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The State News Podcast is a by students, for students podcast talking about campus news, student life, and the everyday moments that make up the Spartan experience for all Michigan State Students!
Welcome to the State News podcast. We're so excited to finally bring this show to life, a podcast for students by students where we talk about all things Michigan State. From campus news and student life to pop culture, sports, and everything in between, we're here to share what's really happening in the Spartan community straight from the people living it every day.
Reiel Ghiglia:Here at the State News, we believe storytelling should be honest, thoughtful, and fun. This podcast is our chance to pull back the curtain a little bit to have conversations that feel real and relatable, not just headlines and sound bites. Whether we're diving into serious campus issues or debating the best late night study spots in East Lansing, you'll always get our unfiltered take.
Melody Meyer:I'm Melody Meyer. I'm an arts and culture reporter for the State News. This is my second semester working here, although I did report a little bit over the summer.
Reiel Ghiglia:And I'm Raelle Gillia. I am the ASMSU Student Affairs reporter for the State News, and this is my second semester here as well.
Melody Meyer:So real. If you want to just get started talking about your week, let the people know what you've been up to lately.
Reiel Ghiglia:Guys, midterms has been kicking my butt. I'm going to be so real. Like, Hello Weekend was great. I, like, went out for one day and then the rest of the weekend was spent writing an essay. But you know what, guys?
Reiel Ghiglia:We're here at college. We got to do what we got to do.
Melody Meyer:Right. Right. I would say, yeah, basically same thing for me. I've been absolutely swamped with schoolwork and work work and also just trying to live my life a little bit. You know, they always say, can't complain about the things you used to pray for.
Melody Meyer:And so it really is a blessing.
Reiel Ghiglia:Yeah. It is a privilege to be educated, especially like right now. So we got to take every chance with a blissful heart.
Melody Meyer:Right. For sure. Yeah. So if we want to go ahead and get started with some questions that you guys sent in, Brielle, how does that sound to you? That sounds perfect.
Melody Meyer:So first question we have here, what is the best class you've taken here and the worst and why? See, this is a hard one because
Reiel Ghiglia:okay. So I'm a social relations and policy and journalism major, so I'm both in the College of Communication Arts Sciences and then James Madison College. And most of my time is dedicated to reading and writing, like that's all I do. So I think the best classes I've taken is MC 111 for in like James Madison and then JRN 200 in Commerzai because I think those two classes really helped me, like, improve my writing skills and my literacy skills. Like, I was humbled a lot because I came into college thinking, oh, I'm so good at reading and writing.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, this is amazing. English is my strong suit. And then I get humbled in college. So I think those classes actually, like, helped me develop my reading and writing skills that helps me here at the State News. So I think and, like, the professors were great.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, I think because of the small class sizes, I think I was able to communicate really well with my professors and I also made really good friends. So yeah, I think those are my best classes. What about you?
Melody Meyer:I gotta say, see, I tend to always think of everything as being the best thing ever. I think I will go with JRN three twenty five. I'm currently taking that right now. That is journalism history. That class, like, I love history.
Melody Meyer:Obviously, I love journalism. There's so many times I just sit in that class and I'm like, like, journalism is the most beautiful thing ever. Yeah. Way to nerd out over that. But it's just so fun.
Melody Meyer:I love the professor. Shout out to Lucinda Davenport. She's so lively. Like, she's so funny. That class, like, it's just so interesting.
Melody Meyer:And yeah. I don't know. I just really love it. Every every Monday, Wednesday at 12:40, you know I got a big smile on my face.
Reiel Ghiglia:Oh, that's so cute. Okay. The worst class. I'm gonna See, I hate name dropping. Like, I always try to stay inconspicuous with the things I hate.
Reiel Ghiglia:But I think the worst class Okay. No hate to the subject, but economics? Holy crap.
Melody Meyer:Micro or macro?
Reiel Ghiglia:Okay. Both low key Okay. Because So I started as an international relations major in James Madison. Like, I thought, you know, international relations was gonna be my thing. And then, you know, first day of first semester of freshman year, walk in at Econ and I sit there and I walk out of class not knowing anything.
Reiel Ghiglia:I'm like, what did I just sit for fifty minutes listening to? And like the professor is great. Shout out to Jeffrey Ackerman. Are shout out. One of the coolest guys ever.
Reiel Ghiglia:But I sit in class and I'm like, I can wrap my head around what economics is. So that's when I realized that IR isn't really my thing, but you know what? I think it's also that like econ is such like, I don't even know how to describe it. I think it's such a specific subject. It's like really out there.
Reiel Ghiglia:So kudos to all the business majors because you know business majors are like, know, there's a stereotype with business majors that they don't do much. But if you're a business major and you've survived econ, you have my respect because econ, I don't know what about it is so difficult to me. I mean, I pass. It's fine. But like, I don't know.
Reiel Ghiglia:It's hard to wrap my head around.
Melody Meyer:You know, I think we do need to give business majors a little bit more credit. Did you know Broad only has a 30% acceptance rate? I found that out the other day. So shout out to business majors. Period.
Melody Meyer:You guys are you guys are on the grind and we really respect you for that. My worst class I've ever taken. And I know I'm not alone in this. Fact, I think if anybody were to say this is the best class I've ever taken, they would probably like, you know what I'm gonna say.
