Category: Fun & Resources

Learn about fun and/or interesting things to do around MSU or interesting bits of MSU trivia.

Glow in a Parade of Lights at the Annual Silver Bells in the City Celebration in Lansing

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The holidays are right around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with a festival of lights at the 29th annual Silver Bells in the City celebration on Friday, Nov. 22 in downtown Lansing.

Celebrate the holiday season at the annual Silver Bells in the City celebration.
Celebrate the holiday season at the annual Silver Bells in the City celebration.

Silver Bells in the City is an annual event coordinated by Downtown Lansing, Inc. The event draws thousands of people from across Michigan for entertainment, a parade and a spectacle of lights. Started in 1985 by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, the event has grown over the years, adding more attractions such as ice sculptures and carriage rides available to the public free of charge. In 1995, a Santa Parade was introduced and two years later the first Silver Bells Electric Light Parade took place. In 2010, the event was passed to Downtown Lansing, Inc.

“Silver Bells in the City is the premier holiday celebration for the Capitol City. It brings together the business community and typically brings in around 100,000 spectators for a night filled with holiday festivities,” said Cathleen Edgerly, communications & marketing manager for Downtown Lansing, Inc. “Many people have fond memories of this event and come back home to visit family or friends in the area, which means they are making hotel reservations, dining downtown, shopping; they schedule their holiday celebrations around the event. It’s truly the start of the holiday season for thousands.”

Silver Bells features a host of fun activities, such as the Silver Bells Shopping Village, the Silver Bells Holiday Fun Run, the lighting of the State Christmas Tree, musical performances by artists such as Disney’s IM5 band and much more.  The event’s activities start at 5 p.m. and take place at various locations across the downtown Lansing area. Each location hosts a different activity. The event schedule and list of locations is available on the event’s website.

Take a Break with the Rest with Music Series at MSU

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A day at work can always be made better with music and a moment to relax, and that’s exactly what the Rest with Music series at MSU provides. The Rest with Music program helps connect faculty and staff to local musicians that provide a free 50-minute live music session every month at Abrams Planetarium.

“What we know about music is that music has the capacity to impact human emotions in ways that’s pretty phenomenal. We know that it reduces experiences of depression and anxiety. We know that it actually improves people’s health and there’s lots of both scientific and anecdotal evidence,” said Jonathon Novello, an employee assistance counselor with the University Physician’s Office at MSU.Continue Reading… Take a Break with the Rest with Music Series at MSU

Woman to Woman Financial Essentials Workshops

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Don’t miss your chance to attend a financial essentials workshop, especially for women at MSU. These free workshops will be held Nov. 12 and 13 at the MSU Union.Workshops Events Poster

Postcards from the Future: A Woman’s Guide to Financially Ever After is geared towards women who are 15 years or less away from retirement. The session will help participants identify how much they will need to retire and when, so they can have the retirement they want. The first session is on Tuesday, November 12 from noon to 1:30 p.m. with lunch provided. Registration is available at https://publictools.tiaa-cref.org/public/tools/events?eventId=1-1JCXZGY.  The second session is from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. with snacks provided, and registration is available at https://publictools.tiaa-cref.org/public/tools/events?eventId=1-1JCTTT6.Continue Reading… Woman to Woman Financial Essentials Workshops

A Credit or Debit Card Equals Parking Success with New Parking Meters on MSU’s Campus

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Parking at a meter without any loose change can be a nightmare, but new parking meters across campus are changing the way MSU faculty, staff and students are parking.

Parking meters at MSU
New parking meters on campus mean more ways to pay for MSU faculty, staff and students.

During the summer MSU police conducted a three-month trial run of solar powered parking meters that accept credit and debit cards in addition to cash and coins. Since then the meters have been placed in various areas around campus, such as the Dairy Store, the Union and Owen Hall.

The meter installation is now complete with a total of 600 new meters in operation. The meters accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Cards in addition to cash and coins.Continue Reading… A Credit or Debit Card Equals Parking Success with New Parking Meters on MSU’s Campus

MSU SecureIT celebrates National Cyber Security Awareness Month

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October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and MSU Secure IT is celebrating. They want you to celebrate as well by making sure you employ the following tips to protect yourself online.

This month celebrate National Cyber Security Awareness Month and stay safe online.
This month celebrate National Cyber Security Awareness Month and stay safe online.

