RON COLLINS: WELCOME TO "MSU TODAY," THE PROGRAM THAT BRINGS YOU THE INSIDE STORIES OF OUR RESEARCHERS, OUR STUDENTS, AND OUR ALUMS.
I'M RON COLLINS.
FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE A STRONG DESIRE TO BE TRIAL-PRACTICE ATTORNEYS OR WANT TO LEARN WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN THE COURTROOM, THE GEOFFREY FIEGER TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE OFFERS A UNIQUE WAY TO BLEND EDUCATION AND THEORY ALL IN A COURTROOM SETTING.
WOMAN #1: COULD YOU PLEASE TELL THE JURY WHAT SISSY SPALDING DID PRIOR TO BEING YOUR PRIMARY ACCOUNTANT?
WOMAN #2: UH...
WOMAN #1: SHE WAS A BARTENDER, WASN'T SHE?
WOMAN #2: YES, SHE WAS.
JOHN PIRICH, FEIGER TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE DIRECTOR: ALL LAW STUDENTS TAKE THE TYPICAL COURSES TOWARDS CRIMINAL LAW, CIVIL PROCEDURE.
MOST DON'T HAVE ANY REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE OR PREPARATION FOR REAL-WORLD ACTIVITIES.
IT WAS THOUGHT THAT HAVING A PROGRAM OF THIS NATURE WOULD BE BENEFICIAL.
UGO BUZZI, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LAW STUDENT: ONE OF THE THINGS THAT APPEALED TO ME ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW WAS THAT THERE WAS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE THAT WOULD GIVE ME THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES AND REALLY ALLOW ME TO GO THROUGH WHAT AN ATTORNEY DOES WHILE IN LAW SCHOOL.
GEOFFREY FEIGER, BENEFACTOR, ALUM 1979: THE ONLY THING YOU CAN DO TO TRAIN AT ALL IS, DURING LAW SCHOOL, BECOME A CLERK.
AND IF YOU'RE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET SOME EXPERIENCE, YOU'LL KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT WHEN YOU GET OUT.
AND THE IDEA THAT AN INSTITUTE COULD BE SET UP WITHIN THE LAW SCHOOL TO FOCUS ON THAT PARTICULAR AREA OF SPECIALTY, I THINK, IS EXCITING, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.
RON COLLINS: THE GEOFFREY FIEGER TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE AT MSU'S COLLEGE OF LAW IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.
IT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF PROGRAMS THAT MIMIC A REAL-WORLD TRIAL EXPERIENCE.
ONLY 32 STUDENTS ARE SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM, BASED ON THEIR POTENTIAL FOR SUCCESSFUL TRIAL ADVOCACY.
MAN: THEY HAVE NO PROOF.
RON COLLINS: A UNIQUE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING CLASSES IN FORENSIC SCIENCE AND EVEN THEATER, ARE ESSENTIAL IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR THE COURTROOM ENVIRONMENT.
GEOFFREY FEIGER: THERE'S SOME PSYCHOLOGY MIXED IN.
THERE'S THEATER, DRAMA MIXED IN, AND THAT IS MORE PUBLIC SPEAKING.
PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO THINK ON THEIR FEET.
VERONICA VALENTINE MCNALLY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF TRIAL ADVOCACY PROGRAMS: THAT'S GONNA HELP THEM WITH THEIR PRESENTATION.
THAT'S GONNA HELP THEM LOOK AT A SCREEN AND EMPHASIZE CERTAIN POINTS, NOT ONLY IN CALLING IT OUT, BUT IN THEIR VOICE INFLECTION, IN THEIR HAND MOVEMENT.
HOLLY BATTERSBY, LAW STUDENT: WE LEARNED HOW TO CONTROL OUR BREATHING, HOW TO MOVE ABOUT THE COURTROOM, HOW TO MOVE DIFFERENTLY, DEPENDING ON WHAT THE MESSAGE WAS THAT WE WANTED TO CONVEY.
THAT'S OBVIOUSLY NOT AN AWARENESS I WOULD HAVE GAINED OUTSIDE OF THIS PROGRAM.
RON COLLINS: THE INSTITUTE'S FACULTY CONSISTS OF PRACTICING ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES WHO NOT ONLY BRING YEARS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE TO THE CLASSROOM, BUT CRITICAL FEEDBACK FOR THE STUDENTS, AS WELL.