Reiel Ghiglia:I know what you're talking about.
Melody Meyer:Math 103. Oh my gosh. I I remember you complaining to me
Reiel Ghiglia:about this and I was just like, my condolences, Melody Miner.
Melody Meyer:It genuinely worst thing I've ever gone through. I will be incredibly vulnerable and open and honest here. And I will say I passed that class by less than 1%.
Reiel Ghiglia:But you know what? She passed. But I
Melody Meyer:passed and that's all that matters. I had it, like, in my schedule for the summer because I was like, if I don't pass this class, like, I'm just gonna redo it. It's fine. But I passed and I was like, I'm never going through this again. I don't care if my GPA is destroyed.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. I've never been good at math. I'm not a math person. You and you know what? They really get you because it's like, oh, college algebra.
Melody Meyer:Like algebra is easy. No. No. I don't know what they put in that class to make it so evil. But
Reiel Ghiglia:I don't know. Like, I think both of us are more linked towards like English history minds.
Melody Meyer:Which is exactly why we're here.
Reiel Ghiglia:Which is why we're here in our majors. But like, I don't understand when I talk to my friends and they're like, yeah, I would rather do like equations than write an essay. Absolutely Like, what are
Melody Meyer:you talking about? How do you do that? Absolutely not. And that's like kind of the beautiful thing about being human too because I always like, every time I like talk to someone and they're like getting a bachelor of science, I'm like, that's so crazy that you actually wanna do that. And you know, I'm being so like surface level right now.
Melody Meyer:That's so beautiful that we're all different and we all wanna do different things with our lives. Like for real, like I would never wanna do that. I have a friend in Lyman Briggs and she's telling me about like all these crazy like,
Reiel Ghiglia:I don't
Melody Meyer:know, all the crazy classes you have to do in Lyman Briggs. Shout out to Lyman Briggs majors. And like, I could never do that. But you know what?
Reiel Ghiglia:Yeah. That's why we're so beautiful. That's why we're all different. That's why you have Shout fight each out to humans. Shout out to Spartans.
Reiel Ghiglia:Gosh. Okay. I'm gonna take a step from being sappy because we are very sappy people. What is one stereotype about MSU students? Because we're talking about students that's actually true and which ones are false.
Reiel Ghiglia:Because, know, MSU people, there's a lot of stereotypes. There's a lot of us here.
Melody Meyer:I will say, you know, we do get labeled as a party school. I don't necessarily think that's something to be ashamed of. You know, we have a good time here. We have fun here. A lot of schools can't say the same.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. So I would say we're I wouldn't say, like, all we do is drink and not get anything. We get things done.
Reiel Ghiglia:Oh, yeah. No, for sure.
Melody Meyer:But we have fun. And you know what? What's the shame in that? What's the shame in that? Let's have fun.
Melody Meyer:Normalize having fun.
Reiel Ghiglia:Because you can't really succeed unless you give yourself grace and slack and time to like, you know, unleash yourself. Right. And like, I was gonna say that too. Great minds think alike.
Melody Meyer:So true.
Reiel Ghiglia:No, because I would be talking to like relatives or just some random people back at home and they'd be like, oh, you go to MSU. Like, how often do you party? And you know what? I have no shame in this. I am a stay at home kind of girl and, you know, I say here
Melody Meyer:in And Rayelle talking about this being a party school. We both just kind of
Reiel Ghiglia:We both don't party. But I think, like, there is no shame in being a party girl. Like, party girls are so amazing. Like, I live in Brody and like, people are always out and about. There's a lot of people in Brody neighborhood.
Reiel Ghiglia:But oh my goodness, the amount of like, super pretty gorgeous girls getting ready to go out and I'm just like, you guys have a blast. Like, I hope you guys And have the best night like, that's just amazing to me. Like, I, you know, obviously I hate being like, I don't like the fact that MSU in its entirely is just like identified as a party school because MSU has so many layers. Yeah. There's so There's layers layers to to us.
Reiel Ghiglia:Of MSU that makes MSU so beautiful because being a Spartan doesn't mean you go out to the Riv every day or being a Spartan doesn't mean that you just stay in every day. You just there's so many different opportunities and
Melody Meyer:experiences So complex. So complex. Second part of that question, what is one stereotype that's totally false? I have one in mind. Do you have one in mind?
Melody Meyer:Go for it. This one makes me so mad. Oh. Is that we're all just you Mitch rejects. I didn't apply to that stupid school.
Melody Meyer:No part of me wanted to go to that stupid school. And I always there's so many people who are always like, I don't wanna go to a stupid school. Like, one of my best friends goes to Michigan and she always calls me little brother. You know what? That makes me a little upset.
Melody Meyer:I I don't want to go to that stupid school. You guys don't have fun there. You guys do not have fun there. She came up here one time. She's like, wow.
Melody Meyer:It's so beautiful here. You guys have fun. Yeah. We do. Yeah.
Melody Meyer:We do. And no part of me ever wishes I'm in Ann Arbor.
Reiel Ghiglia:Oh, my goodness. Laura drop. Okay. So I'm also gonna Laura drop here. I did apply to UMich because I applied there for public policy, and that was before I ever wanted to be a journalism major.
