an application and submit two essays to showcase their writing competency. Then Bilbro interviews the students. Bilbro said he looks for students with strong writing ability and good people skills because they need both to be successful tutors.

[Current Writing Center tutors, left to right, Bethany Hart, Hannah Dennings, Morgan Foster, Erin O’Connor, Carly Thompson, Kayla Chenault. From The SAU Writing Center Facebook page.]

Once hired, the tutors take a one credit class that teaches writing pedagogy and tutoring theory with Dr. Bilbro. Each new tutor is paired with a veteran tutor who acts as a mentor and observes tutoring sessions and gives feedback to the new tutor.

The Writing Center tutors handle approximately 600 appointments a year. Kayla Chenault, a senior writing tutor, said a tutor usually has two or three appointments in a day, but she remembers a time last semester when there were three tutors working and they had 41 appointments total that day. The Writing Center is normally open until 5 p.m. but on that day they stayed until 10 p.m.

Chenault organized both of the Annual Research Symposiums. To take part, students submit 5-10 page research papers. Chenault removes the names from the papers so submissions are anonymous in the grading process, and copies are made for the other Writing Center tutors to grade and discuss. The papers are graded on precision of language, originality of topic and the actual research.

The Writing Center also provides writing workshops every semester based on the most common problems students have during sessions. Chenault presented on Critical Reading because many students struggle with knowing what information is important in a text. The other presentations addressed the placement of commas, writing style and thesis composition.

Dr. Moore-Jumonville said Bilbro “promotes the task of writing.” She is excited to see his newest initiative take off. This year was the first Writing Intensive trip to Cedar Bend, where students and faculty were able to relax, write and offer feedback to each other. There were 18 participants this year and Moore-Jumonville said she hopes that the trip will have enough funding to become an annual event.

Check the Writing Center out on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TheSAUWritingCenter?fref=ts

By Jenny Croizer

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Long boarding 101

As the weather warms, we’re all looking for excuses to be outside, one great one is long boarding. Now, I’m going to be honest with you: I didn’t learn how to long board until last summer and it was not an easy thing to do, but if an uncoordinated nerd like me can learn, I have faith that you can too!

Learning to long board feels a lot like learning how to fall on your face. Don’t worry though, if you fall on a long board people will assume you are cool simply because you have a long board. A very basic formula you can always go by is: long board = cool, even if that means you wipe out on one. With that being said here are a couple tips on how to fall on your face with style.

Learn to push the board

Many people who start learning to long board are terrified to start pushing the board. This is most likely because of Newton’s first law, “an object in motion stays in motion.” This means that if you wipe out while moving it will probably hurt pretty bad, but the one formula Newton never discovered was that long board = cool, so that clearly trumps Newton’s law.

While learning to push the board, many people will start by standing on the board and quickly fall on their face. For beginners it is much harder to simply stand on the board than it is to push the board. This may sound backwards since growing up you need to learn how to stand before you can walk, but think about it like a bike. You can’t sit on the bike with your feet up if it is not moving; it requires motion to stay balanced. Long boarding is very similar. After you are comfortable with learning how to push then see if you can stand on it. This will greatly reduce the amount of times you fall on your face.

Find your footing

In long boarding one foot will always be positioned on the long board and that foot should point in the direction that the long board is headed. The other foot will be your push foot and will be used to push the board to get it going and once it is in motion the push foot will gently sit behind your lead foot.

Find out if you like pushing with your left foot or your right foot. You may ask “well how am I supposed to know?” There are many tips online telling you things like “Have your friend push you and the foot you catch yourself with is the foot that should be in the front.” But this trick may make you fall on your face which is what we are trying to reduce.

Another tip suggests you “walk up a set of stairs and use the foot you start with as your lead foot.” However when I tested this trick it didn’t work for me. Feel free to try these tips if you want, but just know that I used the opposite foot that was suggested, which means you may as well. Realize that the best way to learn is through experience. Try a couple times with pushing with your left foot, and then a couple times pushing with your right foot. If neither one feels more comfortable than the other just choose one of them to practice with. It will become comfortable in no time.

Know basic board physics

A majority of falling on my face was because I didn’t know basic board physics. I wasn’t aware that riding into grass with your long board doesn’t work like a bike. A bike you slowly bumble your way through the grass, a long board will force you into an immediate halt, and launch you off your long board (Apparently this is common knowledge for many people, but it wasn’t for me.)

Don’t turn too sharp. When you get comfortable on your board you will want to start to learn how to turn. Just know that if you turn too hard your board will fly out from underneath you. Starting up you probably will not turn so hard that you lose your footing, but its something you will want to keep in mind for the future.

Don’t jump on your board. Don’t get me wrong, when you are comfortable with your board you can jump on it all that you want, but do not jump on a board if you are new to long boarding. It will launch from underneath you and it will hurt pretty badly.