1. Make sure your personal firewall is turned on.
2. Perform regular operating system updates and software updates. These updates often include security patches.
3. Install antivirus and antispyware software.
4. Upgrade to the latest version of your browser and take advantage of the security features available.
5. Set a pass code on your mobile devices.

Michigan State University has an ongoing safe computing campaign called SecureIT to help educate the MSU community on safe computing practices. Follow TechAtMSU on Twitter for more information about cyber security. More resources and information is also available at tech.msu.edu.Continue Reading… MSU SecureIT celebrates National Cyber Security Awareness Month

2013 Fall Activities

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Leaves are falling from the trees and the air is chilly, which means fall is here and with the new season comes a bunch of fun activities to enjoy.  Whether you want to do a family outing or take a voyage on your own, here are some activities to consider this fall season.

Celebrate fall and partake in fun activities available in the Greater Lansing area.
Celebrate fall and partake in fun activities available in the Greater Lansing area.

The Great Pumpkin Walk

The Great Pumpkin Walk is an annual event for families in downtown East Lansing. Children can trick-or-treat at more than 50 businesses in the downtown East Lansing area.

Safe Halloween

Safe Halloween takes place along M.A.C. Avenue between Burcham and Elizabeth streets. Sponsored by the sororities and fraternities at MSU, the event provides children with a safe environment for trick-or-treating.Continue Reading… 2013 Fall Activities

Nine Ways to Recognize Your Boss

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In honor of Boss’s Day 2013, we’ve compiled a list of nine ideas that you can use to recognize your outstanding boss.

Boss' Day Graphic
There are many ways to say, “thank you” this year for Boss’s Day on Oct. 16, 2013.
  1. Post a handmade thank you note on your boss’s door.
  2. Find out your boss’s hobby and buy a related gift.
  3. Give your boss a copy of the latest management or business book that received good reviews.
  4. Nominate your boss for an official university award program.
  5. Ask your boss to attend a meeting with you and your colleagues during which you thank your boss for his or her work, guidance, and contributions.
  6. Give your boss a personalized coffee mug.Continue Reading… Nine Ways to Recognize Your Boss

Sharing the Road Safely at MSU

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Bicycling is a part of life for the MSU community. Everyone needs to share the road and sidewalks safely. Remembering the roles of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists can make this process easier.

Police officer on bicycle
The Bicycle Patrol Unit and MSU’s bicycling ordinances are meant to help bicyclists share the road safely with motorists and keep pedestrians and skateboarders safe.

All across campus you’ll find tons of bike lanes designed to help bicyclists share the road with motorists and keep bicyclists off the sidewalks in the path of pedestrians. But on MSU’s campus a number of people still choose the sidewalk as the preferred method of travel while on a bicycle.

An MSU ordinance makes riding a bicycle on non-designated sidewalks and through crosswalks illegal and can result in a ticket.

During 2012 there were 17 bicycle accidents. These accidents included those on the sidewalks, single bike accidents, bike on bike and bike vs. pedestrian. Several required medics.

Whether you’re a faculty member, staff member or student, remembering MSU’s bicycling ordinances can make bicycling safer and more enjoyable.

MSU Police Sergeant Andrea Beasinger offers the following safety tips for bicyclists:Continue Reading… Sharing the Road Safely at MSU

Get Medical Information Delivered to Your Inbox with the MSU Healthy Email Service

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Decoding medical information can be challenging, but not anymore thanks to the Healthy Email Service (HEM) offered by the University Physician’s Office at MSU.

The Healthy Email Service makes access to medical information efficient and convenient.
The Healthy Email Service makes access to medical information efficient and convenient.

The Healthy Email Service provides up-to-date, evidence-based medical information about traditional medicine and alternative practices. The emails cover multiple topics, such as calcium supplementation, sleep medications, head injury in children and more. The emails are delivered bi-weekly throughout the academic year. Each email is written in an easy-to-understand format and can be used for discussions with your health care provider.Continue Reading… Get Medical Information Delivered to Your Inbox with the MSU Healthy Email Service

Windows 7 Quick Tips: Snap, Peek & Shake

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Snap, peek and shake!  No that’s not a new breakfast cereal jingle, they are quick tips for using Windows 7.  Snap lines up boundaries of two windows on your monitor.  Peek shows you open applications in a minimized view.  Shake clears the clutter of multiple open windows by minimizing everything but the active window.

Computer with Windows 7
Photo courtesy of Aravind Sivaraj.

Ready to learn more about snap, peek and shake?