Reiel Ghiglia:So I applied there, I got waitlisted. And then while I was waitlisted, I was panicking because I was like, what am I gonna do? And then last minute, me and my mom toured MSU. We learned that they have a great journalism program. And then at that same week, my journalism adviser at high school goes, hey, you should pursue something in journalism.
Reiel Ghiglia:So I dropped UMich so quick and I immediately went to MSU and I was like, this is the school I want. It worked out great. I feel like a lot of people, there's also a stereotype where people at MSU immediately transfer to UMich if they got rejected. Right. Which is like, if you, if your ambition is to go to UMich, go U.
Reiel Ghiglia:Chase your dreams, pursue your passion. Because you know, everyone's different, like So we if you feel like you belong more at UMich, like, that is amazing. I am so glad you found your place to be. Like, I really like MSU. Mhmm.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, I feel so at place, There's so many different things for me to do.
Melody Meyer:I could not imagine myself at any other campus.
Reiel Ghiglia:Yes. So just because you're not where you immediately thought you were gonna be, that's a okay because you'll you'll find your place here. That's so beautiful about MSU too. Because when I was waitlisted from UMich, I was like, girl, what the heck? I wrote a killer essay.
Reiel Ghiglia:I wrote haikus. My best friend helped me write Shout out best friend. But it's like Shout out. Yeah. I sat there and pondered.
Reiel Ghiglia:I was like, why was I waitlisted? But then I was like, but there was a better chance, better opportunity at MSU because UMich doesn't have a journalism major. They don't have a program there. Right. So you will always land in the right direction.
Melody Meyer:See, here's the difference between me and Raelle. Or is it Raelle and I? I'm a journalist. I don't know grammar. That's the difference between us.
Melody Meyer:I just kinda sit here and spew whatever and then Raelle follows up my, like, nonsense with some, like, motivational, poetic, beautiful statement.
Reiel Ghiglia:So Melody Meyer, if we're gonna talk about our friendship, let's talk about how we met.
Melody Meyer:Yes. Let's talk about okay. To talk about that, I think we need to talk about how we got involved with the state news, which this kind of leads in really nice to where we were just talking. Because you said you didn't want to pursue journalism at first. So give us give us a story of how you ended up at the state news, how you ended up as a journalism major.
Reiel Ghiglia:So in high school, I wrote for my high school newspaper. Shout out Hudsonville High School advantage It's like writing has always been my strong scene. I've always liked to write. Like being in journalism was never like a thought of mine. It's like I was in high school journalism because I got a recommendation from my teacher.
Reiel Ghiglia:My advisor was really cool. I never thought I was gonna like do anything with it. It was just like a fun class, you know? But then I wanted to pursue a career in like public service, and hence my public policy major or whatever. But it's like, I've always wanted to use my strong suits to help people, and my strong suit is writing and reading.
Reiel Ghiglia:And I never thought I could make that into a career through journalism until my advisor actually like straight up told me, he was like, you should do this. So shout out Robert Henning of Hudsonville High I know. And then I was like, wait, maybe I do wanna try this. So that was the week where I got waitlisted from UMich. And I was like, wait, this is my calling.
Reiel Ghiglia:And so, yeah, it was really last minute. I was really hasty with it. So I never really got time to apply to the state news before coming into MSU. But then I found out about the state news, I found about how legit it was, how cool the articles were. Because I think the semester where we came in was when the NASA document stories were being published, and I was like, this is
Melody Meyer:so For context, Rael and I both started our spring semester of our freshman year. It's currently the fall semester of our sophomore year, so So
Reiel Ghiglia:yeah, Followed up with the Instagram, and I was like, I wanna work here. So I applied, and the previous editor in chief, Liz Noss, shout out Liz Noss.
Melody Meyer:Shout out.
Reiel Ghiglia:She hired me as the environmental reporter, and that's where I got kind of up and running at snooze. What about you, Melody Meyer?
Melody Meyer:So oh gosh. Anyone who knows me know I can knows I can never make up my mind. So when I started college, I was a kinesiology major. Because I really had it in my mind. I was like, I need a career that helps people.
Melody Meyer:What's the only way to do that? Entering the medical field. So I was like, yeah, I'll be a kinesiology major. But I remember like the summer before, like the summer between my senior year and my freshman year when we had to do all those like new student orientation things, we had to learn about all this stuff. And I remember like there's the form that was like, this is your major.
Melody Meyer:If you want to change it before you schedule your classes, click here. And in my mind there, was, I really wanna be a journalist. Because that was something that, like, that journalism has always kinda had a hold on me, and I didn't really realize it until after I got to college. Like, I remember coming home from school when I was like 16 sitting on the couch watching CBS Sports Champions League post match and I was like, dang, I really just want to be like Kate Scott Or just like
Reiel Ghiglia:Shout out to Kate Scott.
Melody Meyer:Shout out to Kate Scott. Like, the only thing I could ever see for myself was being a writer in some capacity, but I was still like, yeah, no, I'm gonna be a kinesiology major on a pre med track. And so I did that first semester. And then towards the end of fall semester, I was like, I just need to apply for the state news. Period.