ERIC EGGAN, PROGRAM INSTRUCTOR: TWO THINGS I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT, OKAY? THE FIRST IS LANGUAGE CHOICE.
YOUR TEAMMATE USED WORDS LIKE "BINDING COMMITMENT"...
HOLLY BATTERSBY: THESE PEOPLE HAVE INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCES, BUT THEY'RE VERY DOWN-TO-EARTH AND VERY EASY TO LEARN FROM.
UGO BUZZI: THEY'RE GONNA MAKE DECISIONS DURING THE CASES THAT AFFECT THE WAY YOU ARGUE.
AND AFTERWARDS THEY'RE GONNA GIVE YOU FEEDBACK, AND THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU, "THIS IS WHAT I SAW THAT WAS EFFECTIVE.
THIS IS THE WAY IT WOULD WORK IN MY COURTROOM.
THIS IS THE WAY I'VE SEEN IT WORK IN OTHER COURTROOMS.”
THAT'S CRUCIAL TOWARDS BECOMING A GOOD ATTORNEY.
VERONICA VALENTINE MCNALLY: IT'S A REALLY COMFORTABLE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH TO MAKE MISTAKES.
ERIC EGGAN: I ALWAYS SAY I LEARN WAY MORE THAN THE STUDENTS DO.
EVERY TIME I COME, I LEARN SOMETHING FROM THE STUDENTS.
RON COLLINS: THE INTENSE TWO-YEAR PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PRETRIAL COURSES IN ITS FIRST YEAR AND TRIAL COURSES WITHIN ITS SECOND YEAR.
FOR TODAY'S LAW STUDENT, ONE IMPORTANT COMPONENT IS UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY WHEN CONDUCTING A TRIAL.
JOHN PIRICH: 70% OF ALL INFORMATION THAT WE GET IN THIS COUNTRY TODAY IS THROUGH A SCREEN OF SOME SORT, WHERE 20 YEARS AGO, 90% OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE GOT WAS BASICALLY THROUGH PRINT MEDIA -- NEWSPAPERS, BOOKS, PERIODICALS.
IT COMPLETELY CHANGED.
WE'VE COMPLETELY CHANGED AND ADAPTED.
UGO BUZZI: IN THE TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE, WE ARE ACTUALLY TAUGHT HOW TO USE ONE OF THE LEADING SOFTWARE PROGRAMS AND TAKING A PIECE OF EVIDENCE, A DOCUMENT, A CONTRACT, PUTTING IT UP ON THE SCREEN, AND HIGHLIGHTING SPECIFIC AREAS OF THE CONTRACT FOR JURORS TO SEE.
SO, NOW THEY'RE HEARING WITNESSES AND LAWYERS TALK ABOUT WHAT'S IN THE CONTRACT, BUT THEY'RE ALSO ACTUALLY SEEING IT.
HOLLY BATTERSBY: THE FIRST DAY I WALKED IN AND SAID THAT I KNEW HOW TO USE TrialDirector, I'M SUDDENLY A GREAT RESOURCE.
IT MAKES YOU VERY VALUABLE WHEN YOU CAN USE TECHNOLOGY THE WAY THAT WE'RE BEING INSTRUCTED.
JOHN PIRICH: SO, INSTEAD OF BRINGING 500 BANKERS BOXES INTO A COURTROOM TODAY, YOU BRING A LAPTOP AND MAYBE 20 CDs.
GEOFFREY FEIGER: TRULY, ALL TRIAL WORK IS THE ART OF STORYTELLING, TAKING A CANVAS OF WHAT YOUR STORY IS AND BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IT IN AN EFFECTIVE WAY.
HOLLY BATTERSBY: JURIES CONNECT WITH ATTORNEYS, AND YOU WANT TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR JURY IS GONNA CONNECT WITH YOU.
RON COLLINS: THE STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM FEEL THAT THE CERTIFICATION IN TRIAL PRACTICE, COMBINED WITH AVAILABILITY OF ACTUAL COURTROOM EXPERIENCE HAS SET THEM APART FROM THEIR PEERS.
UGO BUZZI: THEY SAY, "PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT.”
BY NO MEANS AM I PERFECT, BUT I'M WORKING TOWARDS THAT.
I'VE GOT ONE LEG UP, I THINK, ON A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T HAD THAT EXPERIENCE.
