LOCAL

LANSING, Mich. -- Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced an art contest for the 2026 State of the State program cover and a new writing contest for the chance to be a part of the address.  

“Michigan is growing as we continue working together to create good-paying jobs, fix our roads, support our small businesses, and invest in our students and schools,” said Governor Whitmer. “The proposals I will share in this year’s State of the State address will build on the progress we’ve made and move Michigan forward. Underpinning all of that is our love for the incredible state we call home, and the people, places, and communities that make it great. That’s why I’m challenging our youngest Michiganders to get involved and share what they love most about Michigan!” 

During her 2026 State of the State address on Wednesday, February 25, Governor Whitmer will lay out her plans to continue building on the historic accomplishments of her seven years in office. Her proposals will focus on creating jobs, lowering costs, continuing record investments in education and literacy, building housing, and so much more. 

The governor is challenging Michigan’s K-12 students to come up with a creative design for the program cover following the theme, “Michigan’s Bright Future,” and answering the question, “What does Michigan’s bright future look like to you?”. Students are encouraged to be as creative as possible and are welcome to use a wide range of supplies ranging from crayons, markers, paints, or any other materials. 

To submit your design, please visit Michigan.gov/ArtContest and follow the instructions on the webpage.  

In addition to the art contest, the governor is also asking young Michiganders to write their best short story or essay answering the question: “What do you love most about Michigan?”. 

The winning student’s writing will be featured as part of the governor’s State of the State Address next month. To submit your short story or essay, please visit the submission website and follow the instructions on the webpage. 

Submissions for both the art and writing contest will be accepted exclusively through the online system and must be received no later than 11:59PM on Sunday, February 15th. 

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LANSING, MICH. The Michigan State Police (MSP) is hosting a one-stop Employment Day hiring event on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Kalamazoo Valley Community College’s Texas Township Campus starting at 8 a.m. This event offers a convenient opportunity to apply for the department’s upcoming trooper, motor carrier officer and lateral entry recruit schools that all begin in July.

“The Michigan State Police has long focused on attracting and hiring qualified, capable individuals who are prepared to meet the demands of modern policing,” stated Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “This approach has remained consistent across multiple administrations and Colonels. Our recruiting efforts are statewide, intentional and focused on expanding awareness of career opportunities with the MSP among individuals with a wide range of skills, experiences and interests.

“MSP recruiters attend job fairs and community events throughout Michigan and engage directly with prospective candidates across the state. We also maintain outreach efforts through youth engagement initiatives, including the Youth Violence Prevention Summits, Explorer and Cadet Programs, partnerships with educational institutions to include our cold case program with Michigan universities, and the work of our community service troopers. These efforts are designed to build long-term interest in the law enforcement profession and ensure the MSP continues to meet its mission effectively.”

Grady added, “My top priority as Director of the Michigan State Police is the safety and security of all Michiganders. This is the fundamental goal of the Michigan State Police every day. Under my leadership, violent crime is down across the state, and our state is safer because troopers of all backgrounds are committed to this mission.”

Attendees at the Feb. 21 event can complete several steps of the hiring process in one day, including:

• Application assistance for desired recruit school
• Baseline fitness testing
• National Testing Network Entry Level Law Enforcement Exam
• Preliminary criminal history check
• Hiring interview

Interested individuals must RSVP to confirm a spot and receive additional event information. Registration is limited to 300 attendees.

To learn more about a career with the MSP, visit www.michigan.gov/mspjobs.

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 By: Jack Harrison 

Students at the Public Defender Clinic housed at Michigan State University’s College of Law are not afraid to deal with tough cases. The work they do is important and it’s not always seen.

It could be dealing with officer misconduct or a lack or rights being read; it could be working to get new evidence introduced or appeals granted; or it might mean getting charges dropped or lessened for clients.

The clinic — established only a year ago by Director Bradley Hall to bring a criminal justice clinic to the MSU College of Law — has already been working with clients across the state.

Hall and students have met with prosecutors in Genesee and Wayne counties, gone before the Michigan Court of Appeals to argue cases, and traveled to the Upper Peninsula, going to prisons and strategizing with public defenders late into the night.

At the clinic, MSU law students work on six or more cases in any semester. Pairs are often third- and second-year students so there is collaboration and mentorship between students.

At the start of each term, Hall reaches out to a list of statewide public defenders to see what cases are strong matches to undertake. The clinic is unique because students are assigned cases that are on appeal but have not yet gone to trial.

“We look for cases that have not reached trial because they present an opportunity for us to partner with the specific public defender who is working on that case at the trial level,” Hall said. “We step in to fill that gap before the case goes to trial to get more just outcomes for clients and appeal what could be an unfair charge or process.”

MSU law students assist with writing and filing briefs that they work on all semester. But there are times when they meet with prosecutors to see what they may reconsider — since prosecutors have much power in the legal system. If charges are not dropped, there still might be efforts for new motions and evidence.

Students often meet incarcerated clients to learn more about cases as well as hold meetings with judges and community members, which gives students strong seminar component exposure and experience and helps them learn more about the whole processes.

Hall ensures that students are leading the work. In meetings with prosecutors, Hall has students present, sharing extensive knowledge of the case and making arguments back and forth with the prosecutor for why a charge may not be right. In some cases, students present directly before judges. Hall recalls students going up against attorneys with decades of experience, displaying their extensive knowledge of a case and earning victories for their clients.