Melody Meyer:And so I did. And I checked every box for every open position because I was like, I'm getting this job one way or another. And I didn't have any articles to submit as, like, part of my portfolio. So I just took essays I wrote for class and turned those into articles, which I was told was very impressive of me. So, yeah, I got hired as a pop culture reporter last semester, and this is where the story of Raelle and I all begins.
Melody Meyer:Raelle, would you like to tell a story?
Reiel Ghiglia:So last up until last year, I think last year was the only year where Life Desk, as a desk, existed. Right.
Melody Meyer:Now it's arts and culture.
Reiel Ghiglia:Yeah. So Life Desk last year consisted of a lot of different reporters, including my environmental beat from last year and Mel's pop culture beat last year. And coming into the state news, I knew no one.
Melody Meyer:Absolutely. Neither did I.
Reiel Ghiglia:I I consider myself kind of like a shy person. I'm not really Me too. Out there, you know. I don't I I don't really create conversation. And so I was sitting at the life desk and Melody was sitting right next to me.
Reiel Ghiglia:I noticed because I said, is anyone sitting here? Yeah. And she sat right next to me. And I was like, oh my goodness, I need to talk to her. Like, she also got hired recently.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like this is my chance to create a friend. But, you know, like, there was like that internal dilemma for like five minutes at least.
Melody Meyer:Oh, it was more girl, was like fifteen minutes.
Reiel Ghiglia:Me when she put me in my place. But basically, was sitting there like panicking. I was like, what do do? What do I do? And everyone else is talking.
Reiel Ghiglia:And Mel and I are just sitting in our little corner not talking. And I was like, oh, what do do? So I look over at her, and she's wearing this really cute sweater, which she's also wearing today. And I'm like, hey. Oh, my goodness.
Reiel Ghiglia:I was like, hey, I really like your sweater.
Melody Meyer:It was like, will they, won't they, me and Rael? Will they talk to each other, will they not?
Reiel Ghiglia:So I
Melody Meyer:was so excited when she said that.
Reiel Ghiglia:You know what? Then we started talking and then that same night, one of the editors of like another desk told us that there was like a snooze function going on that same night. And they're like, hey, you guys have to come. And mind you, this is our like very first day in the new very first day in the newsroom. And we were all like, what the heck is happening?
Reiel Ghiglia:Who is everyone? So Mel and I decided to go and we were like, okay, let's pull up. So it was the two of us just talking in a corner for like two hours. Yeah. We just talked about our entire life story.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, I lord dropped everything
Melody Meyer:Yeah. To her And that's where it all began.
Reiel Ghiglia:That's when we came Ride or Dies.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. Like, literally, I always see TikToks. I always send them to you when I see them. It's always like, God knew I needed this girl in my life. Because it's like, for real.
Melody Meyer:For real. For real. Like, I couldn't imagine my freshman year without Raelle, even if she was only there for my last half.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like No,
Melody Meyer:me too. I love this girl.
Reiel Ghiglia:It's like, I don't really necessarily get close with people quickly. Like, it takes time for me to be able to open up. But with Mel in that corner at the function, I was just like yapping to her. I like, was oh my gosh. And then this happened to me.
Reiel Ghiglia:It's like that one TikTok sounds like part 37. Who did I hear? Like that one. Oh my goodness.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. That was literally a shout
Reiel Ghiglia:out Melody Meyer.
Melody Meyer:And shout out Raehl Gilia. Shout out
Reiel Ghiglia:to Melody freaking Meyer for carrying my second semester of freshman year. Oh my gosh.
Melody Meyer:So Raelle, I could talk about you and our friendship for the entire duration of this podcast. Please We should probably move on
Reiel Ghiglia:We should move on.
Melody Meyer:To something
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, state news. Am I right? Wrote state news. We write articles. So we've got a couple articles here and ready to kind of debrief about.
Reiel Ghiglia:So the first one, it's students, faculty, reel over consequences of budget cuts at MSU board meeting, to shout out to Emilio and Anish for
Melody Meyer:running Shout
Reiel Ghiglia:Basically, as unless you're living under a rock, you know that there's a lot happening at the administration and in the political level with higher institutions education. And there's a lot of budget cuts and changes to the economy and what's being spent on by the government. So this story kind of unpacks what's happening at the board, what's being discussed at the board, and what's actually being cut. And there's a lot of other stories on our state news website, if you are curious, that writes about
Melody Meyer:shameless plug. Go to www.statenews.com.
Reiel Ghiglia:Hey. Yeah. Yeah. So basically, these budget cuts, if you can or can't tell, regardless of that, they do affect students. You know how you have to, like, have reading packages?
Reiel Ghiglia:Mhmm. I did for a semester. But you don't get that until, like, weeks into the semester. So, like, there's a lot of uncertainty with, like, what students are supposed to read it.
Melody Meyer:Okay, wait, actually I did just agree with you on that. I didn't mean to because I don't I know what that don't know if that's just like, I've never been in a class where I've had a reading package. So if you wanna explain what that I
Reiel Ghiglia:will. So shout out MC two zero one, James Madison College, introductory Figured
Melody Meyer:it was a James Madison thing?