Have fun

Falling on your face doesn’t sound like fun, but after hard work and determination it will all be worth it. Just keep practicing and when you get to riding you will realize how great of a feeling it is. Just remember that even experts fall on their face so don’t expect to be an exception. Have fun as you learn to fall on your face with style.

By Joel Bradley

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Best Ice Cream Rankings

Spring Arbor University students sometimes need to splurge on a sweet treat or two after a hard week of studying. If you are ever craving ice cream (well, ice cream that is actually made with milk), stop by one of these places!

I ordered small vanilla bowls or cones at the following locations: Frosty King, The Parlour, and Sweet Scoops (formally known as Maggie Moo’s). The ice cream was then ranked by its flavor and value (amount of ice cream received versus price). The location was also rated.

Frosty King

Located in Horton, MI, Frosty King is approximately 8 minutes (6.1 miles) driving distance from our campus. It is an outdoor-seating-only stop on the road with a drive through. It serves ice cream, shakes, other desserts, hamburgers, french fries and other snacks. Although there are few other reasons for SAU students to venture into Horton, the cheap prices and bountiful portions are worth the trip.

I ordered a small soft serve cone for $2.00 (pictured right). The amount of ice cream was significantly more than I expected and it filled the entire cone. However, the quality of the ice cream was not as pleasing as the quantity. This cone is able to inexpensively satisfy a craving, but it is not necessarily something that I would pay more than $2.00 for. (Quick side note: their shakes are delicious!)

Best for: The location is close enough to bike to (you’ll burn off those calories in the process) and the amount of ice cream received is generous. It could be great for a late spring Saturday afternoon. Also, show a student ID on Wednesday and receive 10% off!

The Parlour

This Jackson landmark is approximately 13 minutes (7.8 miles) away from campus. It lives up to its name with its old time ice cream parlour environment and it also has a takeout option. The menu includes both dessert and dinner items.

ice cream 2 — “What do you call an instructor at the parlour? A sundae school teacher”

I ordered a small vanilla cone for $2.99 plus tax. The hard serve ice cream was significantly richer than I expected and it filled up the majority of the cone. Although I payed more money for less ice cream, the taste and experience made it worth it.

Best for: This classic is perfect if you want to go somewhere unique without going somewhere far away. I would suggest skipping the vanilla and trying one of their signature creations.

Sweet Scoops

Jackson’s local Maggie Moo’s has recently become independent and acquired the name Sweet Scoops. Although they are still in the process of rebranding, they haven’t let that affect their ice cream! This location is 10.2 miles (14 minutes) away from campus and it’s the perfect place to go after your latest Target run.

I ordered a small bowl of cold stone style vanilla (3 oz) for $2.30. Although this did seem a bit pricy, the ice cream itself is so creamy and they do allow their customers unlimited mix-ins, like chocolate chips or strawberries. Their menu is primarily dessert oriented, including both yogurt and lactose free ice cream.

Best for: This location is great for catching up with a friend! The ice cream is delicious and the environment is extremely inviting.

Is your favorite local ice cream shop missing? Let us know in the comment section!

By Courtney Applebee

Photos by Jacob Fisher

Blurred Vision: The Ambiguity of SAU’s Drinking Policy

Red-wine-question-mark — from blogs.otago.ac.nz

It happened back in November the same way Title IX’s controversy got rolling: with a small wording change.

On November 3, President Ellis addressed the SAU staff and faculty at the fall community meeting. Partway through the talk (28:50 on the video) Ellis said the next topic partly hearkened back to the request for Title IX exemptions.

When SAU requested exemptions, both of the lawyers consulted urged the school to keep the language of SAU’s Community Standards as in-line with the Free Methodist discipline as possible to ensure SAU’s foundation for religious-affiliated claims.

“We’ve had a change in Community Covenant language” said Ellis during the meeting. “Previously, the staff and faculty handbooks, as well as the board of trustee policy, had stated ‘The university community expects all its members to abstain from gambling, profanity, the illegal use of drugs, the use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages.’”

The Covenant for staff now reads, “The university advocates abstinence from gambling, profanity, the illegal use of drugs, the use of tobacco and alcoholic beverages.”

This new language is almost identical to the Free Methodist Book of Discipline, which says “Because Christ admonishes us to love God with all our being and our neighbor as ourselves, we advocate abstaining from the use of alcoholic beverages.” (page 61, ¶3213)

In the community meeting, Ellis said this change was prompted by a “need” for correlation with the board of trustees and the Title IX exemption.

“We’ve had board members from more diverse backgrounds where abstinence is not something that is expected,” said Ellis.

Some potential board members were hesitant of joining because of the abstinence rule. There were also board members who ignored the policy.

Ellis said the issue was that SAU “became vulnerable to a question of inconsistency of how we would deal with board members, because it would never be addressed.”

“We found ourselves in a place where we knew we had board members not abiding by the expectations of the community standards, clearly articulated, and therefore, we were not treating faculty staff and students equitability,” said Ellis.