The clinic has provided support to clients all over the state, with most of its cases arising in Wayne County, which accounts for more criminal cases than any other county in the state.

Outside of the big cities, the clinic is also looking to support clients in underrepresented areas. According to Hall, Michigan has a legal tundra in many rural areas, such as the Upper Peninsula, where the clinic has worked in some cases.

Hall said there is a big problem of attorneys not putting down roots for careers in these areas.

“You need to find people who are interested in being a big fish in a small pond who thrive in that environment,” Hall said.

There are also complex and interesting legal issues in rural communities — and that is why Hall makes sure to consider those types of cases when he determines the clinic’s cases each term.

Hall values the state’s support because a key objective of the clinic is to establish a pipeline for students who want to have careers in public litigation, speaking to how the clinic is an investment in the state’s future.

Clinic students can be trained and encouraged to practice in underserved areas across Michigan—already translating into opportunities. Both past clinic students have landed jobs in urban and rural defender offices in Michigan, while current students are interviewing and looking for future jobs at some of the offices the clinic has worked with.

“We have already begun developing a relationship with many public defender offices so we can become a steady pipeline for students to find permanent employment in these offices and to ultimately cultivate a holistic public defense culture in Michigan,” Hall said

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 By: Chris Chapman 

 The results of Michigan State University’s 2025 Know More Campus Survey show improvements in campus perceptions, awareness of resources and declines in some forms of victimization since 2019, while finding that sexual harassment and assault continue to affect a significant portion of students, particularly undergraduate cisgender women and transgender and nonbinary students.

The Know More Campus Survey assesses the experiences of students, faculty and staff related to relationship violence and sexual misconduct, workplace incivility, help-seeking and perceptions of campus during the 2024–25 academic year. The 2019, 2022 and 2025 Know More surveys reflect MSU’s commitment to transparency and the use of valid data to measure progress and guide action.

The 2025 survey also marks the first time MSU measured experiences of domestic violence among faculty and staff, expanding the university’s understanding of how relationship violence affects employees in addition to students.

“We recognize that behind these findings are real people and real experiences, and any harm on our campus matters,” said MSU President Kevin M. Guskiewicz, Ph.D. “These results show progress but, more importantly, they strengthen our resolve to prevent harm, support survivors with empathy, and continue building a campus where everyone feels safe, valued and supported.”

All MSU students, faculty and staff were invited to participate in the survey in spring 2025. More than 10,700 people completed the survey. To ensure anonymity, MSU partnered with RTI International, an independent nonprofit research organization, to develop and administer the survey, process the data and report the results.

The survey examined three primary areas: student experiences with relationship violence and sexual misconduct; faculty and staff experiences with workplace incivility, work-related sexual harassment and domestic violence; and perceptions of campus climate, leadership and awareness of resources among students, faculty and staff.

“The Know More survey provides critical insight into where MSU has made meaningful progress and where gaps remain,” said Carrie Moylan, co-chair of the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup. “While any incidence of violence or harassment is unacceptable, these data help us understand the lived experiences of our community and guide evidence-based decisions to strengthen prevention efforts, supportive services and institutional accountability.”

Results show declines in the prevalence of several types of victimization since 2019 and improvements in most measures of campus perceptions related to relationship violence and sexual misconduct. The survey also found that the vast majority of survivors who sought help from MSU perceived the support they received as helpful.

Sexual harassment remained the most prevalent form of victimization among students. Nearly two-thirds of undergraduate cisgender women and more than two-thirds of transgender and nonbinary undergraduates reported experiencing sexual harassment during the 2024–25 academic year.

Sexual assault was reported by about 6% of undergraduate cisgender women and 7.9% of transgender and nonbinary undergraduates during the academic year. These figures represent a decline from the 2022 survey, when 11.8% of undergraduate cisgender women and 10.6% of transgender and nonbinary undergraduates reported experiencing sexual assault.

Looking at longer-term experiences, about one in five undergraduate cisgender women reported experiencing sexual assault since enrolling at MSU, down from one in four in 2022 and nearly one in three in 2019, suggesting a sustained decrease over time.

“While we are encouraged to see declines in reported experiences, we also know that sexual harm is often underreported,” said Moylan. “Even at lower levels, these numbers remain deeply concerning and reinforce the importance of continuing prevention efforts and ensuring survivors have access to support and resources.”

Among faculty and staff, the majority experienced at least some workplace incivility, though the prevalence declined significantly since 2019. Sexual harassment among faculty and staff also declined, with the highest prevalence reported by transgender and nonbinary employees.

The 2025 Know More survey coincides with the formal completion of MSU’s five-year Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Strategic Plan, a roadmap developed by the RVSM Expert Advisory Workgroup and launched in 2020. The survey serves as a clear indicator that the strategies outlined in the RVSM Strategic Plan have a meaningful impact, while also providing a strong foundation for the university’s next phase of work.

The survey results will be used to continue refining policies, prevention programming and survivor services, as well as to identify specific areas of campus climate and culture in need of improvement.

Michigan State University remains committed to fostering a campus culture free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct and relationship violence and to ensuring all students, faculty and staff can fully participate in university life.

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