Reiel Ghiglia:It's always a James Madison thing. But basically last year, MC two zero one, we had three teaching assistants, and we had our reading packages where we got, it's like called the course pack, but we got that before the first day of the semester. And I kind of took that for granted because I would open that course pack and be like, ugh, more reading. But like without those readings, I would not have passed the class. And without the TAs, I would not have passed the class.
Reiel Ghiglia:And I think MCA two zero one itself was like a lecture and then a recitation, but the recitation being such a small class size gave all of us opportunities to have one on one discussions with our professor. And reading packets or like course packs are basically where all of the readings necessary in the course or most of them are in one packet, so you can open it up and find the page and get reading and annotating or whatever you need. And those things saved, well, I'm gonna speak for myself, but they saved me so much because I'm like a writer learner. So I always have to write things down physically. And those helped me so much.
Reiel Ghiglia:So I cannot imagine my MC201 experience without them. So my heart goes out to students who have to attempt to do well in a class, not just MC201, but in any class without a TA to help them out or without that reading packet or in unusually large classes where they don't get to interact with their professors. Like, I feel like even though you're not directly affected right now, it will come to you later. Yeah. So I personally feel a lot of uncertainty about that.
Reiel Ghiglia:Cause like, there's a lot of uncertainty in so many higher institutions right now. And if you're feeling uncertain or scared, you're not alone. Obviously, there's so many different levels and layers to what's happening right now, but you're not alone. And knowledge is power. So, like, I personally encourage you.
Reiel Ghiglia:It doesn't even have to be just the state news. Just read news. Educate yourself on what's happening to try to get a further understanding of resources you could go to and things you can rely on in these times of uncertainty. So shout out again Emilio and Anish for writing a killer article and shout out to all the other reporters who have been covering budget cuts. Yes.
Reiel Ghiglia:You're amazing.
Melody Meyer:So another article we have here that we thought we'd go over written by the Lucas Gentilea Yay. Titled Levy faces backlash over Spartan Stadium concessions. Now, I was very glad to see we finally got an article out about this because every time I go to a football game, it's always like my friend Kate, shout out to Kate, she's always like, I really want a pretzel and I'm not paying a bunch of money for it. So, yeah. For all of those who may not have attended any event at Spartan Stadium Me.
Melody Meyer:Other football girls or I assume I don't know if this is just I assume it's all MSU athletics. Mhmm. Used to be able to get a combo at a football game, get a nice bag of chips, pretzel, water. Really a lifesaver during those 90 degree 90 degree games. But they switched it this year.
Melody Meyer:They're gone now? Yes. Levy is the concessions sorry, concessions. What do you call that? Why am I blinking?
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, Catering.
Melody Meyer:Company. Oui. Yes. That's a company that we're doing now. So it's like a private company.
Melody Meyer:So obviously, we can't use combos. And everyone's very outraged about that. Valid. As we see here in Lucas's article, fans were being asked to rate four areas of the game day experience on a scale from one to five parking concession choices, staff helpfulness, and in game entertainment. And an open ended question for additional feedback.
Melody Meyer:It says here that the average rating across all areas was a 3.76 out of five. And obviously, main concern about that is concessions. Yeah. Here it says, how would you rate food and beverage choices? Lowest score earned a 3.2, which honestly, that's pretty high.
Melody Meyer:But I guess this also factors in more than just students. Mhmm.
Reiel Ghiglia:It's also interesting because, like, it's there was a quote that said that the concessions were the worst in over ten years, like fifteen, twenty, thirty or forty years. That is insane to think about. Yeah. Like, obviously, concessions, you know, in order to play sports or watch sports, you don't necessarily need concessions.
Melody Meyer:But it adds to the experience.
Reiel Ghiglia:It adds to the experience. Like, that is part of
Melody Meyer:Stadium hot dog. Oh, it just makes it that much better.
Reiel Ghiglia:And you know, a thing to know about Melody Meyer, she loves soccer and just like sports. That I do. Sports itself, especially soccer. And you will hear Melody talk about soccer, especially the Champions League a lot.
Melody Meyer:Especially Chelsea football clubs. How do
Reiel Ghiglia:you personally feel about this? You know, this is a big part of sports.
Melody Meyer:Well, you know, as I said, do love a good stadium hot dog. I do love a good pretzel. I did not have season football tickets last year, so I only went to a couple games. And I will say that the why am I blanking on what it's called? The pretzel was in my hand for all those games.
Melody Meyer:And so it really is disappointing, especially, like, the night games, especially. You go out early. You go out early before the game and hang out with your friends for a couple hours, you are hungry by the time kickoff happens. And another thing about me, I hate spending money. I really do.
Melody Meyer:So it really doesn't matter how hungry I am. I'm not gonna spend money on that. And that's really painful for me. So I really do miss pretzels. I just think like
Reiel Ghiglia:You can't have a good experience if you're hangry.
Melody Meyer:Right. And when your football team is below.
Reiel Ghiglia:Oh, well, that leads us into our next segment, hot takes. So we will carry give you our unfiltered hot takes because, you know, like, sometimes have hot takes and I say them feeling like, oh, I'm so weird and I'm so out there. And then everyone agrees with me.
Melody Meyer:Right.