HOLLY BATTERSBY: I'M HOPING THAT I'VE MADE A LOT OF MISTAKES IN THE PROGRAM THAT I GET IRONED OUT NOW SO THAT WHEN I'M ACTUALLY PRACTICING I'M A LITTLE MORE POLISHED THAN MY OPPONENT.
GEOFFREY FEIGER: I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THIS TRIAL INSTITUTE INSTILLS THE VALUES THAT I BELIEVE IN AND THAT THEY LIVE AFTER ME.
JOHN PIRICH: IT GIVES THEM THAT JUMP-START AND GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE TEACHERS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT IMMEDIATELY UPON BECOMING MEMBERS OF THE BAR.
UGO BUZZI: I'VE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF TAKING A REAL CASE AND WORKING IT THROUGH FROM BEGINNING TO END, AND THAT'S THANKS TO THE TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE.
RON COLLINS: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE THE GEOFFREY FIEGER TRIAL PRACTICE INSTITUTE, VISIT... www.law.msu.edu
RON COLLINS: FOR SOME PEOPLE, GAMES ARE A SERIOUS BUSINESS.
THAT'S WHY MSU'S SERIOUS GAMES INITIATIVE IS EXAMINING A WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS OF GAMING TECHNOLOGIES AND SKILLS IN AREAS BEYOND ENTERTAINMENT.
MAN: OH! [ COMPUTER GAME NOISE AND MOUSE CLICKS ]
JOE FITZGERALD, MASTER’S STUDENT: WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THAT I'M IN A MASTERS PROGRAM ABOUT GAME DEVELOPMENT, THEY ALWAYS LAUGH.
[ LAUGHTER ]
JESSICA KNOTT, MASTER’S STUDENT: HARNESSING THE POWER OF GAME AND PLAY.
JOE FITZGERALD: THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, THAT'S -- ARE YOU SERIOUS? THAT'S REALLY A DEGREE?"
COMPUTER: NICE JOB!
JESSICA KNOTT: IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY TO LEARN.
JOE FITZGERALD: YES, THERE IS AN EDUCATIONAL ASPECT OF THIS.
COMPUTER: YOU CAN PLAY IT AGAIN TO IMPROVE YOUR SCORE.
RON COLLINS: THIS IS WHERE ALL THE FUN IS -- PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.
COMPUTER: IN THIS GAME, YOUR GOAL IS TO ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST SCORE POSSIBLE...
RON COLLINS: IT'S THE WAY THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS LEARN ABOUT LIFE.
COMPUTER: CORRECT!
JOE FITZGERALD: FOR A HALF-CENTURY, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT GAMES AS TEACHING METHODS.
COMPUTER: WELCOME TO THE FANTASTIC FOOD CHALLENGE.
RON COLLINS: BUT CREATING GAMES IS THE JOB OF THESE STUDENTS.
JOE FITZGERALD: WELL, THE INTEREST IN GAMING PROBABLY SPAWNED FROM MY CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES WITH GAMING.
RON COLLINS: YOUR POPULAR STORE-BOUGHT GAMES MAY BE FUN.
BRIAN WINN, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, TELECOMMUNICATION: DOES THE GAME NEED TO BE FUN? AND WHAT ARE YOU COMPARING IT TO?
JOE FITZGERALD: FOR THE FIRST WEEK, WE BASICALLY DISCUSSED WHAT THE MEANING OF "FUN" IS.
WHY DO GAMES NEED TO BE FUN?
RON COLLINS: BUT THE FUTURE IS IN SERIOUS GAMING.
JESSICA KNOTT: IT LETS THEM ENGAGE IN REAL, LIVE SITUATIONS.
COMPUTER: IT'S TIME TO TEST YOUR SKILLS...
RON COLLINS: AND AT MICHIGAN STATE, THESE STUDENTS HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY.
MAN: CASTOR BEANS.
RON COLLINS: IT'S A UNIQUE CHANCE FOR THESE MASTERS STUDENTS TO LEARN AND CREATE SERIOUS GAMES.
BRIAN WINN: THIS IS THE FIRST MASTERS PROGRAM IN SERIOUS-GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT.
AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THERE'S NO OTHER PROGRAM IN THE WORLD IN SERIOUS-GAME DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT.
RON COLLINS: BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS SERIOUS GAMING?
BRIAN WINN: SERIOUS GAMING IS USING GAMES FOR PURPOSES BEYOND JUST ENTERTAINMENT.