In the meeting, Ellis stressed that the policy for students would remain completely the same: no drinking. He then said for board members, the new wording allowed some leniency; if a board member wanted a glass of wine after dinner at home, they could exercise their personal freedom to do so.

However, he said, with faculty and staff things “get a bit more complicated.”

No one— board members, faculty, or staff—would be able to drink while acting under official capacity for SAU or while in the presence of students. Ellis said his ability would not change, he would not drink, as he lives on campus and is constantly representing SAU.

He also said a faculty member could not go to Slice of Spice and get a drink where they could be seen by students. Additionally, if a faculty member was in Traverse City and wearing an SAU sweatshirt, they should not drink because they are representing the SAU community.

Ellis said he had been asked by a faculty or staff member if they would be fired if someone saw them buying beer, and was offended. “No,” said Ellis, “but let’s think about this. If you’re a faculty member and you walk into Hutches and you buy a case of beer, what’s the likelihood of someone seeing the role you play? Let’s be wise about living out the freedom that you have in this.”

“Say we have a faculty member in California,” said Ellis, “they’re having a glass of wine with their dinner. His whole family knows they’re a professor at Spring Arbor. I’m going to put that upon the faculty member.”

“People have asked, and I’m not going to give a list of where you can and where you cannot…we as an institution advocate abstinence,” said Ellis.

When asked if this policy could be understood as a kind of ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ in which the ability to drink was dependent on the physical proximity and visibility of your connection to the university. Ellis responded, “Our community has a certain view of what Spring Arbor is and what they aren’t, that’s what we’re going to present to the community.”

“We prefer that everyone abstain,” said Ellis. “We also understand that having a drink of alcohol isn’t a sin, isn’t a rebellion against God, it’s something that we say as a community can be destructive…we do not want it to have an impact on our community and if you want to make an individual choice, it’s your prerogative.”

When asked if he thought of-age students would ever have the ability to drink off-campus, Ellis answered, “Will there ever be a day? Maybe. It would be quite a while from now. And probably not during my tenure. Within certain communities, alcohol is a destructive presence…I don’t want it be a part of this community at all.”

Ellis has the unpleasant task of being both mediator and messenger of this small change with big repercussions. He said that if any faculty or staff had questions or wanted advice in regards to the policy, they can contact him.

By Alexandra Harper

Is Michigan Losing Its Spotlight?

Michigan is known for its Great Lakes, unpredictable weather, and, to the film community, its film incentives.

Since 2008, the film incentives have been helping production companies get tax breaks. These tax breaks encourage filmmakers to produce their entertainment in Michigan. This also applies to television and digital media (video games).

In order to get these tax breaks, the productions must spend a set amount of money in Michigan. They are then reward with a certain percentage of the spent money back.

A recent bill is hoping to cut these incentives altogether, in order to save money. However, $50 million is only a 1/10 of 1% of Michigan’s budget. In return, many job opportunities have been created.

What you should know:

In December 2014 the Michigan legislature voted to extend film incentives to 2021.
However, on October 21, 2015 a bill passed in the House, 58-51, to cut these incentives.
Now the Senate must vote to kill or keep these incentives.

The incentives have caused movies like 30 Minutes or Less (Jesse Eisenberg), Oz: The Great and Powerful (James Franco), and the upcoming Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice to be filmed in our state.

“As a young filmmaker and someone who has grown up in Michigan, I have always been a big supporter of the state. However without film incentives, once I graduate I will most likely be forced to go elsewhere to look for jobs. With so many colleges and universities in Michigan offering majors in film, the state’s choice makes me wonder how many taxpayers and citizens it may lose in the coming years because of a few politicians choices to damage an industry that is viable for many young professionals.” said film major Jacob Fisher.

Associate professor Dorie Shelby said

“Without film incentives, films won’t be made in Michigan. That’s just reality. All but a dozen or so states offer varying degrees of tax breaks to filmmakers. What I fear people lose sight of, is the fact that Michigan’s incentive package was never designed solely to attract Hollywood Fat Cat. It was designed, and is still intended, to make production a viable industry in this state by giving tax breaks to local industry professionals who work in production that’s outside of the blockbuster feature film. The incentives were meant to kickstart the industry that also produces local programming, television commercials, content for the web, video games, and a host of other production related businesses. In my view, cutting the incentives is short sighted and a blow to what could be a thriving and prosperous industry in Michigan.”

No dates have been released for the Senate’s opportunity to weigh in on the matter.

“Ever since the end of Jennifer Granholm’s term as governor, the film incentives have become an arguing point between republicans and democrats, with few exceptions. Hopefully in the weeks to come Michigan taxpayers will be able to see their politicians put aside party differences in order to come to an honest and viable decision regarding the future of Michigan’s film incentives and ultimately the film industry that currently exists in Michigan.” Fisher said.

By Courtney Applebee