Reiel Ghiglia:That's just great. So, yeah, our football team is going through a rough patch. Check out our sports reporters and check out our football articles for more information because I'm gonna be so real with you. I'm not I'm not very educated on football. Like, I just found out like two hours ago that the Lions won.
Reiel Ghiglia:So go Lions. Go Lions. But I'm not really like up there with football. So I think I mean, I think our football team has potential. Like MSU is great
Melody Meyer:think for us we look better than we did last season, but it's not a fantastic improvement. But also I'm not really qualified to talk about this. As Rael said, most of my football knowledge is in European, European football.
Reiel Ghiglia:I just remember like you just had to be there when you were sitting there at the homecoming game against UCLA this year. And you just assumed it would be like an easy win. Just assumed that you were just gonna blow them out of the water and then you check the score halfway and you're like, oh. Oh. Yeah.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like no shade to the football team though. You guys like student athletes are actually amazing.
Melody Meyer:Honestly, yeah. I don't think we give student athletes enough credit.
Reiel Ghiglia:Yeah. Because so Mel and I, we both did track in high school and I additionally And did cross oh my goodness, balancing that plus a job, plus school and AP classes, plus a social life.
Melody Meyer:That was already too much. Now imagine being D1 in college.
Reiel Ghiglia:You guys are amazing student athletes. Shout out to student athletes. Sorry, this is so off topic, but just like thinking about student athletes and running just makes me hungry. But another hot take, the best Barty's location?
Melody Meyer:I Okay. 1855 doesn't count because that's a no brainer. Obviously, that is the best Barty's location. No. Just like object.
Melody Meyer:Don't Oh. Oh. Okay. So I'm wrong.
Reiel Ghiglia:You know what? Okay. I may be biased because I lived in Case Hall as a James Madison student, but Case Hall Sparti's just has my heart on you guys. No, it's literally because I lived in, like, 2nd Floor Case Hall. When I was, like, grinding out them essays and pulling all nighters, I could just go downstairs at, like, 10:30PM and get, like, chips and an alani and applesauce and go back upstairs and walk in.
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, me and my roommate would make like last minute spartes runs. I think it's like the concept of not what's there, but like what happened. Makes queso's parties the best parties in my heart.
Melody Meyer:The convenience of it. Yeah.
Reiel Ghiglia:What about you?
Melody Meyer:Well, okay. I already kinda gave this away 18 But 50 I thought every like, every time me and my friends debate well, Raelle, you are my friend. Every time me and my other friends debate this, it's always like not counting eighteen fifty five. So not counting that, I think I'm gonna go with Owen Hall. I've only been to the Owen Spartys once, but it was so good.
Melody Meyer:So every time this question gets asked, I always say the Owen Spartys.
Reiel Ghiglia:I've never been. Let's make a
Melody Meyer:trip out there because it's been over a year since the last time I went. But it like, good selections.
Reiel Ghiglia:Really?
Melody Meyer:Shout out to Owen. Guys, make a
Reiel Ghiglia:trip to Owen, I'll explain you. Although, I do have to say eighteen fifty five, Salmon Thursdays. Amazing. Really? I've never had.
Reiel Ghiglia:It's good. Like, sometimes, like, sometimes there's, like, they fall off with, like, the type of salmon they have. But, like, sometimes I go there and they have salmon and I just, like, eat it and I'm rejuvenated for the rest of the day.
Melody Meyer:What is your go to combo order? Not just, like, from eighteen fifty five, but, in general. What's your go to combo order?
Reiel Ghiglia:The orangilani. Mhmm. Applesauce, specifically the non cinnamon one.
Melody Meyer:Really? I don't know the last time I've had non cinnamon applesauce. I think I exclusively
Reiel Ghiglia:Really? The cinnamon applesauce. I just can't stand cinnamon in my applesauce.
Melody Meyer:That's what my mom would buy when we were going up. Really? Yeah. Okay. Anyways, not to interrupt.
Reiel Ghiglia:And then, you know, like the Chobani yogurt drinks? Yes. So good. My holy trinity right there. Like, it's amazing.
Reiel Ghiglia:Especially when you've gotta like really lock in and you don't have time to like scoop up whatever food in your fork you eat. Like, you just chug, sip, sip, and then you're done. It's wonderful.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. I do love those. My go to combo order, always gotta get the Honey Nut Cheerios for breakfast. That's my b item. My c item, a granola bar of some sort.
Reiel Ghiglia:Mhmm.
Melody Meyer:A item, usually I get a bloom. What is it? The raspberry lemon. Best flavor except the Brody's Parties has not had a bloom in a hot minute. So I've had a been I've I've had to
Reiel Ghiglia:You've had to?
Melody Meyer:I've had to I've been getting a Celsius, which I try to steer away from Celsius because I mean, yeah. They made my heart really hurt.
Reiel Ghiglia:Oh, yeah.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. You told me about that. But so, yeah. For now, my my go to order would be Honey Nut Cheerios, a granola bar, and a Celsius. Okay.
Melody Meyer:Peach vibe. Best flavor.
Reiel Ghiglia:That is the best flavor. Okay. Also, an underrated Spardi's is the Union Spardi's. I Oh,
Melody Meyer:yeah. I've only been there once. And you know
Reiel Ghiglia:what else is at the Union? Strange matter.