JESSICA KNOTT: INSTEAD OF SAYING "READ THIS TEXTBOOK," IT GETS THEM INVOLVED IN WHAT THEY'RE LEARNING.
IT'S AN ACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
JOE FITZFERALD: SERIOUS GAMES JUST KIND OF REALLY DREW ME IN BECAUSE IT'S THE SYNERGY OF GAME-DESIGN THEORY AND THE EDUCATION.
RON COLLINS: THROUGH TECHNOLOGY, WE'RE ABLE TO LEARN NEW, EXCITING, AND SAFE WAYS OF TEACHING.
BRIAN WINN: ONE OF THE NUMBER-ONE CHALLENGES OF CREATING SERIOUS GAMES IS CREATING SOMETHING THAT'S FUN AND SERVES ITS SERIOUS PURPOSES.
JESSICA KNOTT: ENGAGING STUDENTS IN THE CONTENT THEY'RE LEARNING KEEPS THEM INTERESTED.
BRIAN WINN: YOU CAN CREATE A MUCH MORE INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE.
JOE FITZGERALD: IT TOOK THIS MASTERS PROGRAM TO KIND OF MAKE ME THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE GAMES THAT I WAS PLAYING -- ALTHOUGH THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY MEANT FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES [COMPUTER GAME SOUND ] THEY CAUSE ME TO KIND OF USE PARTS OF MY BRAIN THAT I MIGHT NOT HAVE USED BEFORE.
COMPUTER: IT'S TIME TO BEGIN!
RON COLLINS: AND THESE EDUCATIONAL TOOLS ARE NOT ONLY FOR CHILDREN.
BRIAN WINN: CORPORATIONS, MILITARY, AND SO FORTH HAVE INVESTED THE MONEY INTO DEVELOPING GAMES.
YOU CAN CREATE A SORT OF VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT THAT PARALLELS THE REAL ENVIRONMENT.
SO, WE SEE THE SAME THING IN HEALTHCARE.
WHEN WE'RE PERFORMING CERTAIN SURGERIES, YOU NEED TO HAVE PRACTICE DOING THOSE THINGS.
COMPUTER: LET'S MEET TODAY'S CONTESTANT.
BRIAN WINN: GAMES ARE A WAY TO CREATE THOSE SIMULATED EXPERIENCES THAT THEY CAN REPEAT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
COMPUTER: THAT'S INCORRECT.
BRIAN WINN: AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES COME OUT, THE GENERATION OF WORKERS THAT GREW UP WITH THAT TECHNOLOGY REALLY WANT TO BE TAUGHT IN THE MEDIUM THAT THEY'VE GROWN UP WITH.
RON COLLINS: INSTRUCTING THROUGH THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY MAY BE ONE OF THE BEST METHODS OF TEACHING.
JESSICA KNOTT: IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK WITH THE CONTENT AND EXPERIENCE IT FIRSTHAND.
JOE FITZGERALD: THEN WE USE OUR LITTLE THEORETICAL TRICKS TO INSERT EDUCATIONAL CONTENT INTO THE FUN OF THE GAMES.
JESSICA KNOTT: I'M NOT FOCUSING ON CREATING THE GAMES SO MUCH AS HOW TO USE THEM IN REAL-WORLD SITUATIONS AND IN HOW TO TEACH, USING THE GAMES IN CLASSROOM SITUATIONS.
JOE FITZGERALD: SO, THE PLAYER IS KIND OF LEARNING WHILE THEY'RE PLAYING WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THAT THEY'RE LEARNING.
RON COLLINS: SERIOUS GAMING IS A NEW, EXCITING FIELD FOR THESE STUDENTS TO LEARN AND BE ABLE TO TAKE WITH THEM INTO THEIR CAREERS.
JESSICA KNOTT: LEARNING HOW TO CREATE A GAME CAN MORE EFFECTIVELY TEACH YOU HOW TO USE ONE.
JOE FITZGERALD: I KIND OF HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST GAMES FOR FUN.
OBVIOUSLY, SERIOUS GAMES HAVE TO BE FUN, BUT IT'S A VERY LEGITIMATE TEACHING TOOL.
WHEN I KIND OF TALK ABOUT THE LEGITIMACY OF SERIOUS GAMES, THEY'RE LIKE, "OH, YEAH, THAT MAKES A LOT MORE SENSE.” [ CHUCKLES ]
RON COLLINS: TO THE DEVELOPERS OF THE MASTERS-LEVEL TRACK AND THE STUDENTS WHO ENROLL IN IT, THE SERIOUS GAMES INITIATIVE IS THE LOGICAL INTERSECTION OF THEORY, CONTENT, AND EXCELLENT GAME DESIGN.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SERIOUS GAMES INITIATIVE, GO TO... www.seriousgames.msu.edu
RON COLLINS: WELCOME BACK.
AT ANY SIZABLE UNIVERSITY, RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES ALLOW STUDENTS TO LIVE AND LEARN IN GROUPS ORGANIZED AROUND A PARTICULAR DISCIPLINE OR INTEREST.
MSU'S NEW RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES LETS STUDENTS IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN LITERATURE, HISTORY, ETHICS, AND THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS AND THE STUDY OF LANGUAGES AND CULTURES IN AN INDIVIDUALIZED PROGRAM WITHIN A SETTING WHERE FACULTY AND STUDENTS HAVE A COMMON INTEREST.
WOMAN: ONE, TWO, THREE.
SCOT YODER, ASSISTANT TO THE DEAN, RCAH: LOOK OUT! [ LAUGHTER ]
[ APPLAUSE ] IT FITS PEOPLE WHO DON'T FIT IN PARTICULAR BOXES.
DEIDRE DAWSON, PROFESSOR, RCAH: THEY HAVE A MAJOR IN THE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES, BUT THEY CAN ALSO MAJOR IN ANOTHER SUBJECT OUTSIDE OF THE COLLEGE.
MATTHEW SWARTZ, RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: I'M INTERESTED IN LANGUAGE, AND I LOVE TO ACT, AND I LOVE TO SING.
SCOT YODER: THEY CAN CONTINUE TO PERFORM AS PART OF THEIR PROGRAM, BUT NOT NECESSARILY PART OF THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRAM.
IT'S PART OF THE WHOLE PACKAGE, THE COCURRICULAR WITH THE CURRICULUM.
IT FITS TOGETHER VERY NICELY FOR THEM.
REBEKAH GALANG, RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED THE ARTS, BUT IT WAS NEVER SOMETHING THAT I WAS GONNA MAJOR IN COLLEGE.
AND NOW THAT I HAVE, IT OPENS YOUR MIND THROUGH JUST DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT CULTURES, AND IT JUST BROADENS WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
GINNY BORCHERDT, RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: IT'S THE PERFECT DEGREE PROGRAM FOR WHO I AM AND THE KIND OF THINGS I WANT TO DO.
SADE SELLERS, RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES: IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO BE AROUND PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO LIKE TO GET INVOLVED AND WHO LIKE TO START THINGS AND WHO REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH THIS COLLEGE.
TERESE MONBERG, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, RCAH: WE TRY TO HAVE THEM CREATE PROJECTS THAT REACH BACK OUT TO THE PUBLIC, REACH BACK OUT TO A BROADER AUDIENCE SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING IS HAVING SOME KIND OF IMPORTANCE IN THE WORLD.
REBEKAH GALANG: THIS SEMESTER I'M DOING A BUNCH OF ART, AND I'M VOLUNTEERING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
SADE SELLERS: I NEEDED SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST A COLLEGE DEGREE.
I WANTED TO FEEL LIKE WHEN I LEAVE HERE I COULD HAVE THE TOOLS TO MAKE A GREATER IMPACT NOT JUST WITHIN THE UNITED STATES -- OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
REBEKAH GALANG: THE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN THE R.C.A.H. IS AMAZING.
YOU'LL JUST WALK DOWN THE HALLWAY AND HEAR SOMEBODY YELLING IN GERMAN.
DEIDRE DAWSON: THE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IS CLOSELY LINKED TO OUR EMPHASIS ON TRANSCULTURAL RELATIONS.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT, TO ENHANCE STUDENTS' UNDERSTANDING OF OTHER CULTURES AND HOW THEY VIEW EVENTS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.
GINNY BORCHERDT: IT'S DEFINITELY OPENED MY MIND TO A LOT OF THINGS I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT BEFORE OR REALIZED ABOUT THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE SEE THE WORLD VERSUS MY OWN PERCEPTION.