Melody Meyer:Strange matter indeed.
Reiel Ghiglia:But like, my favorite coffee place in East Lansing is Foster Coffee Company.
Melody Meyer:Really? I've never been.
Reiel Ghiglia:How are we friends and you've never been to Foster
Melody Meyer:Coffee Really, you know, I don't like eating off campus.
Reiel Ghiglia:Oh, my goodness, you guys. Like, Foster Coffee Company is amazing. I remember when my roommate and I Shout out roomie, I love you. Shout out roommate. But when me and my roommate first decided to, like, talk about rooming, we decided to go to Foster Coffee Co.
Reiel Ghiglia:And it's been a tradition now to go to Foster Coffee Co at the start of every semester. And oh my goodness, Foster Coffee Co is absolutely amazing. I love that place. Obviously, yeah, it's off campus, so it costs a little bit of your pocket money, but it is worth it.
Melody Meyer:And what would you recommend from Foster?
Reiel Ghiglia:So, guys, I might seem like a performative matcha figure here, but I am Japanese. So I get some slack. The matcha there is absolutely amazing. Specifically, the strawberry matcha when they have it in the summer. It's perfect.
Reiel Ghiglia:I love it so much. So you would say
Melody Meyer:your hot take here is that Foster is better than Strange Matter? Foster trumps everything, honestly. Really? Yeah. Well, I've only had Strange Matter, so I guess I have to be team Strange Matter here.
Melody Meyer:Although I will say, like, the donuts, it's really embarrassing to eat one of those donuts. Are so They're good, but they're so messy. You gotta grab at least like three napkins.
Reiel Ghiglia:So what's your go to at Strange Matter?
Melody Meyer:You know, don't go that often. I will say the scones are really good. I love a good scone. Mhmm. As for drink, I don't really know.
Melody Meyer:I'm kinda it changes every time I'm there. Don't think I've ever gotten the the same drink twice.
Reiel Ghiglia:Well, I have a recommendation for you. Okay. Although I just said that Foster Coffee Code trumps everything else, I do love a good Strange Matter French soda, cherry lime flavored. Oh. So it's like French soda.
Reiel Ghiglia:So the difference, if you don't know, I also didn't, so no shame. French soda is like soda with cream. And then Italian soda is the soda without cream. It's just soda. And basically they add like flavorings to it.
Reiel Ghiglia:And oh my goodness. French soda, so the one with cream with cherry and lime. I ordered it off of impulse because I like, my gosh, what do I get? Because there was a huge line behind me. But I took a sip.
Melody Meyer:It was amazing. It was amazing. I didn't know they had soda.
Reiel Ghiglia:I know. I didn't until I saw a couple girls walking with, like, some refresher looking thing. I was like, I need to try. So I did. Interesting.
Reiel Ghiglia:I'm a bandwagoner, but, like, I'm a proud bandwagoner. It's great. Right. So, yeah. Get the sodas at Strange Matter.
Reiel Ghiglia:It's they're very good.
Melody Meyer:Okay. Here is one final hot take. Mhmm.
Reiel Ghiglia:Who is the face
Melody Meyer:of MSU, Sparti or Tom Izzo?
Reiel Ghiglia:See, I love basketball. Like, I grew up watching the NBA, like, in elementary school. And, like, my mom was a basketball player. Like, I love basketball. So, like, I love Paige Beckers.
Reiel Ghiglia:I watched the WNBA and the NBA. I really just can't bring myself to say that Tom Izzo is the face of MSU.
Melody Meyer:Really?
Reiel Ghiglia:Like, you don't say Tom Izzo in a golf car or whatever the heck it is, driving around, beeping at people and waving and giving people fist bumps at like
Melody Meyer:Tom, if you're listening, maybe this is something to look into.
Reiel Ghiglia:So sorry, Tom, you're still amazing. But I just think that Sparti is the face of MSU. Like, I just think that Sparti is so cool. But like, Sparti, like, I was covering an event the other day. Not the other day.
Reiel Ghiglia:It was literally last year. Was covering and Sparky happened to be there and I was just like, I had my little press pass, was writing stuff down and he just came over, started like reading my barely legible notes and he gave me a fist bump and he was like tapping my shoulder a little. So Shadow Sparky,
Melody Meyer:like you were
Reiel Ghiglia:so cool.
Melody Meyer:I think I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. Think as like a campus community Mhmm. Sparty, yes, would represent us more than Tom Izzo. But thinking about it, like, on more of, like, a wider audience. I think when people think MSU, they think Tom Izzo.
Melody Meyer:In fact, I've asked this question to my friend who goes to college in North Carolina. Shout out, UNC. Go Tar Heels. So I said, what do you think of when you think of Michigan State? Like, what?
Melody Meyer:Like, just what what comes to mind? And he was like, well, basketball, Tom Izzo.
Reiel Ghiglia:Tom Izzo. So I mean, yeah, like March Madness last year was insane.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. And I think we've really solidified ourselves as like a very dominant team in college basketball. Maybe not like constantly winning championships, but like
Reiel Ghiglia:But we've been doing pretty good recently too.
Melody Meyer:And just like for the last however long time Izzo's been here, I think Yeah.