REBEKAH GALANG: IT'S AMAZING TO USE THESE FACILITIES, TO START OUT, START FRESH, HAVE A HAND IN WHAT'S GOING ON.
DEIDRE DAWSON: EVERYTHING FROM THE CURRICULUM DESIGN TO THE DESIGN TO THE DESIGN OF THE BUILDING IS MEANT TO FACILITATE INTERACTION WITH THE FACULTY.
SCOT YODER: SO, YOU HAVE THOSE AREAS WHERE FACULTY CAN BE AND STUDENTS CAN BE, AND THEY'RE INTERACTING IN THE PROCESS OF LIVING TOGETHER, SHARING THE SAME SPACE.
TERESE MONBERG: I SHARE A WALL HERE WITH A RESIDENT'S ROOM [POINTS TO WALL IN OFFICE]
DEIDRE DAWSON: THERE'S NO ARTIFICIAL SEPARATION BETWEEN, "OKAY, NOW'S THE TIME TO LEARN," "NOW IS THE TIME JUST TO HANG OUT, RELAX.”
THOSE THINGS CAN HAPPEN ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY.
ANITA SKEEN, PROFESSOR, RCAH: OUR LITTLE SLOGAN OR CATCHPHRASE IS "LIVING AND LEARNING COMMUNITY," BUT I THINK THEY ARE INTERESTED IN LIVING AND LEARNING WITH THE COLLEAGUES THAT THEY HAVE, THE FACULTY THAT WE HAVE.
REBEKAH GALANG: I SEE THEM AROUND ALL THE TIME, AND LAST SEMESTER YOU WOULD JUST WALK THROUGH COMMONS ROOMS, AND THEY'D JUST BE SITTING, CHATTING WITH STUDENTS.
YOU'LL HAVE THESE SORT OF MOMENTS WHERE YOU'LL REALIZE THAT THEY WENT THROUGH THIS, TOO, AND THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR YOU.
MATTHEW SWARTZ: THEY'RE REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT THE COLLEGE ITSELF AND ARE DETERMINED, JUST LIKE WE ARE, THAT IT'S GONNA BE SOMETHING REAL SPECIAL.
DEIDRE DAWSON: SO, THEY REALLY GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS, IN A WAY.
THEY HAVE THAT SPECIAL ATTENTION THAT YOU GET IN A SMALL, LIBERAL-ARTS COLLEGE.
BUT YET THEY HAVE ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT A VERY LARGE UNIVERSITY CAN OFFER.
ANITA SKEEN: WHAT I THINK WE HOPE TO DO IS PROVIDE THEM WITH ACTIVITIES THAT CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO JOBS BUT NOT HAVE THE FOCUS BE ON THE END, BUT ON THE JOURNEY ALONG THE WAY.
REBEKAH GALANG: THIS IS THE PROGRAM THAT I WANTED AND IT'S SMALL AND IT'S INTIMATE AND IT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
MATTHEW SWARTZ: WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES, I CALLED MY PARENTS IMMEDIATELY, AND I WAS LIKE, "MOM, DAD, I FOUND WHAT I'M GONNA DO AT STATE.”
RON COLLINS: FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLEGE OR TO SCHEDULE A VISIT IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IT FOR YOURSELF, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT...
www.rcah.msu.edu
RON COLLINS: MSU'S LAND-GRANT TRADITION OF THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION OF RESEARCH IS NO BETTER ILLUSTRATED THAN IN THE ROLLING HILLS OF RWANDA.
AS A NATION REBUILDING FROM WAR AND GENOCIDE, RWANDA NEEDED HELP RECREATING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY.
MSU RESEARCHERS WERE THERE TO HELP TRANSFORM AN AVERAGE GRADE OF COFFEE INTO A GOURMET PRODUCT THAT IS HELPING THE COUNTRY HEAL.
MAN: IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR US AMERICANS TO REALLY PICTURE, FIRST, WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE GENOCIDE, AND SECOND, WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.
DAN CLAY, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURE: ONE OF THE KEYS TO PEACE IS PROSPERITY.
HERE'S A CASE WHERE WE'RE LOOKING AT IMPROVING INCOMES, IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS AND BE PART OF THE RECONSTRUCTION AND REBUILDING PROCESS.
ANGELO ARRICHIO, CEO, PARAMOUNT COFFEE: DAN CLAY EXPLAINED TO ME THE EXTENT OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN RWANDA, AS FAR AS BRINGING THE COFFEE INDUSTRY BACK FROM WHERE IT WAS.
AND BEING LOCAL HERE AND BEING A MICHIGAN STATE SUPPORTER, WE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WE SHOULD TRY AT LEAST AND SEE WHERE THE PROJECT WAS GOING.
DAN CLAY: AND IN THE END, THE ROASTERS, LIKE PARAMOUNT, THEY AMPLIFY THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN A MUCH BIGGER WAY THAN A UNIVERSITY CAN.
ANGELO ARRICHIO: WE ARE INTERESTED IN SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES.
AND THE MORE WE CAN DO FOR THE COFFEE COMMUNITY, THE BETTER.
WE ARE INVOLVED IN FAIR-TRADE ORGANIC COFFEES, AND WE HAVE BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WE'RE TRYING TO HELP AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
DAN CLAY: PARAMOUNT ACTUALLY RE-INVESTS $1 EARNED ON EVERY BAG BACK INTO THE PROJECT.
ANGELO ARRICHIO: WE LIKE THE IDEA THAT THE FARMERS WHO ARE PLANTING AND HARVESTING THE GOOD, QUALITY COFFEE GET ADEQUATE OR MORE THAN REMUNERATION FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING.
SO, WE ARE VERY STRONG ON THAT ISSUE.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT MOTIVATES US TO DONATE BACK SOME OF THE PROCEEDS OF OUR SALES OF RWANDA COFFEE BACK TO THE FARMERS.
ERICKA GALLANO, ZOOLOGY: I THINK FAIR TRADE'S REALLY GOOD BECAUSE IT HELPS TO GIVE MONEY BACK TO THE FARMERS THAT PUT IN ALL OF THEIR ENERGY, AND THEN THEY CAN HELP BUILD THEIR COMMUNITIES.
ANDREA HOFFMAN, PRE-MED: IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT MSU HAS IT IN ALL THE CAFETERIAS.
[ CASH REGISTER BEEPS ]
ANGELO ARRICHIO: THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO INCENTIVE THEM TO EVERY TIME PRODUCE A BETTER QUALITY IN MORE COFFEE -- BECAUSE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY HELP THEM IN THE BIG PICTURE, AS FAR AS A GOOD COFFEE PRODUCER.
DAN CLAY: AND SO WHAT THE ROASTERS AND BUYERS DO, THEY WORK HARD TO PUT A FACE ON THE COFFEE, SO TO SPEAK.
IT HAS A FACE ON IT IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S A COFFEE THAT'S COMING FROM A PARTICULAR COMMUNITY.
ANGELO ARRICHIO: I THINK MICHIGAN STATE WINS BECAUSE THE FRUIT OF THEIR INVESTMENT AND TIME IS REWARDED.
WE WIN BECAUSE WE'RE SELLING A PRODUCT THAT IS WELL-ACCEPTED IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THE RWANDAN FARMERS WIN BECAUSE THEY GET A GOOD SELLING PRICE FOR THEIR COFFEE.
DAN CLAY: IT'S VERY GRATIFYING AND VERY EXCITING.
AND IT'S ALSO EXCITING BECAUSE IT'S SO CLEARLY ON TARGET FOR WHAT WE DO AS AN INSTITUTION, AS MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, AS A LAND-GRANT INSTITUTION.
IT'S RIGHT ON TARGET, IN TERMS OF IMPACT AROUND THE WORLD AND TAKING OUR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRY LINKAGES AND SO FORTH AND APPLYING THEM IN WAYS THAT BENEFIT RURAL POPULATIONS IN AFRICA AND ELSEWHERE.
ANGELO ARRICHIO: THIS THING IS GONNA GROW SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE WILL WANT TO GO SHOWS.
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO THINK AND SAY, "TELL ME THE STORY ABOUT IT.”
THE COFFEE BAG ITSELF TELLS THE STORY.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE IT, THEY CAN SAY, "OH, I KNOW WHAT IT IS.”
RON COLLINS: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BECOME A PART OF THE RWANDA COFFEE PROJECT, YOU CAN ORDER THE COFFEE ONLINE FROM www.shop.msu.edu.
BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS WITH RWANDA'S COFFEE, MSU IS PREPARING TO PLANT THOSE SAME SEEDS OF PROSPERITY IN NEIGHBORING BURUNDI.
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