Reiel Ghiglia:A while. Yeah. Shout out to our basketball reporters. Check their coverage out if But you're interested in yeah, I think like, I agree with you. Like, outside of like MSU territory, like, if you say MSU.
Reiel Ghiglia:I was talking to my uncle who's literally from Japan. Mhmm. And I was like, oh my gosh, MSU. And he goes, isn't that where Tom Izzo is?
Melody Meyer:And I was like, bro, are not Tom is a global superstar.
Reiel Ghiglia:So, yeah, Tom Izzo, you're a global superstar.
Melody Meyer:Yeah. When if I'm gonna say if Tom Izzo ever retires, like this campus is not going to be the same and I'm really not prepared for that.
Reiel Ghiglia:Tom Izzo, like, I did say that he's Sparty is more of the face of MSU, but, like, Tom Izzo has such, like, a dominant such a dominant presence in MSU. So go Tom Izzo, you're still cool. Yes. Oh, also, I do want to give a final shout out. So my coworker and my really good friend Melody Meyer here, She's been writing killer music reviews.
Melody Meyer:Oh, you stop.
Reiel Ghiglia:With like the Risa Sabrina Carpenter review, with the Taylor Swift review, with the Tame Impala review. She's been doing great. Oh, you stop. And unfortunately, I don't want say unfortunately, I am shamelessly a basic music listener. Like, I'm very basic.
Reiel Ghiglia:So reading Melody Meyer's music reviews just make me feel so sane. Especially the one about the life of the showgirl. Can we talk about that
Melody Meyer:Oh five gosh.
Reiel Ghiglia:That
Melody Meyer:album see, told myself, I listened to the album very late at night. So I like, okay, I'm just gonna listen to this album, take my notes, write my review in the morning. But that album just like fueled me with such rage. I was like, I need to just write my review right now. It was so disappointing.
Melody Meyer:I really liked the concept of being like one of the biggest pop stars of all time and naming your album The Life of a Showgirl. That was pure fuego to me. Yeah. And so when you listen to the album and it's just, like, so bland, so just, like, lacking excitement. I I mean, like, there are there are glimmers of hope throughout the album.
Melody Meyer:But it's just not at all what I expected. But this is what I said in my review. Taylor Swift has been making music for over twenty years. Like, you can't expect constant like, you can't expect to be constantly impressed by someone who's been in the industry that long. So I think that is important to take that into consideration.
Melody Meyer:But I I just think there's there could have been more. It could have been better.
Reiel Ghiglia:See, I Okay, I don't want to call myself a diehard Swifty because the name Swifty comes with so many different stereotypes. But me, my best friend and her roommate, we listened to the album as soon as it came out. Like, we sat in the freaking dorm, and we once the clock hit midnight, the play button was pressed. And we listened to the album in order. So specifically, The Fate of Ophelia, Opalite, and Elizabeth Taylor.
Reiel Ghiglia:Killer songs. Like, I found myself getting really excited, especially with Elizabeth Taylor, because that's like my favorite song in the album. And then after that, it all started going downhill and my friends and I just looked at each other. We were like, what is happening? I sound like such a diehard right now.
Reiel Ghiglia:But Folklore and nineteen eighty nine are my favorite albums. And the production, as you've mentioned, of this album was amazing. Like, I loved the concept photos. I loved the entire concept. And like, Taylor seems a lot more happier recently, too.
Reiel Ghiglia:Though she's been doing questionable things, she's been seeming a lot happier. So I thought we were gonna get something similar to 1989. That's not what happened. She talked about very she talks she talked about things that I really didn't need to know about in terms of like Travis Kelce. But like there was also like a collab with Sabrina Carpenter and I just felt it was so underwhelming.
Melody Meyer:Really? I thought that was like the saving grace of the
Reiel Ghiglia:Life of a showgirl theatrical. I don't know. I just felt I expected it to be more like like new romantics kind of song. Like more upbeat, like, yeah, life of a showgirl. Right.
Reiel Ghiglia:And she was like, welcome to the wait. She was like, thank you for the lovely bouquet. But it was just like, come on. But yeah. Sabrina Carpenter.
Reiel Ghiglia:This is not a singing book. But yeah, it was like, I just wanted more from Taylor Swift. So I find myself disappointed, but you gave a great review and I felt very safe.
Melody Meyer:So shout out Melody. Thank you. So shout
Reiel Ghiglia:out Melody to her amazing article about pop culture. Stay tuned for more of her amazing articles in her reviews.
Melody Meyer:And stay tuned for Rael's coverage of ASMSU because these are important topics people you want to be in the know.
Reiel Ghiglia:Be in the know everyone. So we're gonna wrap this up because we've been yapping for a while. So yeah, that is all for today's episode of the State News podcast. Thanks for hanging out with us and being part of conversation. We hope you learned something new, laughed a little, and felt a little bit more connected to what's happening around MSU.
Melody Meyer:If you liked what you heard, make sure to follow the State News Podcast wherever you listen and check out the State News online and on social media for even more campus stories, breaking news, and student perspectives.
Reiel Ghiglia:We'll be back soon with more honest takes, campus updates, and stories that matter to Spartans. Until then, Go Green!